The Falklands War

Discussion in 'Postwar' started by Drew5233, Nov 26, 2009.

  1. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Hot air manufacturer

    Claim exercised in 1066 :D
     
  2. TomTAS

    TomTAS Very Senior Member

    Hi All,

    I'm reading right now Green Eyed Boys which is all about 3 Para and the Battle of Mount Longdon which so far is a good little read.. Then some time ago was at a military show in Kent and had the pleasure of meeting Baz Barrett who is in fact in 3 Para at that time he is in the book only because wait for it he was shot in the back side mmmmmmm trys not to laugh at this point... But anyway worth a read

    Cheers
    Tom
     
  3. James Daly

    James Daly Senior Member

    At the moment down in the Falklands we have the Patrol vessel HMS Clyde which is permanently based there, HMS Scott which is filling in for Endurance, one of the Wave Class tankers and HMS York. Recently the Government replaced the standing Falklands Frigate/Destroyer patrol with an RFA, which is obviously scaling back and cant have been lost on the Args. All those ships are already there or in the vicinity, none are sailing from Portsmouth with crowds cheering them off. Suffice to say the Sun have been more than economical with the truth. Besides, looking out my window at Portsmouth Dockyard we've only got a handful of ships we could send anyway.

    Its funny how in some ways its a very similar situation in 1982 - Argentinian Government has internal problems, so resorts to the Malvinas sabre rattling. Only this time we have the added complication of oil. Can't help thinking its their own fault, they unilaterally withdrew from an agreement to share oil revenues in 2007.

    Can't see that it will end up in war, the Args would be really stupid if they think they could get away with it. They wouldnt have the element of surprise, and theres a stronger British presence on the islands - a roulement infantry company, a rapier detachment and four typhoons might not seem like much but its a much bigger tripwire than an RM troop.
     
  4. slaphead

    slaphead very occasional visitor

    According to the radio, since the early '90's it has been part of the Argentinian constitution that the president "has to pursue the Argentinian sovreign rights to the Malvinas" - or else that president can be forced from office and arrested.
    I am guessing that when the charm offensive failed the new incumbants decided on a different tack... And as James said, sabre rattling at foreigners is one good way to divert attention from problems at home.
    I find it sad that countries have to have "strong" leaders... Its them buggers that seem to start the problems and then everyone else has to slap 'em down again... ho hum. I'll shut up now ;)
     
  5. chrisharley9

    chrisharley9 Senior Member

    Not forgetting that our attack subs now carry Tomahawk Cruise Missiles; now that would mess up an airfield
     
  6. James Daly

    James Daly Senior Member

    Not forgetting that our attack subs now carry Tomahawk Cruise Missiles; now that would mess up an airfield

    They more than make up for the absence of the Vulcan - less risk and more accurate.

    I did a series on my blog a few months ago on 'refighting the Falklands War'... and while its become fashionable to decry our chances, there are some upsides.

    The Argentine fleet is a lot smaller - no cruisers or carriers, but a number of destroyers and frigates with anti-ship missiles we would need to watch out for. We've got a lot less destroyers and frigates than in 1982, but we've got less standing commitments (eg NATO) than during the Cold War. The serious rundown of the RFA would be a big problem.

    The Args Air Force has not changed one bit since 1982, they've had no new aircraft at all since then. On the downside of that we would only be able to send one carrier right away. And we couldnt expect the same performance from the RAF Harriers as we got from the Sea Harrier in 82.

    We've got impressive amphibious capability with Ocean, the two LPD's and the Bay Class. The problem there would be finding the men to land from them, given the overstretch. Ideally you would hope that 16 AA Bde and 3 Cdo Bde would be available, but I would think that the line infantry is more battle hardened than in 1982.

    Interesting food for thought, as 1982 gives us a useful yardstick.
     
  7. chrisharley9

    chrisharley9 Senior Member

    No major problems with the line infantry now

    Would the Argentineans even be able to get a meaningful presence ashore. If there is a threat the air bridge would kick in straight away. You could have a squadron of Tornados down there in 48 hours or another company of infantry. The FIDF is a far more capable organisation now. Looking at the BBC News last night there is no popular support in Argentina for a another war
     
  8. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Hot air manufacturer

  9. ww2ni

    ww2ni Senior Member

    1 Para were in County Fermanagh at the time while 2 and 3 were off down south and were NOT HAPPY!
     
  10. KevinC

    KevinC Slightly wierd

    I suppose this should be in "what you reading now thread". I'm halfway through reading Vulcan 607. I'm still amazed at the effort it took to get one Vulcan to fly all that way to get just one of it's bombs to cut off the runway at Port Stanley.
     
  11. James Daly

    James Daly Senior Member

    I suppose this should be in "what you reading now thread". I'm halfway through reading Vulcan 607. I'm still amazed at the effort it took to get one Vulcan to fly all that way to get just one of it's bombs to cut off the runway at Port Stanley.

    I found Vulcan 607 a cracking read. If you haven't already try and read Sea Harriers over the Falklands by Sharkey Ward - the RAF-FAA debate over how effective the Vulcan was will rumble on for years to come...
     
  12. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Hot air manufacturer

    I do remeber having read on that debate, if not this author then someone else. The fellow was raving mad about the waste it was and how it could have been done much better by the Sea Harriers for much less effort!.

    I put out that recent post with the news in a somewhat tongue in cheek manner because in 1982 that was exactly what happened, Videla decided to sidetrack internal troubles into a national emergency by invading the islands. But back then Argentina was a dictatorship and now it isn't, but one doesn't know how far populist politicians can go.
     
  13. Ranger6

    Ranger6 Liar

    I got a friend whose from Argentina, he count?
     
  14. Gage

    Gage The Battle of Barking Creek

    I do remeber having read on that debate, if not this author then someone else. The fellow was raving mad about the waste it was and how it could have been done much better by the Sea Harriers for much less effort!.


    I thought it was as much to do with the RAF feeling left out.
     
  15. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Sea Harriers did attack the Airfield after the Vulcans bombed the runway.
     
  16. urqh

    urqh Senior Member

    They most certainly did Drew...One got a tailfin hole for his endevours. Famous argie tv pic of the harrier attack going in, and the sam launch trailing off to their own friendly fire hit.
     
  17. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Hot air manufacturer

    Look what the dog brought in (again!) :lol:
     
  18. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Infact I maybe wrong, They may have been the RAF Harriers on the Carriers. I think they were used in the Ground Attack Role and the FAA Sea Harriers were used for Combat Air Patrols.

    Anyone care to check...I'm getting ready for work :)

    ps High Urqh :)
     
  19. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    They most certainly did Drew...One got a tailfin hole for his endevours. Famous argie tv pic of the harrier attack going in, and the sam launch trailing off to their own friendly fire hit.
    DO MY EYES DECIEVE ME :eek: URQH where you been?
     
  20. Jamie Holdbridge-Stuart

    Jamie Holdbridge-Stuart Senior Member

    I suppose this should be in "what you reading now thread". I'm halfway through reading Vulcan 607. I'm still amazed at the effort it took to get one Vulcan to fly all that way to get just one of it's bombs to cut off the runway at Port Stanley.

    Kev, we went to a lecture on the Falklands Air War at the Yorkshire Air Museum. Martin Withers and Barry Neal both gave a talk. In reality they were never expected to hit the runway. Black Buck One was done to demonstrate that we could reach out and get at the Argies from Ascension Island.
    Martin Withers currently pilots the UK's only flying Vulcan and Barry Neal fast taxis the YAM's Victor.
     

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