Torrey Canyon

On 18th March 1967, the supertanker Torrey Canyon ran aground on rocks between Land's End and the Scilly Isles, sustaining damage to her hull which caused the supertankers cargo of 100,000tons of crude oil to begin to spill into the sea, threatening beaches in Cornwall, Devon and Dorset.

After the ship ran aground, the crew were lifted off by helicopters and lifeboats although the captain and several crew elected to stay aboard.

As the spill headed south, Royal Navy units monitored the direction of travel of the spill, which was heading slowly towards the French coast, but could have changed direction if the wind shifted. 2nd Infantry Brigade, based at Plymouth was placed on standby to assist if the oil threatened the beaches. Dozens of ships, including Royal Navy ships, were recruited to spay the oil with detergent from the start of the spill, but this failed to disperse it.

Escaping oil spread along the south coast of England and Frances' normandy coast, contaminating more than 20,000 sea birds and 70 miles of beaches.

On 28th March, the RAF and Royal Navy repeatedly bombed the stranded supertanker in an effort to break the ship up. Royal Navy Buccaneers from based at Lossiemouth began the operation, both 800 and 736 NAS becoming involved during the operation. Over the course of two days, the RAF and Royal Navy aircraft dropped bombs, petrol, rocket and napalm onto the ship, but despite direct hits and a resulting inferno of flames the tanker refused to sink. HMS Daring stood off from the bombing throughout the operation acting as range safety ship despite having been in the midst of a work-upperiod at Portland with some crew still ashore on leave. Daring served to keep unwanted shipping away from the wreck and bombing operation, as well as monitoring Russian trawlers nearby.

The mission was called off later, as high spring tides extinguished the flames but bombing resumed the next day with the tanker finally sinking on 30th March.

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