The Falklands War

Steve and readers,

There is a British 1988 film 'Tumbledown' on BBC4 tonight at 10pm (for nearly 2hrs) and described as:

From: Tumbledown (1988) on BBC Four HD, Wed 15 Jun 10:00pm - TV Guide UK TVGuide.co.uk

IMDB has eleven reviews: Tumbledown (TV Movie 1988) - Tumbledown (TV Movie 1988) - User Reviews - IMDb

Might watch and record for later.

 

I have not read much (apart from here) on the land war, so some of this article's content by an ex-RN officer was unknown to me. The full title being: Falklands 40: 5 Infantry Brigade and the peril of ‘ad-hoccery’.

Anyway it opens with:

Link: Falklands 40: 5 Infantry Brigade and the peril of ‘ad-hoccery’ »

 

A second article from Wavell Room 'Fighting from the Sea' which opens with:

Link: Falklands 40: Fighting from the Sea. »

 

The Kings College Falklands 40 Conference (opening section in Post 371) and the summary states:

Link:

I did listen to this, it left little impression on me.

 

There is another video and the summary states:

Link:

 

Yesterday I finally got to read a special issue of the RUSI Journal No. 1 2022, The Falklands War at 40; with six article, including two interviews with Argentinian officer veterans, one from an air force Skyhawk pilot and the second a colonel from an infantry battalion commander.

What I found interesting were the articles on: PoW Handling (using a North Sea passenger and lorry ferry); medical support (which from memory has been well covered before), a reflective piece on 'a number of daunting lessons..that the British military was reluctant to face' and the fourth on logistics (handled by a RM formation). The later was excellent and is an aspect rarely so well covered.

The real surprise for me was reading that a forward operating base (FOB) was built at Port San Carlos and was ready for use by four RN Harriers by the 28th May 1982 (a week after the landing). two Harriers were the ground attack version (GR3) and two were the air-to-air combat Sea Harriers. The Argentinians knew the FOB was there and it was 'Then we knew it was over'.

Anyone encountered this FOB before?

There is a short mention in the 2103 book 'RAF Strike Command, 1968–2007 Aircraft, Men and Action by Kev Darling. Note it is referred to being at Post San Carlos.

When searching using Port San Carlos many references appear, although most appear to be in the last few years and not at the time. I stand to be corrected, it just struck me as a surprise!

 

It "features" in this old Falklands add-on for Microsoft CFS2

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Harrier-Jump-Jet-Version-FS2000/dp/B0000632NA

"prefab airstrip at San Carlos."

There's an article here...

The San Carlos Forward Operating Base - Think Defence

 

Ramiles,

Thank you. The Microsoft Game is from 2002 and the Think Defence article from 2017.

 

An article about the RAF plan to attack the Argentine aircraft carrier, aided by the US satellite called 'Farrah' and the opening two passages:

There is a bit more and then it becomes an article on US ELINT satellites, which may not be of interest here.
Link: The Space Review: Buccaneers of the high frontier: Program 989 SIGINT satellites from the ABM hunt to the Falklands War to the space shuttle)

I do recall from the 1980s stories that the RAF reinforced Ascension Island, with all manner of combat aircraft for an "all-out" attack on the Argentine mainland.

 

International Bomber Command Centre unveils Falkland Islands tribute - East Midlands Business Link

 

BBC News - James Cleverly says Falklands are British as Argentina ends deal
James Cleverly says Falklands are British as Argentina ends deal

BBC News - Falklands War remains 'an open wound' in Argentina, says ambassador
Falklands War remains 'an open wound' in Argentina, says ambassador

I still find it wierd that there's constantly a reminder that the Falkland Islands are known as the Malvinas in Argentina. Is there a reciprocal deal where for those that say Malvinas there has to be a reminder that they are actually known as the Falklands by those that have lived there and that calling them "the Malvinas as they are known in Argentina" is superfluous. It doesn't happen for other things in the news, though it'd be quite funny if I did, it'd get to be a lesson in Spanish perhaps, I suppose though.

Presumably if they say "Malvinas" it ought to be translated as the Falklands.

 

Falkland, Fife - Wikipedia

Uh oh...

 

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I've just learnt a Sea King once flown by Prince Andrew is now operating in Ukraine.

 

An in person or online event @ National Army Museum 26 May 2023, 12.00pm From the event summary:

Link: Penal Company on the Falklands: The Parachute Regiment at War | National Army Museum

Unclear to me why the title uses 'penal' company.

 

Cos it was their nickname.

Penal Company on the Falklands

 

Day after Operation Black Buck 2nd May 1982 Argentinian soldiers walking through the debris of Stanley airport

Argentinian soldiers 2nd May 1982


Argentinian sentry standing outside the governor's residence

Argentinian conscript outside Falklands Island Company




9th Logistical Battalion loading supplies, checking weapon Commodoro Rivadavia staging area used for airlift to Falklands.

Eight crewman's coffins on Sobral Argentinian dispatch ship hit "In the early hours of 3 May 1982, the vessel was hit by at least two Sea Skua anti-ship missiles fired by British Westland Lynx HAS.Mk.2/3 helicopters."

May 1982 Argentinian Divers

 

Is that an M1 with a grenade launcher?