The Prime Minister led the tributes yesterday to the Westcountry-born Naval Officer who helped to win the Falklands War for Britain, who has died at the age of 81.
David Cameron hailed the "heroic command" of Penzance-born Falklands Task Force leader Sir John "Sandy" Woodward.
The Prime Minister said Admiral Woodward, who played a major role in Royal Navy Task Force that sank the Argentinian battle cruiser Belgrano and retook the Falklands Islands in 1982, was a "truly courageous and decisive leader".
Admiral Woodward, who lived in Bosham, Sussex, died after a long illness and Mr Cameron said Britain was indebted to him for his many years of service.
The PM said of the long-serving officer: "He played a vital role to ensure that the people of the Falkland Islands can still today live in peace and freedom.
"My thoughts and prayers are with Admiral Woodward's family and friends at this difficult time."
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond commended Admiral Woodward on his "magnificent achievement" in the Falklands and said he would be remembered by many as the Navy's "fighting admiral".
Mr Hammond said: "Admiral Woodward served his country with distinction throughout his career, but he will be best remembered by many as the Navy's Fighting Admiral after he led the Royal Navy Task Force, sent by Margaret Thatcher, to re-take the Falkland Islands in 1982.
"Following this magnificent achievement he served as the Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff and went on before retirement to be the Flag Aide-de Camp to the Queen."
One man who served alongside Admiral Woodward in the Falklands, Commodore Michael Clapp, who was in charge of the landing force that re-took the islands, spoke candidly about his former comrade in arms yesterday.
Commodore Clapp, who lives in South Devon, said Admiral Woodward possessed a formidable intelligence that had helped to make him a great asset to the Royal Navy.
"I discovered he took A-level maths at 13-years of age," he said. "I remember him on the nuclear course at age 18 or 19 always sitting in a little group playing bridge while the rest of us were out on shore leave, whooping it up a bit."
Commodore Clapp admitted the two did not always see eye to eye on the difficult and dangerous Falklands operation. "The relationship wasn't easy, but looking back on it, it wouldn't have been easy with anybody because the command structure was all wrong," he said.
And he said that Admiral Woodward's blunt style and seeming lack of empathy with some of the men who served under him was, in part, down to shyness, but that his abilities and intelligence were never in doubt.
First Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Zambellas said Admiral Woodward was highly regarded and widely respected in the military.
He said: "Admiral Sir Sandy Woodward will always be remembered for his powerful and clear command of the Royal Navy Task Force that retook the Falkland Islands in 1982.
"Undaunted by the challenge of fighting a capable enemy over 8,000 miles from the UK, in the most demanding and extreme of weather conditions, and against uncertain odds, Admiral Woodward's inspirational leadership and tactical acumen, meshing the realities of the higher political command at home with the raw and violent fight at sea, was a major factor in shaping the success of the British forces in the South Atlantic."
Admiral Woodward was born in Penzance, on May 1 1932, and always retained a love of the sea. In later life he wrote a memoir of his time as the Falklands task force commander, One Hundred Days.
After training at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, Admiral Woodward became a submarine specialist in 1953, serving in three vessels before going on to command another three.
During his time serving in submersibles, he married Charlotte Mary McMurtrie in 1960, and the couple went on to have a son and a daughter.
Admiral Woodward took up roles at the Ministry of Defence and senior training posts from 1971. He became commander of HMS Sheffield between 1976 and 1977 and served as director of naval plans between 1978 and 1981.
