Abandon Ship

When Argentinian forces invaded the Falklands in April 1982, the British government responded by despatching a task force to the Atlantic to wrest back control of the islands. The resulting war saw modern weapon systems tested in combat for the first time, to tragic effect. In the aftermath, official documents were released, but many were heavily censored, and others withheld altogether, so that a full understanding of those events could not be gained.

Drawing from recently declassified and previously unpublished reports from the official inquiry, Dr Paul Brown details the true story behind the dramatic events that led to the loss of six British ships - HMS Antelope, Ardent, Coventry and Sheffield, RFA Sir Galahad and SS Atlantic Conveyor - as well as the controversial sinking of the Argentinian cruiser ARA General Belgrano by HMS Conqueror.

About the Author

Dr Paul Brown is a maritime history author and speaker from the UK, whose recent publications include the books Britain's Historic Ships (Conway), Historic Sail, Maritime Portsmouth, and The Portsmouth Dockyard Story (History Press), as well as articles in leading maritime magazines. A member of the Society for Nautical Research and the Britannia Naval Research Association, and Secretary of the Naval Dockyards Society, he was recently a consultant to National Historic Ships, the UK's authority on the preservation of historic ships and boats. He was previously a university lecturer and senior university manager, and has also lectured at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich. He hails from Portsmouth, where he was raised in a naval family and his interest in all things maritime was kindled. His other hobbies include sailing and photography.

Paul is married with two daughters. Since retiring from his academic post he has embarked on cruise ship speaking and has fulfilled enrichment speaking engagements with P&O, Cunard, Saga, Fred Olsen, Viking, Voyages of Discovery, CMV, Holland America and Royal Caribbean.