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In Memorian Icebreaker
ARA “Almirante Irízar” is closely related to the activity carried
out by our country within its Antarctic Territory Jurisdiction. Her
presence in ice-covered waters for the purpose of carrying out cruises
representing an enormous scientific and logistic effort in severe
changing maritime, meteorological and glaciological conditions is very
familiar to us since 1978. In contrast, her outstanding involvement in
the South Atlantic conflict in March 1982, when Argentina recovered our
Islas Malvinas, is not widely known. Before
this conflict, in December 1981, the Icebreaker took part in the first
surveys which the Argentine scrap merchant Constantino Davidoff and his
financial advisers carried out at the Whale Factories in South Georgia
Islands, as part of the Summer Antarctic Campaign 1981-82 (SAC 81/ 82).
Apparently this place and situation were the triggers for the conflict
with Great Britain. After
the SAC 81/82 and from the very beginning of the historical deed of
Malvinas, the Almirante Irizar took an active part as a member of the
Amphibious Task Force (TF-40) which successfully concluded the Rosario
Operation crowned with the flag being hoisted in our Islands on 2 April
1982.
On her way
to the Islands together with TF-40,
the Icebreaker faced a gale-force storm which caused serious
damage to vessels in the force thus nearly miscarrying the Islands
recovery.
The troops (Marines of the Navy and
Infantry of the Army)
being carried by helicopter landed first at Puerto Argentino
(Stanley Port) and later, at Darwin near Pradera del Ganso (Goose Green)
village. After
the Rosario Operation the vessel became a part of the Task Force 79
(TF-79) as a logistic vessel and carried out operations intended to
supply our vessels and troops which were permanently under enemy threat;
carried military material and fighter planes of the Argentine Army, took
parte in
the North Branch of Tongs Manoeuvre to attack British Fleet;
acted like a Guide Ship guiding our fighter pilots of the Argentine Air
Force, she efficiently towed tanker ARA "Punta Médanos" and
with the British nuclear submarines lurking around, she sailed across
minefields and provided airports in the Argentine Atlantic coast with
air radar coverage. Towards the end of the armed conflict she worked as
a hospital ship providing medical aid to our soldiers and performing the
humanitarian task of supplying British sanitary units with medicines
when the latter requested them. After
the military actions the icebreaker carried those who had fought with
fierceness, courage and dignity in our Islas Malvinas back to
continental Argentina. Both the Staff and the Crew members had largely
done their duty on board the Icebreaker "Almirante Irizar" in
every action they had been involved in
showing their courage and great professionalism as a gift for the
Argentine Nation thus leaving an undying impression of the story of the
vessel. Twenty-five years after that event we are paying homage to our heroes: those resting in our Islands, those lying at the bottom of our sea, those who after rejoining their families could no longer stay with us ,as well as, those who stay with us. |