The week of May 3, 1982 started with devastating blow to the British task force.

Down in the South Atlantic where Chief Petty Officer Michael Debenham was keeping a secret diary aboard the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes, there was shocking news that one of the fleet had been attacked and many sailors had been killed or injured.

Michael put his thoughts down on paper.“Vulcan bombing again. Three Harriers went, one lost. Sheffield was hit by an Exocet and is in a bad way. She has been abandoned. A bad day all round.”

“A Lynx sank an armed trawler with Sea Skua and damaged what may be a frigate. More air raids against us.”

Twenty crewmembers died and another 26 were injured in the attack on the Type 42 destroyer, affectionately known as the Shiny Sheff.

She was still afloat the next day and efforts to salvage equipment from her continued.

An hint of frustration surfaced as he wrote: “More air raid warnings. The only one working as a unit is Hermes. The rest of the task force doesn’t seem to have taken it seriously. We may have sunk a sub as was announced on world news. Still awaiting confirmation.”

May 5: “Invincible lost two Harriers today. Not through combat. We don’t need the Argies with the Invinc, she may as well not be here. More air raids and action stations. No sign of mail.

“Sheffield continues to burn and still afloat. Sickbay is like a butcher’s shop. Maybe the politicians can do something.”

May 6: “A quiet day, only two actions stations. Lost of bad weather, limited fixed wing flying. Still looking for a submarine or two.”

May 7: “So far so good. No action stations, mail received. A quiet day all round. No sign of the Argies. Recce parties are put ashore and some return. No problems.”

May 8: “Some more bombing and gunfire support. Coventry shoots down one helicopter and misses a C130. Coventry and Brilliant are close inshore to keep the Argies on the move.”

May 9: “Air raid warning. Alacrity engages by gunfire as support vessel A large explosion is heard. Possible sunk. Continuous watch-keeping, not much to write about.”

Read more entries from his diary here.