30 years ago: the Falkand War
 

On 2 April 1982, Argentine forces mounted amphibious landings of the Falkland Island, following the civilian occupation of South Georgia on 19 March, before the Falklands War began.
The invasion met a nominal defence organised by the Governor Rex Hunt, giving command to Major Mike Norman of the Royal Marines.

The British sent a task Force and recaptured the Falklands ending with the Surrender of the Argentinian troops June 14th 1982 after 25 days of fierce fighting.

British losses:
256 KIA
777 WIA
Two posthumous Victoria Crosses were awarded:
Lt. Colonel Herbert Jones OBE, The Parachute Regiment
Sergeant Ian John McKay, The Parachute Regiment

Six RN Ships were sunk in the campaign:
HMS Antelope
HMS Ardent
HMS Coventry
HMS Sheffield
RFA Sir Galahad
RV Atlantic Conveyor

Argentinian losses:
746 KIA
1336 WIA

The Argentinian Navy lost the Cruiser ARA General Belgrano (ex USS Phoenix) sunk by Torpedo from HMS Conqueror.


"Task Force South" a BBC documentary about the Falkland war:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XsI8...=UL1XAGzjAMAZ8

It's hard to believe it's been that long.

Argentine Navy also lost ARA Santa Fe (S-21) which was captured by Briton and later sank along a pier.

It indeed feels like it happened two years ago.
Well let's hope Argentina gave up its plans ..


OT
The british fleet was very lucky .. or the argentine dumb.

Regarding this other thread about the conventional submarine types 209, the Dolphin and the latest successor 212:

" ... During the Falklands War the Argentinian Type 209/1200 submarine "San Luis" fired some wire guided torpedos at the British fleet (some sources claim one target was carrier Invincible and its escorts, but this is not confirmed). The inexperienced operators accidentally reversed the polarity in the electric gyroscopes during maintenance so the torpedos could not be steered. ..."

" ... one of the Argentine sailors who was in charge of periodic maintenance of the torpedoes had inadvertently reversed the polarity of power cables between the torpedoes and the submarine. This meant that when the torpedoes' gyros were spun up, they ran "backwards" and thus tumbled on launch, preventing the weapons from taking up their proper heading. ..."

Here is a documentation about a almost forgotten episode from the Falkland war, the role of the Royal Air Force.

XM607 - Falklands' Most Daring Raid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40knj...eature=related

Yup! I was 17 back then and just started Basic Training in January 1982.
History sounds always so far away, like big old dusty books forgotten in the Library, but History is made around us, everyday.
:salute:

Yes, that story catches me time and again. The British Admiral has admitted some years ago that if the volley would have found its target - he implied that it was the carrier indeed - and put the carrier out of operation, the British force would have needed to accept defeat and withdraw immediately. The Falklands then would have been Argentinian today.

For the want of a nail, as the saying goes...

Bloody hell 30 years I was in my second year down the coal mine how time flies.
And do remember it well singing a song in the pub
"What shall we do with the Argentinians"
"What shall we do with the Argentinians"
"Early in the morning"
"Bomb bomb bomb the bastards,"Bomb bomb bomb the bastards early in the morning"

And: time for a plug here, there is a nice article about the the Argentine subs in the Falkland War in the 08 Submarine Almanac. Do you have a copy? No, well, it's certainly worth $23, you'll enjoy the Subsim book. :salute:

Oh yeah. I've been writing down my life story for my kids to read someday. My time in Vietnam is still as fresh in my mind as if it were yesterday, yet it was so long ago that today's servicemen and women consider my kids to be old.

Argentina also lost the patrol boat Islas Malvinas (Captured), patrol boat Río Iguazú (captured), blockade runner Río Carcarañá (sunk), AGI Narwal (captured/sunk), transport ship Isla de los Estados (sunk), transport Bahía Buen Suceso (captured/sunk), and one more cargo ship whose name I cant find.

Marcantilan will be along shortly to help with the name, hopefully. If anyone here should know it'll be him. :DL

ARA Monsunen - armed coaster: She survived the attack of two British frigates and a helicopter, successfully avoiding them by running aground at Seal Cove. Her supply mission was eventually carried out by ARA Forrest, which towed her to Darwin. Recovered by British forces on 29 may, after the battle of Goose Green.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...sunen-1976.jpg

That day, when the HMS Sheffield was torpedoed and sunk I was a boyscout on visit to England doing some joint camping with boyscouts from Sheffield which stood for "Sheffield Steel". The whole city was paralyzed. Not good for the morale to name war ships after cities.