Mission #12:  
May 21. The invasion is on!  The troop ships and several screening 
destroyers are now in the shallow waters of San Carlos Bay. Protect the 
landing group from air attack.

Background:  This was the day scheduled for the invasion. During the 
morning hours, naval guns shelled many different Argentine positions in 
order to hide the major objective of landing troops in the narrow strip of
water between West Falkland and East Falkland Islands. The inlet, which 
runs north and south, is called San Carlos Bay and would be the scene of 
intense fighting throughout the rest of the Falklands War. Troop landing 
craft, escorted by destroyers and frigates, entered the narrow bay and 
began off-loading men, equipment and supplies. Pucara aircraft from nearby
Port Stanley attacked the landing force; two aircraft were immediately 
shot down. Less than half an hour later, Argentine Skyhawks and Mirages 
appeared low over the Falklands and descended on the landing force. The 
destroyer HMS Ardent was hit by a total of 12 bombs, only a few of which 
went off, and sank the following morning. Several other ships in the 
landing force were also damaged by bombers (including the HMS Argonaut, 
Antrim, Brilliant and Broadsword). Sixteen Argentine aircraft were shot 
down during the fighting.
