Can Venezuela Defeat England?

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by lesrae

They could possibly beat England, but not the United Kingdom

Scottish factor?

[lesrae]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

Scottish factor?

And Welsh, and Irish.

[Godalmighty83]

well we need something to test the astutes out on, have they got any big ships we can sink this time?

[Hakahura]

Well going by the UK's last foray into those waters against a Latin Navy, 1 Astute should be more than enough.

Last time 3 simple unguided Mk8 torpedos found their target, the General Belgrano was sunk and the rest of the Argentinian Navy fled for port. Possibly the most cost effective Naval engament ever? An entire fleet taken out for the cost of 3 vintage torpedos. What a shame the Junta of the time did not see the writing on the wall at this juncture.

Be a few years yet before the Asutes reach fleet service, but I'm sure the existing Trafalgars are more than up to the task.

As a I said in a previous post this is most probably a case of "sabre rattling".
Can't really see an advantage in such a move for Venezuela.
Not to mention the fact that the residents of the Falkland Islands have repeatedly expressed their wish to remain UK subjects. They have been there for generations and as far as I'm aware there is no supressed silent minority yearning for "liberation".

[Linton]

Only England?Does this mean that the rest of Great Britain will not be attacked?

[Spruence M]

Only way the english will loose a war these days is the same reason america will loose one.

If the people of their nation have no balls and cry and whine about it until the government just gives up.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Spruence M

Only way the english will loose a war these days is the same reason america will loose one.

If the people of their nation have no balls and cry and whine about it until the government just gives up.

Not that I'm 'anti war' mind you ....but both countries have been doing a fair job of ignoring their people over the Iraq situation :hmm:

[fatty]

Originally Posted by Hakahura

Last time 3 simple unguided Mk8 torpedos found their target, the General Belgrano was sunk and the rest of the Argentinian Navy fled for port. Possibly the most cost effective Naval engament ever? An entire fleet taken out for the cost of 3 vintage torpedos.

Actual UK equipment casualties:

10 (Sea) Harriers
24 helicopters
2 destroyers
2 frigates
1 LSL landing ship
1 LCU amphibious craft
1 containership

Source: wiki. Puts things into a different perspective I think.

[Subnuts]

Imperialist fools! With two of Holland's underwater sea devils in the possession of the glorious maritime forces of Venezuela, any English fleet that dare lay by our naval base at Caracas will be instantly vanquished! (Twirls moustache)

[Hakahura]

Originally Posted by fatty

Actual UK equipment casualties:

10 (Sea) Harriers
24 helicopters
2 destroyers
2 frigates
1 LSL landing ship
1 LCU amphibious craft
1 containership

Source: wiki. Puts things into a different perspective I think.

Yes those figures are correct fatty.

I was referring to the main "Naval" engagement of that war.

After the sinking of the General Belgrano the Argentinean Navy returned to port for the duration of hostilities. The losses you quote were inflicted by land based aircraft and ground forces.

As this is a Submarine based forum I was trying to illustrate the shear dominance of the SSN in blue water operations.

Stategically the sinking of the General Belgrano was huge. It proved the dangers of approaching the exclusion zone, thus denying resupply from sea. This then left resupply from air as the only option. An option long known to be fraught with difficulty. Even more so if there is only one usable runway.

Today 25 years on the same submarine/s that patrol the oceans have the ability to close airfields themselves. Were a conflict such as the Falklands War to be repeated the antagonists would have to be certain they could eliminate UK SSNs. Whilst not an expert on Venezuelan ASW capability I believe this is a task beyond their reach.

I'll say it again "Sabre Rattling"

Though something else for the UK goverment to keep its eye on.....

Trouble at home, whiping up the population against a foreign power... ect...
Not a new trick in politics, one I'm sure all readers can think of a few examples of throughout history.

[Jimbuna]

If it hadn't of been for the loss of the Atlantic Conveyor and the equipment they were preparing to disembark from her, the conflict would have been shortened further

[Tchocky]

Originally Posted by lesrae

And Welsh, and Irish.

Dare I slip the word "Northern" in here?