Bonhams will sell a gold and diamond broach presented to the wife of the Captain of HMS Coventry, when launching the ship at Birkenhead in June 1974.

The brooch which will be sold on September 25th at Knightsbridge, is one of the last surviving links to the ill-fated Coventry which was subsequently sunk in the Falklands conflict after coming under heavy enemy aircraft attack.

John Millenstead, Head of Bonhams Coins and Medals Department comments: “This brooch is one of the few remaining links with the HMS Coventry which because of her gallant service in the Falklands makes this small item of great emotional and historic value.”

South Atlantic 1982 interest: The Launching brooch of HMS Coventry a gold and diamond brooch, produced for the launching of the ship is of abstract design with 18 carat yellow gold textured bark finish accented by brilliant-cut diamonds. The broach features diamonds of approximately 0.75ct. in total. It is hallmarked Birmingham 1972, and bears the maker’s mark D&F for Deakin and Frances, height 2.8cm. It is estimated to sell for £800-1,200.

The lot comes with a wooden shield for HMS Coventry, with a plaque attached to the reverse which has the inscription ‘Presented to Lady Lewin by the Senior Officer and Ships Company of HMS COVENTRY on the occasion of the Ships launch 21st June 1974.’

HMS Coventry was a Type 42 (Sheffield Class) Destroyer laid down by Cammell Laird and Company, Limited, at Birkenhead on 29th January 1973, she was launched on 21st June 1974 and commissioned on 20th October 1978.

She participated in the South Atlantic campaign of 1982 where she was the first Royal Navy warship to fire the Sea Dart SAM in anger on the 9th May and destroyed an Argentinian Puma SA330L helicopter. She was also the first to use the Sea Skua (Air to Surface) anti-ship missiles in action; when her onboard Westland Lynx HAS Mk.2. fired a Sea Skua missile on 3rd May.

HMS Coventry was one of three Destroyers providing anti aircraft fire for the fleet. The loss of HMS Sheffield and damage to HMS Glasgow on the 12th May forcing her to return to the UK, left Coventry to carry on the defensive role alone until other ships could arrive from the UK.

On the 25th May HMS Coventry, accompanied by HMS Broadsword was ordered to take position in Falkland Sound. There she would act as a decoy to draw away Argentinian aircraft from other ships at San Carlos Bay in the Falkland Islands. In this position close to land with not enough open sea between her and the land her Sea Dart missiles were less effective.

HMS Broadsword was armed with the Sea Wolf missile which is for short-range anti-aircraft and anti missile use. They came under attack by several waves of Argentine A-4 Skyhawks specifically sent to sink them. Despite managing to shoot down two attackers earlier in the day, on the final occasion a wave of four enemy aircraft flew so low that the ship’s targeting radar could not distinguish between them and the land and failed to lock on. HMS Broadsword attempted to target the first pair of attackers with her Sea Wolf missile system, but her own tracking system locked down during the attack and could not be reset before the aircraft released their bombs.

Of the four bombs released one struck HMS Broadsword’s flight deck and though it failed to explode, damaged the ship’s Lynx helicopter. Though she was still unable to gain a lock on the second pair of Skyhawks, HMS Coventry launched a Sea Dart in an attempt to distract them and turned to starboard in order to reduce her profile. On HMS Broadsword the Sea Wolf system had been reset and had successfully acquired the attacking aircraft, but was again unable to deploy when Coventry’s turn took her directly into the line of fire.

HMS Coventry used her 4.5″ gun and small arms fire against the attacking aircraft, but was struck by three of the four bombs released, two exploded and she immediately began listing to port. One of the bombs had struck the computer room and the blast destroyed it and the operations room nearby, incapacitating almost all senior officers.

Within 20 minutes she had been abandoned and had completely capsized, with the loss of 19 of her crew. She sank the next day. A memorial cross was erected on Pebble Island after the war.

Posted: 08|24|07 at 10:23 am. Filed under: Press Release.