hi guys, just read the thread and was interested about all the books on the falklands i remember reading a book called "dont cry for me sgt maj" but cant remember the authors.does anybody know. i think a similar book was brought about the troops in germany philip
This one? Don't Cry for Me, Sergeant-Major: A unique portrait of the Falklands war - from the sharp end: Amazon.co.uk: Jeremy Hands, Robert McGowan: Books and this one? Try Not to Laugh, Sergeant-major: Amazon.co.uk: Jeremy Hands, Robert McGowan: Books
Interestingly I just found out that the Belgrano was ear marked to be placed in Port Stanley as an artillery platform with her 15cm guns having a range of some 12 miles. This was planned to take place after the Argentians Naval pincer movement on the British Task Force at sea which resulted in HMS Conqueror sinking the Belgrano.
Those two books saw me through many a hospital ward stay....Everyone wondering why I was on floor curled up in fits....Laugh on every page....And in most cases even if not all true...I can believe most of it to be true....Gallows humour at its best... Drew, where did you get that little gem from about the Belgrano to be used as a gun pit...?
Some Argentian Admiral. It was in a 'What If' Documentary about the war looking at mistakes etc on both sides, quite interesting. One General/Admiral, not sure if it was Woodward or Thompson now, even mentioned the possibility of using nuclear weapons on the island if the Argentians had built a longer runway so they could have used their jet fighters from the island.
Cheers Drew...Wasnt there a bit in The Falklands Silent Voices or lost voices book about the Nuke scenario at Northwood? Jolly Jack Tar wandering what was going on in the Polaris office at times...
I've read the book (Forgotten Voices of the Flaklands). I can't remember Nukes being mentioned in the book though. Prior to the Argentians invading the Falklands the Royal Navy was on a big exercise and they had Nukes on board some of their ships. They never had time to remove them from the ships when they were ordered south to the Ascension Islands.
Recommendations for awards are in WO373/188. However the NA list 188 as containing "British awards to foreign (not gazetted)". Enter South Atlantic in the theatre field to find them, but use the Digital Microfilm download to avoid £3.50
I've read the book (Forgotten Voices of the Flaklands). I can't remember Nukes being mentioned in the book though. Prior to the Argentians invading the Falklands the Royal Navy was on a big exercise and they had Nukes on board some of their ships. They never had time to remove them from the ships when they were ordered south to the Ascension Islands. yeah sorry..forgotten voices...navy guy does mention possible use..he was at Northwood..Ill find relevent passage when Ihave time.
If Argentina can wait a couple of years they stand a better chance after todays defence review... Getting rid of Ark Royal and the joint harrier force etc.. When was the last time we (nearly) got rid of our carriers? ! ?.. I cannot remember (cough)
If Argentina can wait a couple of years they stand a better chance after todays defence review... Getting rid of Ark Royal and the joint harrier force etc.. When was the last time we (nearly) got rid of our carriers? ! ?.. I cannot remember (cough) They'll not be visiting the Falklands any time soon - The RAF are well represented on the Falklands now with a few Eurofighters and there is around a Battalion strength garrison on the islands. I suspect they may even get a visit now and then from a submarine or two not that anyone would know.
When was the last time we (nearly) got rid of our carriers? ! ?.. I cannot remember (cough) 1978. It was when the last Ark Royal was decommissioned and the FAA's fixed-wing aircraft were brought "ashore", then scrapped - the RAF got the last of the FAA's Buccaneers. Eagle was scrapped two years before that, and only Hermes was left as a helicopter-flying "commando carrier" for the Norway coast interdiction option with Fearless and Intrepid.
I thought we had a thread running on the Falklands War? Please move if there is one. Feel free to add any Falklands War related stories Andy A friend here in Toronto who is ex SBS was on board HMS Sheffield when she was hit by the exocet missile. 22 British sailors died Randy
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... Kris Ward, the Harrier pilot who challenged David Cameron over the decision to retire the Harrier from service, is Sharkey's son. Defence review: Falklands hero's son challenges Cameron on Harrier cuts - Telegraph
I picked up on the 'Sharkey' link when I first saw the discussion on TV last night. True to form I haven't seen whether Cameron answered the question: 'should I be looking for another job?' I just can't understand all the fudging here - WILL the Harriers be SCRAPPED or mothballed? WILL there be any Nimrod or similar coverage? Is everyone dodging a simple answer to a simple question? Thought so! I can't be the only one to be thinking the apparently obvious solution - keep Harrier going until there is a better plane to fly off the new carriers. Or am I just too straightforward? Mike
The reason for scrapping the Harrier is that it was decided that one type of aircraft, either the Harrier or the Tornado, had to go in order to save costs. Is it that much more expensive to have 40 Tornadoes and 40 Harriers than 80 of the same type? I've heard nothing about whether the Harriers are to be scrapped, sold or mothballed. The problem with mothballing the Harriers is that pilots will not be able to practice the special skills required to fly this aircraft. If the Tornado had been withdrawn, a similar argument would apply to navigators. Had a smaller number of each type been retained, it might have been easier to have mothballed the others, since aircrew would have been able to remain current on type.
They'll not be visiting the Falklands any time soon - The RAF are well represented on the Falklands now with a few Eurofighters and there is around a Battalion strength garrison on the islands. I suspect they may even get a visit now and then from a submarine or two not that anyone would know. Depends how much they want em Drew...Like the Cold war...the Russian overflights were designed in run up to any war to exhaust the RAF before any shooting started. I would hazard that the islands are worth the Argie air force mounting numerous continuous waves at islands, until the air force is either exhausted or oblitierated. The argi numbers will tell in short term before other aircraft could be flown to help em out. No airbridge could then reinforce islands if argies have air superiority. No major reinforcement will arrive by air while the Argies have the air. The ground strengh although small is quite impresseive for its size on islands, bUt unless reinforced will too be overwhelmed depending on argies need for islands. Sub could endanger any Argie navy move....But what if they disperse their landing force in pincer movement...How many subs do we have in the area at any one time. Argies of course would need some time to prepare...After all who could not see any moves to the islands..Oh yeah..Us in 80's.
according to wiki there are only 4 Typhoons on the islands. Military of the Falkland Islands - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia No. 1435 Flight RAF - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
