Anniversary of the sinking of the General Belgrano (USS Phoenix)

The USS Phoenix (later ARA General Belgrano) seen as it steams past Battleship Row, Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941.

25 years ago today the British fast attack submarine HMS Conqueror made history when it became the first nuclear powered submarine to sink a surface vessel with torpedoes on a combat patrol. The sunken ship, ARA General Belgrano, began life as the USS Phoenix (CL-46) and ended it by taking 323 men with her. The controversies that rose from this action are well documented, as are details of the combat patrol made by the crew of the Conqueror.

Since the war cheerleaders rarely think beyond the "Top Gun" style of military knowledge and history, it's always good to bring out a historical tragedy from war. The hawks who parrot, like Ed Rogers, never appreciate it when you "wave that bloody rag" in their face.