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.

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.

Marcantilan · 06-13-12, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

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.

Here they are:

ARA Santa Fe (sunk, April 25 by air attack)
ARA General Belgrano (sunk, May 2 by HMS Conqueror)
Narwal (sunk, May 9 by air attack)
ARA Isla de los Estados (sunk, May 10 by HMS Alacrity)
GC83 Río Iguazú (sunk, May 22 by air attack)
ELMA Río Carcarañá (sunk, May 24 by air attack)

Yehuín (captured)
Forrest (captured)
Monsunen (captured)
Penélope (captured)
ARA Bahía Buen Suceso (captured)
GC82 Islas Malvinas (captured)

Forrest, Monsunen and Penélope were firstly captured by the Argentine Navy.

Is interesting to note that ARA Bahia Buen Suceso was sunk by HMS Onyx on October 21, 1982. She fired 3 (three) brand new Mk.24 torpedoes, but the first two malfunctioned.

Wire guided torpedoes were imperfect machines in the early `80s, and blaming ARA San Luis crew for the same faults the Royal Navy experienced is, in my very humble opinion, not fair. In any case, the petty officer story and the incorrect wiring is false: see Subsim Almanac 2008 for the proper history...

Regards!

SilentOtto · 06-11-12, 12:54 PM

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.

Wow, that was a Balao, the USS Catfish! Thanks for the info!

mapuc · 06-11-12, 02:05 PM

This thread makes me remember some scenarios in Fleet Command

In one of them the maker wrote this

"What would have been if Argentine cruiser General Belgrano had not been sunk by HMS Conqueror on 2nd May 1982 and Argentine Navy had chosen a battle rather then withrawal from the sea ? On 1st May 1982 they had three Task Groups on the sea composed of 1 carrier, 1 cruiser, 4 destroyers, 3 frigates and 1 conventional submarine against Royal Navy's 2 carriers, 4 destroyers 5 frigates and 3 SSN. Argentine Navy had more Exocet missiles on board their ships than the British Task Group at that time.

One thing is to play on of these two scenarios(England or Argentina) an another thing is the real life. But it made me think, what if....

Markus

Jimbuna · 06-11-12, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mapuc

This thread makes me remember some scenarios in Fleet Command

In one of them the maker wrote this

"What would have been if Argentine cruiser General Belgrano had not been sunk by HMS Conqueror on 2nd May 1982 and Argentine Navy had chosen a battle rather then withrawal from the sea ? On 1st May 1982 they had three Task Groups on the sea composed of 1 carrier, 1 cruiser, 4 destroyers, 3 frigates and 1 conventional submarine against Royal Navy's 2 carriers, 4 destroyers 5 frigates and 3 SSN. Argentine Navy had more Exocet missiles on board their ships than the British Task Group at that time.

One thing is to play on of these two scenarios(England or Argentina) an another thing is the real life. But it made me think, what if....

Markus

IMHO the Argentinians would have been at risk from the SSNs and possibly have suffered a similar fate as that of the Belgrano.

Marcantilan · 06-13-12, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mapuc

This thread makes me remember some scenarios in Fleet Command

In one of them the maker wrote this

"What would have been if Argentine cruiser General Belgrano had not been sunk by HMS Conqueror on 2nd May 1982 and Argentine Navy had chosen a battle rather then withrawal from the sea ? On 1st May 1982 they had three Task Groups on the sea composed of 1 carrier, 1 cruiser, 4 destroyers, 3 frigates and 1 conventional submarine against Royal Navy's 2 carriers, 4 destroyers 5 frigates and 3 SSN. Argentine Navy had more Exocet missiles on board their ships than the British Task Group at that time.

One thing is to play on of these two scenarios(England or Argentina) an another thing is the real life. But it made me think, what if....

Markus

Well, Argentine Navy did not whitdraw after Belgrano sinking, but the pincer movement on May 1st, 1982 was cancelled due to the inability of the Argentine carrier to launch their Skyhawks AND because a Sea Harrier (801 NAS, Flt Lt Ian Mortimer) from Invincible fixed TG 79.1 position.

In fact, Argentine Navy was retreating to secure waters (less than 120 meters) when Belgrano was hit.

And, in any case, Argentine Navy could not sustain a blue water engagement with a nuclear sub.

Regards!

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.

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.

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:

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, 11:29 AM	#5
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, 04:25 PM	#6
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,525 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!!

06-11-12, 02:05 PM	#9
mapuc CINC Pacific Fleet Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Denmark Posts: 20,537 Downloads: 37 Uploads: 0	This thread makes me remember some scenarios in Fleet Command In one of them the maker wrote this "What would have been if Argentine cruiser General Belgrano had not been sunk by HMS Conqueror on 2nd May 1982 and Argentine Navy had chosen a battle rather then withrawal from the sea ? On 1st May 1982 they had three Task Groups on the sea composed of 1 carrier, 1 cruiser, 4 destroyers, 3 frigates and 1 conventional submarine against Royal Navy's 2 carriers, 4 destroyers 5 frigates and 3 SSN. Argentine Navy had more Exocet missiles on board their ships than the British Task Group at that time. One thing is to play on of these two scenarios(England or Argentina) an another thing is the real life. But it made me think, what if.... Markus __________________ My little lovely female cat

06-09-12, 06:40 AM	#14
Catfish Dipped Squirrel Operative Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: ..where the ocean meets the sky Posts: 17,766 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	#15
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: