IT WAS ENORMOUSLY SATISFYING FOR THIS SMALL GROUP OF SHIPS TO BE ABLE TO REPORT BACK TO THE
Monday, June 4th, 2007It is still a life on the ocean waves for the retired former commanding officer of Devonport-built Falklands veteran MS Plymouth.Captain David Pentreath, who successfully guided the Type 12 frigate through the Falklands conflict without loss, still spends as much time on the water as he ever did in his career.
The 74-year-old’s retirement IS simply plain sailing, AS he enjoys nothing MORE than travelling the world WITH his wife Judith ON their 40ft ketch.Drifting through the Azores IS a far cry FROM sailing through the treacherous Bomb Alley off the Falklands.
But those memories OF dark days IN 1982 will always remain WITH him - especially the moment WHEN HMS Plymouth’s wardroom hosted a special visitor.
Alongside Devonport-based HMS Brilliant and Antarctic patrol ship HMS Endurance, HMS Plymouth took part in the recapture of South Georgia on April 25, 1982.
“I’ll never forget that DAY WHEN I hosted a ceremony which led TO the official surrender OF Alfredo Astiz, the commander OF an Argentine detachment ON South Georgia,” he said with a smile. “He was an unpleasant piece OF WORK. I later discovered MORE unpleasant things about him.” (Astiz, ‘the Blond Angel of Death’, lectured in torture techniques, was implicated in the ‘disappearances’ of thousands of political prisoners and sentenced to life imprisonment by France in absentia for his role in the murders of two French nuns).
He added: “It was enormously satisfying FOR this small GROUP OF ships TO be able TO report back TO the Prime Minister that South Georgia had been reclaimed. We were ALL very thrilled AND pleased that the FIRST stage had got off TO a pretty good start.
“I was very proud of my crew and our part in the conflict.”
However, WHEN asked if he missed the navy, Capt Pentreath - who also commanded the minesweeper HMS Kemerton AND the TYPE 12 frigate HMS Brighton - replied: “No; not really. I knew it would come to an end at some point.
“I enjoy taking my ketch wherever I want these days.”
Capt Pentreath has three sons and six grandchildren. He lives on the Isle of Wight.
HMS Plymouth was one of the last Type 12 frigates to be built at Devonport Dockyard.
Named after the city where she was constructed, she was launched by Viscountess Astor on July 20, 1959.
Plymouth was one of the first Royal Navy ships to arrive in the South Atlantic following the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, landing Royal Marines from her Westland Wasp helicopters and bombarding Argentine troop positions on South Georgia.
Later one of her Wasps took part in an attack on the Argentine submarine Santa Fe, which was badly damaged.
After South Georgia was liberated, HMS Plymouth rejoined the main Task Force, taking part in many operations before the landings at San Carlos Water.
On June 8, alone, she was attacked by Mirage fighters of the Argentine Air Force, and managed to shoot down two with her Sea Cat missile system. However, she was hit by bombs and cannon shells, causing considerable damage to the ship.
Plymouth returned to Rosyth Naval Dockyards after the war for repair and refit. She was decommissioned in 1988.