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Falklands War · permanent subject timeline

HMS Sheffield and the Exocet Attack

The missile attack that demonstrated the danger to the British fleet. This page combines historical context with 18 matching records drawn directly from the World History Database Falklands War archive.

18 matching archive records 1982–1982 record span Open full Falklands War collection
HMS Sheffield and the Exocet Attack historical illustration

Historical context

HMS Sheffield and the Exocet Attack: overview and significance

What happened?

On 4 May 1982 the Type 42 destroyer HMS Sheffield was struck by an Exocet missile launched by Argentine Super Étendard aircraft. The ship was badly damaged and later sank while under tow.

Why was it important?

The attack demonstrated the vulnerability of modern warships to sea-skimming anti-ship missiles and had an immediate impact on British air-defense tactics, damage-control awareness and fleet operations.

World History Database records

HMS Sheffield and the Exocet Attack timeline

The records below are selected from the 481-record Falklands War archive using this page's subject criteria and are ordered chronologically.

1982
1982 4th May

British Fleet Located

Corvette Captain Ernesto Proni Leston · Naval Reconnaissance Commander · Argentina · South Atlantic

Commands naval reconnaissance activity that locates the British force before the Super Etendard attack on HMS Sheffield.

1982 4th May

Exocet Attack on Sheffield

Corvette Captain Augusto Cesar Bedacarratz · Super Etendard Pilot · Argentina · South Atlantic

Launches an AM39 Exocet during the mission that fatally damages HMS Sheffield.

1982 4th May

Exocet Mission Refuelling

Lieutenant Armando Raul Mayora · Super Etendard Pilot · Argentina · South Atlantic

Completes aerial refuelling with Bedacarratz before the pair continue at low level toward the British task force.

1982 4th May

First Argentine Naval Air Strike

Corvette Captain Augusto Cesar Bedacarratz · Super Etendard Pilot · Argentina · South Atlantic

Participates in the Argentine Navy's first wartime Super Etendard and Exocet attack against the British fleet.

1982 4th May

Loss of HMS Sheffield

Captain James Salt · Captain of HMS Sheffield · Great Britain · South Atlantic

HMS Sheffield is hit by an Exocet missile.

1982 4th May

Loss of HMS Sheffield

Rear Admiral Sandy Woodward · Carrier Battle Group Commander · Great Britain · South Atlantic

Loses HMS Sheffield to Argentine air attack.

1982 4th May

Naval Losses

Baroness Margaret Hilda Thatcher · Prime Minister of Great Britain · Great Britain · South Atlantic

The British lose the Type 42 destroyer HMS Sheffield to fire following an Exocet missile strike - 20 die

1982 4th May

Neptune Contact Maintained

Corvette Captain Ernesto Proni Leston · Naval Reconnaissance Commander · Argentina · South Atlantic

Uses a Neptune patrol aircraft to maintain contact information on the British force for the Sheffield strike.

1982 4th May

Return from Sheffield Strike

Lieutenant Armando Raul Mayora · Super Etendard Pilot · Argentina · Rio Grande

Returns to Rio Grande after the attack that leaves HMS Sheffield fatally damaged.

1982 4th May

Sheffield Strike Launch

Corvette Captain Augusto Cesar Bedacarratz · Super Etendard Pilot · Argentina · Rio Grande

Takes off in a Super Etendard with Armando Mayora for an Exocet strike against the British task force.

1982 4th May

Sheffield Strike Wingman

Lieutenant Armando Raul Mayora · Super Etendard Pilot · Argentina · Rio Grande

Flies as the second Super Etendard pilot in the Exocet mission against HMS Sheffield.

1982 25th May

Atlantic Conveyor Exocet Launch

Lieutenant Julio Barraza · Super Etendard Pilot · Argentina · South Atlantic

Launches his Exocet with Curilovic during the coordinated strike on the British formation.

1982 25th May

Atlantic Conveyor Exocet Launch

Corvette Captain Roberto Curilovic · Super Etendard Pilot · Argentina · South Atlantic

Launches an AM39 Exocet during the attack that sets Atlantic Conveyor ablaze and causes its eventual loss.

1982 25th May

Atlantic Conveyor Strike Launch

Corvette Captain Roberto Curilovic · Super Etendard Pilot · Argentina · Rio Grande

Takes off from Rio Grande with Julio Barraza for a second major Exocet strike against the British task force.

1982 25th May

Loss of Atlantic Conveyor

Captain Ian North · Master of Atlantic Conveyor · Great Britain · South Atlantic

Atlantic Conveyor is hit by Exocet missiles.

1982 25th May

Naval Losses

Sandy Woodward · Rear Admiral · Great Britain · South Atlantic

British destroyer Coventry sunk by air attack - 20 die. British container ship Atlantic Conveyor is abandoned with 3 vital chinook helicopters aboard after an exocet missile hit sets the ship ablaze - 12 die

1982 25th May

Return from Atlantic Conveyor Strike

Lieutenant Julio Barraza · Super Etendard Pilot · Argentina · Rio Grande

Returns safely after the Exocet attack that destroys Atlantic Conveyor and its helicopter cargo.

1982 12th June

Exocet Hit on Glamorgan

Captain Michael Barrow · Captain of HMS Glamorgan · Great Britain · South Atlantic

Commands Glamorgan when a shore-launched Exocet strikes the destroyer, killing members of the ship's company.

Editorial provenance

Sources and editorial review

Compiled and edited by World History Database

Historical context is editorial material; the chronology is generated from the World History Database Falklands War records.

Last reviewed: September 2026.

Reference points: Imperial War Museums · National Army Museum · The National Archives

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