The Belgrano Diary

The sinking of the General Belgrano was the bloodiest and most controversial military action of the Falklands War. This is the story of a diary written onboard the British submarine that fired the torpedoes, the diary that proved Thatcher’s government hadn’t told the truth about what happened.

A new six-part podcast series, hosted by Andrew O’Hagan. Listen here or wherever you get podcasts.

24 April 2024 · 51mins

Lieutenant Sethia is accused of a second crime: the theft of HMS Conqueror’s log books. Two journalists and the Serious Crime Squad try to hunt him down. 

18 April 2024 · 53mins

Armed with the diary, Tam Dalyell goes on the attack – but the cover-up continues. A second whistle-blower from within the Ministry of Defence is arrested for a breach of the Official Secrets Act.

11 April 2024 · 51mins

Lieutenant Sethia quits the navy and moves to the Caribbean. He thinks the Falklands War is behind him, but back in the UK, an eccentric, anti-war MP notices a discrepancy in the government’s account of the sinking and starts to investigate.

4 April 2024 · 57mins

HMS Conqueror stalks the Belgrano, but Britain’s Rules of Engagement prohibit an attack. Margaret Thatcher makes a decision and Lieutenant Sethia and the Conqueror crew get ready to fire.

28 March 2024 · 52mins

When Argentina invades the Falkland Islands, Margaret Thatcher sends a huge flotilla on an 8000-mile rescue mission – to save a forgotten remnant of the empire, and her premiership. Onboard one of its nuclear submarines, Lieutenant Narendra Sethia starts to keep a diary.