30 years ago: the Falkand War

Kongo Otto · 06-09-12, 05:14 AM

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:

Sailor Steve · 06-09-12, 06:31 AM

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

kraznyi_oktjabr · 06-09-12, 06:40 AM

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

Catfish · 06-09-12, 06:40 AM

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. ..."

Kongo Otto · 06-09-12, 07:12 AM

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:

Kongo Otto · 06-09-12, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

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

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.

Skybird · 06-09-12, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catfish

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. ..."

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.

Oberon · 06-09-12, 07:23 AM

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

BossMark · 06-09-12, 07:31 AM

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"

Onkel Neal · 06-09-12, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybird

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.

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.

Sailor Steve · 06-09-12, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kongo Otto

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.

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.

TLAM Strike · 06-09-12, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kraznyi_oktjabr

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

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.

Herr-Berbunch · 06-09-12, 11:29 AM

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

Jimbuna · 06-09-12, 04:25 PM

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.

Dan D · 06-09-12, 07:31 PM

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.

06-09-12, 05:14 AM	#1
Kongo Otto Commodore Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Augsburg / Germany Posts: 631 Downloads: 203 Uploads: 0	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:

06-09-12, 06:31 AM	#2
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	It's hard to believe it's been that long. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

06-09-12, 06:40 AM	#3
kraznyi_oktjabr Sea Lord Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Republiken Finland Posts: 1,803 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	Argentine Navy also lost ARA Santa Fe (S-21) which was captured by Briton and later sank along a pier. __________________ You talk to God, you're religious. God talks to you, you're psychotic. - Dr. House

06-09-12, 07:31 AM	#9
BossMark Fleet Admiral Join Date: May 2011 Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire Posts: 15,272 Downloads: 278 Uploads: 0	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" __________________ Never trust the Tories look what Thatcher and Major did in the 80s and 90s and look what the wicked witch May is doing now doing now

06-09-12, 11:29 AM	#13
Herr-Berbunch Kaiser Bill's batman Join Date: May 2010 Location: AN72 Posts: 13,203 Downloads: 76 Uploads: 0	Marcantilan will be along shortly to help with the name, hopefully. If anyone here should know it'll be him. __________________

06-09-12, 06:40 AM	#4
Catfish Dipped Squirrel Operative Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: ..where the ocean meets the sky Posts: 17,765 Downloads: 38 Uploads: 0	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. ..."

06-09-12, 07:12 AM	#5
Kongo Otto Commodore Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Augsburg / Germany Posts: 631 Downloads: 203 Uploads: 0	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:

06-09-12, 07:23 AM	#8
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	For the want of a nail, as the saying goes...

06-09-12, 04:25 PM	#14
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,461 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	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. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

06-09-12, 07:31 PM	#15
Dan D Grey Wolf Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: 9th Flotilla Posts: 839 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	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. __________________