Michael Clapp
Michael Cecil Clapp, is a retired senior Royal Navy officer who commanded the United Kingdom's amphibious assault group, Task Group 317.0, in the Falklands War.
Early life
Michael Cecil Clapp was born on the 22 February 1932. His parents were Brigadier Cecil Douglas Clapp, CBE Royal Corps of Signals and Mary Elizabeth Emmeline Palmer Clapp. He was educated first at Chafyn Grove School a Preparatory School in Salisbury, Wiltshire then at Marlborough College an Independent school in Marlborough, Wiltshire, England.Naval career
Korean War 1950-1953
He joined the Royal Navy as a midshipman in 1950. His first major deployment was in the Far East for service in the Korean War. For his service in the Korean War he received the Korea Medal and the United Nations Korea Medal.Cyprus 1954
On 4 January 1954 as a boarding officer on HMS Comet of the 6th Destroyer Squadron the recently promoted Lieutenant Clapp captured the caique "Ayios Georghious" running guns into Cyprus. Clapp was ordinarily the ship's Correspondence Officer and also her Torpedo Anti-Submarine Officer but as such he could be easily spared and was also chosen because as a rugby football player and as a boxer he was fit and strong. He led a naval boarding party of 11 sailors, including the Chief Engineer, a signaller, and an engine room artificer. The naval boarding party was equipped with a Lanchester submachine gun, bayonets and Mk IV Webley Revolvers. Jumping aboard alone he got tangled up in the rigging and had to be rescued by one of the smugglers after which he drew his revolver and arrested them. He was then joined by the rest of the boarding party. For his Cyprus service Clapp received the Naval General Service Medal 1915.Joins the [Fleet Air Arm] 1955
In 1955, he was appointed to No. 1 Long Observer Course, expecting to specialise in anti-submarine warfare. His first operational flying tour was, however, with 849 Naval Air Squadron in the Airborne early warning and control role. The squadron was equipped with ex United States Navy Douglas Skyraider AD4W's. These were operated by squadron detachments assigned to the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers HMS Ark Royal, HMS Bulwark, HMS Eagle, HMS Hermes and HMS Victorious. In 1959, after a series of flying courses, he was posted to Ferranti Ltd. to assist in test flying the weapon system for the Blackburn Buccaneer Mk 1 finally joining 700 Naval Air Squadron's Z Flight, the Intensive Flying Trials Unit. 700 Naval Air Squadron is an experimental test squadron in the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm. In 1962, he was the Senior Observer of 801 Naval Air Squadron, then the first operational Mk 1 Blackburn Buccaneer squadron. They embarked first on HMS Ark Royal and then on HMS Victorious on which they sailed for the Far East and tropical trials returning home in January 1964.[Indonesian Confrontation] 1963–65
He returned to the Far East to command HMS Puncheston M1174, a Ton-class minesweeper, during the Indonesian Confrontation between Malaysia and Indonesia for which he received a mentioned in despatches for "for distinguished services in the Far East Fleet Patrols and the Borneo Territories during the period 24 December 1964 to 23 June 1965." Mainly by not responding to an Indonesian Navy Kronshtadt-class submarine chaser, that trained its guns on his ship in May 1965 while accusing it of being inside the 3 mile limit. The 14 December 1965 was when Clapp actually received his Mention in Dispatches for his General Service Medal "for distinguished services in the Far East Fleet Patrols and the Borneo Territories during the period 24 December 1964 to 23 June 1965.Later Career
On 10 Dec 1965 Lieutenant Commander Michael Clapp took command of 801 Naval Air Squadron now equipped with the Buccaneer Mk. 2. The squadron reformed again at RNAS Lossiemouth on 14 October 1965 with 12 Buccaneer S2 aircraft mainly supplied from 700 Naval Air Squadron's B Flight. 801 Squadron once again embarked in HMS Victorious for testing and operations in the Mediterranean returning home a year later. The squadron subsequently received the 1967 Boyd Trophy for its efforts in bringing the Buccaneer Mk. 2 into service. He served as her commanding officer until 14 June 1967.On the 2nd July 1968 Michael Clapp was promoted from Lieutenant Commander to Commander. He was the executive officer of HMS Norfolk completing Exocet trials in 1974 at Toulon, France. His next promotion was on 5th October 1974 from Commander to Captain. After a brief stay at the Joint Warfare Establishment, he had two ship commands, HMS Jaguar and HMS Leander. He commanded HMS Leander during GULFX-79 exercises in the Gulf of Mexico from 16 November to 4 December 1978. He also completed two tours in the Naval Staff of the Ministry of Defence. Later he was the Naval Director of the Joint Maritime Operational Training Staff. In 1981 he was appointed Commodore Amphibious Warfare.
