The story of the ill-fated HMS Coventry, that was bombed and sunk within 20 minutes during the Falklands war. With unprecedented interview access and new dramatic reconstructions, experience this catastrophic event through the eyes of the surviving sailors.  

On 2nd April 1982 Argentinian troops invaded the Falkland Islands.  The HMS Coventry, a key warship in the British fleet was sent to join the conflict. Despite knowing the odds were against them, they were a successful and confident crew under a trusted leader - Captain Hart Dyke. As other ships were targeted around them, the Coventry felt invincible. But their luck was about to run out.  

At the height of the conflict, Coventry was sent on a suicide mission to deliberately act as bait for enemy bomber-fighters.  Obligingly, on May 25th the Argentinians sent waves of Skyhawks armed with British made bombs to take out the British destroyer. At first Coventry had the upper hand, claiming three kills with her Sea Dart missiles, but just as Captain Hart-Dyke thought he had weathered the storm, the Argentinians launched one last attack...

Three bombs hit the Coventry, killing 19 men and leaving many of the crew injured.  The survivors evacuated through choking black smoke and buckled ladders as the sinking ship tilted further over, and finally jumped overboard into the freezing South Atlantic.  Within 20 minutes the ship had capsized.

It has taken 25 years for the Captain to be able to talk about these events.  This film uses his testimony, together with that of some of his ship's company in a combination of interviews, dramatic reconstructions and archive, allowing us to witness the unfolding war through their eyes.