R.I.P. Queen Elizabeth II, we will never forget your contribution to the world and your leadership of the armed forces.

Operation Blackleg and Dive 003. Over four decades ago I served as part of Fleet Clearance Diving Team (2) our team wasn’t at the sharp end of the Falklands War but we played our part unquestionably. Flown back a few days after the Argentine surrender with Major-General Jeremy Moore I suspected our team was required for a special operation. Indeed, after a brief period of leave and underwater cutting training the team joined Naval Party 2200 onboard the Dive Support Vessel Stena Seaspread. The team was tasked with using deep diving saturation techniques to recovery or destroy NATO sensitive cryptographic equipment and Top Secret documents. Dive 003 was the second dive on the ship after the dive site had been set up by Dive 002, this team had surveyed the Operations room which was totally destroyed by one of the bombs. Dive 003 cut a larger hole in the starboard side to gain access to the Computer Room to recover the crypto tapes still in the consoles. This Dive saw two divers suffer underwater explosions , one had to be medivaccd back to the UK. A diver trapped deep within the wreck having to be freed. The cutting into Captain Hart-Dyke’s safe and recovery of Top Secret documents and his family silver. The recovery of the “ Cross of Nails” and the destruction of the armed Sea Dart on the launcher. Over four decades on the dive experience has never been far from my thoughts. What I witnessed and emotions I still felt have intensified with the passing of time. Those who lost their lives were young. So much life sacrificed doing their duty. No one goes to war thinking they may not return home. Fate, destiny sadly doesn’t discriminate. I have read Captain Hart-Dykes book “ Four Weeks in May” recently and having seen the death and destruction as Coventry lay 300 ft down in the South Atlantic, the book gave me a greater appreciation for ships company and the impotent and brave role all the crew undertook. Lest We Forget. [url href=https://https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1623612/falklands-war-royal-navy-shipwreck-dice-hms-coventry-operation-blackleg]

Dear webmaster, I was one of the divers, Leading Diver Ray Suckling ( changed name to Sinclair) on Operation Blackleg. Dive 003 second dive, first dive recorded as a camera survey of D118. I now hold a Bachelor of Journalism and feel it incumbent of me to get facts recorded correctly. PO Micheal ( Harry ) Harrison was awarded the QGM. Harrison was in my team , which included Leading Diver Graham (Tug ) Wilson later Lt Cdr. Harrison was diver (1) myself diver (2) Harrison was making his way back from the Operations room with crypto tapes, his arms were full, I was in the lobby of the wreck tending his umbilical as is the job of diver(2). Dive control via comms informed me Harrison was trapped and I needed to go to him and free him. I got to Harrison he was struggling to free himself and was entangled with electrical wiring and wedged between a locker and the ships bulkhead. I informed dive control to tell Harrison to remain still. I removed the cables and grabbed him by his bailout bottle and harness and pulled him free. Harrison had his arms full of NATO sensitive tapes. I led the way back to the lobby took the tapes from Harrison and he went back to the Opps room as he was diver(1) on another occasion when Wilson was diver (2) Harrison got stuck again but managed to free himself. Later awarded the QGM. The diver who was cutting into the wreck and had a blow back ( explosion) and his diving helmet face plate cracking was Leading Diver Steve Clegg. In a seperate incident Leading Diver Chris (Ginge) David suffered a blowback and ruptured both eardrums forcing him to decompress and return to UK for treatment. The “ Cross of Nails “ was recovered by Canadian Lt Charles ( Chuck) Edwards and Leading Diver Kevan ( Dickie) Daber. The SeaDart missile had a 4lb plastic explosive charge strapped to the war head by Leading Diver Ray Suckling and detonated from topside. The Captain’s safe was cut into by Leading Diver Ray Suckling retrieving NATO Top Secret war orders and the Captian’s silver heirlooms. Note: no petty cash was in the safe. Your text to link... Any further clarification or information please don’t hesitate to contact me. Best regards Ray Sinclair( Bachelor of Journalism (BJourn)

Hi Guys Does anyone know who sorted out the Cov 118 t shirts with Snoopy on? My cousin wants one,he sent a snoopy to me down south and was on watch in the ops room,he too was 😞

Forty years on and not a day goes by without remembering. Thinking of Stephen Dawson, our dearly loved son and brother, and all with him still on patrol.

RIP the hero’s that never returned to their loved ones 40 years ago today, and thinking of the rest of the crew of 82. The Cov was my first ship as a baby stoker and is often in my thoughts. I was on Yarmouth in 82, I shall have a tot tonight in remembrance.

As the anniversary of the loss of HMS Coventry approaches we will be remembering those who lost their lives on May 25th 1982 including Petty Officer (Sonar) Michael Fowler. We knew him as Mick "Foxy" Fowler and he was my Patrol Leader in the 1st South West Herts Sea Scout Group in Watford. He is remembered by those of us who still meet up annually as a friendly and happy leader who inspired us younger Scouts. Attached picture show him being presented with a model lifeboat at a RNLI fundraising event where we helped run sideshows in 1957.

Shipmates, families and friends of HMS Coventry D118, I am very sorry, and deeply saddened, to inform you that our dear shipmate Dave Wood 'crossed the bar' at 1130 this morning, Friday 6 May 2022. I know you will all join me in passing on our sincerest condolences and thoughts to Jackie and family at this very sad time. God bless you Dave, your watch is over shipmate. You will be sadly missed and will always be remembered. Calm seas.

“Do ya hear there.” Can anyone support this who lives up in west Yorkshire? Mirfield Falklands 40 Memorial Service Good Evening, My name is Sean Guy. I am chairman of Mirfield Royal British Legion and a Mirfield Town Councillor in West Yorkshire. I am contacting you to let you know that we are holding a memorial service for the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War on Wednesday 25th May at 7.30pm at St Mary’s Church, Mirfield. This date has been chosen as Mirfield man Lt Cdr Glen Robinson-Moltke lost his life on HMS Coventry so we felt that it would be the most appropriate date for our community to remember his and everyone’s sacrifice. I don’t know whether you have any HMS Coventry Association members in West Yorkshire or wish to send a message to be included in the service. I am happy for you to publicise it on your website and pass my email address to anyone interested in attending. Regards Sean Guy

Remembering Former Pupil - Adrian Sunderland Are there close friend of Adrian Sunderland who can help me with this request please: Good morning, I’ve got your details off the the D-118 Association pages As well as being the IT Manager with 35 years service in Regulars and as an cadet instructor I am also the unofficial school military historian, and ensure we remember all 120 of our former pupils who have died in service of their country each year. We will be remembering our former pupil Adrian Sunderland on 25th May with a whole school service in front of our school roll of honour. I wondered if anyone from the association may be able to send me a message that we can include in the service please? Maybe you have a member who was a close friend of Adrian’s? With many thanks Dave Mr D Hill IT Systems Manager