Sad fate for the last surviving warship of the Dec 7, 1941 attack.
I may be wrong, but wasn’t this the USS St. Paul? I think it was of a class nicknamed the “TREATY CRUISERS”, designed and constructed according to the limitations of the 5-5-3 Naval Treaty. Didn’t work out too good for the USA.
“Sad fate for the last surviving warship of the Dec 7, 1941 attack.”
coast guard cutter TANEY (1 of 6 treasury cutters) is still afloat in baltimore.
To borrow from W.T. Sherman “War is Hell” and knows no bounds. Those who think that they can civilize war are fools because the winners call the shots afterwards and write the history too.
As a matter of international law, Britain was at war with Argentina as a result of Argentina’s act of war in invading British territory. As a result of this, Britain was fully at liberty to sink an Argentinian warship anywhere in the world.
The total exclusion zone declared by Britain on 30th April 1982 was only of relevance to neutral vessels (ie, anyone except Britain and Argentina). It was a declaration that the Royal Navy might sink any vessel or aircraft in that zone, regardless of nationality.
Belgrano was a legitimate target wherever she was, or whatever direction she was sailing in. Britain was at war with Argentina and Belgrano was a warship. The sinking of Belgrano was no crime - it was an legitimate act undertaken in war time.
As a Sailor, I think that it was a fitting end for an old warhorse. I served aboard two ships. After decommissioning one was sunk in a Sinkex and the other was broken for scrap on a beach in Texas. Neither a particularly fitting end.