, Malta en route back to the UK following her 1966–67 Far East cruise.
Falklands War 1982
In 1982, he commanded the amphibious assault group, Task Group 317.0, in the Falklands War. He served under the Commander-in-Chief Fleet Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse, who was the overall Task Force commander, CTF-317. Task Group 317.0 contained the amphibious ships which launched the actual invasion with Task Group 317.1 being the landing force itself initially consisting of 3 Commando Brigade led by Brigadier Julian Thompson and attached units. South of Ascension Island he was in charge of British logistics in the Falklands War. He was also responsible with Brigadier Julian Thompson for the decision to make the landing at San Carlos Water. The actual amphibious landings were known as Operation Sutton. The air war over the landings was known as the Battle of San Carlos. An example of the difficulties of maintaining the supply lines was the Bluff Cove air attacks.Clapp was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath for his services in the conflict.
His Flagship during the Falklands War was HMS Fearless
Personal and Later Life
When he was younger Michael Clapp was a rugby football player and a boxer. In 1975 he married Sarah Jane Alexander. Together they have two daughters Lucy born 1977, Sophie born 1978 and one son James born 1980.After his retirement from the Royal Navy on the 7th of July 1983 Michael Clapp moved to Devonshire with his family. For at time they lived at Manor Farm, Broadhempston, Totnes, Devonshire formerly the Manor of Broad Hempston. He was a stockbroker and a member of the London Stock Exchange from 1987 to 1995. He was a Director of Kelly College from 13 November 1992 to 17 June 2002 and of its associated corporation from 7 July 1995 to 31 December 2010. His hobbies have included sailing, shooting, fishing, and country life. He is a member of the Royal Cruising Club and when he finally retired he sailed his 28 ft yacht to the Caribbean and back.
Publications
He wrote a book entitled Amphibious Assault Falklands: the Battle of San Carlos Water, with co-author Ewen Southby-Tailyour, describing the preparations for the amphibious landing, the landing itself and the following amphibious and related land operations of the Falklands War. The book was first published in 1997 with a second edition in 2007.Honours and decorations
Just before his retirement Michael Clapp was made an Aide de Camp to Queen Elizabeth II from the 18th of January 1983 to the 5th of July 1983 which entitles him to use the post-nominal letters "ADC".On 11 October 1982, Clapp was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath 'in recognition of service within the operations in the South Atlantic'. His first decorations were for his service in the Korean War being the Korea Medal and the United Nations Korea Medal. For his Cyprus service Clapp received the Naval General Service Medal 1915. On 14 December 1965 Clapp received a Mention in Dispatches for his General Service Medal "for distinguished services in the Far East Fleet Patrols and the Borneo Territories during the period 24 December 1964 to 23 June 1965.
| Ribbon | Details | Year awarded |
| Companion of the Order of the Bath | 1982 | |
| Korea Medal | 1953 | |
| United Nations Korea Medal | 1953 | |
| Naval General Service Medal | 1954 | |
| General Service Medal with bronze oak leaf for a mention in dispatches | 1965 | |
| South Atlantic Medal | 1982 | |
| Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal | 1977 |