Many thanks to subscriber Mike Fisher for suggesting this fascinating topic!The Royal Navy lost several warships to air attack during the 1982 Falklands War. One, the destroyer HMS Coventry, sank in relatively shallow water, and London feared the Soviets might try and strip the wreck of top secret equipment and documents. A daring underwater salvage mission was put together using a team of Royal Navy clearance divers to retrieve the classified material first codenamed Operation Blackleg. It was a very risky and dangerous mission under very difficult circumstances.Dr. Mark Felton FRHistS, FRSA, is a well-known British historian, the author of 22 non-fiction books, including bestsellers ‘Zero Night’ and ‘Castle of the Eagles’, both currently being developed into movies in Hollywood. In addition to writing, Mark also appears regularly in television documentaries around the world, including on The History Channel, Netflix, National Geographic, Quest, American Heroes Channel and RMC Decouverte. His books have formed the background to several TV and radio documentaries. More information about Mark can be found at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Fe…
Summary
This video from Mark Felton Productions examines Operation Blackleg, a covert underwater mission conducted during the Falklands War in 1982. Following air attacks that sank several Royal Navy vessels, one destroyer, HMS Coventry, settled in shallow water near London. Authorities feared that Soviet forces might attempt to strip the wreck of classified equipment and sensitive documents. To prevent this, a daring salvage operation was organized using a team of Royal Navy clearance divers. The mission aimed to retrieve top-secret material before it could be lost or compromised by enemy action. The undertaking took place under extremely difficult and dangerous circumstances, highlighting the risks faced by the divers involved. Dr. Mark Felton, a British historian known for his non-fiction works and appearances on major documentary channels, presents this historical account. The content draws upon primary sources including articles from Navy Lookout and archives from the US National Archives and Library of Congress. The video explores the strategic importance of protecting naval secrets and the bravery required to execute such a high-stakes underwater operation in hostile conditions during the conflict.
Watch “Operation Blackleg – Secret Falklands War Underwater Mission” on YouTube
