By John 54 | 16 Jun 2016 2:26 p.m. PST |
Can't believe I missed this, a coupla days back, was the 34th Anniversary of the Falklands War, '34 years ago today, the Falkland Island were liberated by some of the most savage warriors the UK has to offer. Margret Thatcher sent the likes of the Parachute Regiment and Royal Marine Commandos to name but a few, to retake the British Overseas Territory from Argentinian invaders. What the US Navy called militarily impossible was achieved in just 74 days by a British Task Force which traveled 8,000 miles into a South Atlantic winter to defeat an enemy which was just 400 miles from it's home base. RIP to the lads who never made it home'
John |
GarrisonMiniatures | 16 Jun 2016 2:35 p.m. PST |
'most savage warriors the UK has to offer.' – including the Gurkhas and the Guards – in the UK, the Guards do rather more than parade up and down in pretty uniforms!. link |
Mako11 | 16 Jun 2016 2:38 p.m. PST |
Yes, Rest in Peace to those lost in such a needless war. |
nsolomon99 | 16 Jun 2016 4:31 p.m. PST |
What a remarkable campaign it was! RIP to the fallen of both sides. |
Sudwind | 16 Jun 2016 6:16 p.m. PST |
I doubt the USN felt it was impossible for their own OOB to achieve. If Britain had lost even one carrier, then they might have failed. Budget cutting had deprived the UK of a proper AEW asset and that made the fleet vulnerable. The UK task force did a superb job against a determined Argentine Air force. The Argentines were short on proper weapons (only 5 Exocet missiles and bombs not properly fused for very low altitude attacks) and tech, but the air arm certainly was not lacking in courage. Britain was fortunate indeed that Argentina had a poor submarine force, since The task force's ASW seemed to be ineffective. |
basileus66 | 17 Jun 2016 2:25 a.m. PST |
Indeed, Sudwind. Against an opponent with a larger amount of anti-surface missiles the British would have been hard pressed to reconquer the Falklands. I read somewhere -can't remember exactly where- that if the Argentinian Junta would have waited just six months, the British would have been without the naval assets needed to make the operation work. |
uglyfatbloke | 17 Jun 2016 6:13 a.m. PST |
Losing a second container ship would have done the trick. |
Vigilant | 17 Jun 2016 6:33 a.m. PST |
Basileus66 is correct. Hermes was about to be sold, so there would have just been 1 carrier. Good to know that we have learnt from that with superb modern destroyers and a decent carrier fleet. Oh, I forget, the destroyers need an extra engine and won't operate in warm water and the new carrier won't have any aircraft for years. The mainstay of air defence for the fleet, the Harrier, sold off. Good to know our governments of the last 34 years are on the ball. |
Royston Papworth | 17 Jun 2016 8:09 a.m. PST |
funny, after agonising over painting 20mm DPM, looking at that picture I wonder why I bothered. Paint 'em green, few blobs of brown and light brown, job done! All those hours wasted… |
Legion 4 | 17 Jun 2016 8:13 a.m. PST |
RIP to all involved … John 54 … are you in that pic ? |
Weasel | 17 Jun 2016 10:47 a.m. PST |
The mandatory Sabaton song for the occasion YouTube link While we're on the topic, any good "blow by blow" single-volume book, with the kind of stuff that's of interest to wargamers? |
79thPA | 17 Jun 2016 10:55 a.m. PST |
@Weasel: Have you read Tango's posts on his experiences and the state of Argentinian forces? |
Tango01 | 17 Jun 2016 11:30 a.m. PST |
Well… It was no picnic… (smile) Amicalement Armand |
Oberlindes Sol LIC | 17 Jun 2016 12:42 p.m. PST |
I guess that the Falklands War really marked the end of the Monroe Doctrine. |
Legion 4 | 18 Jun 2016 7:38 a.m. PST |
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Tango01 | 18 Jun 2016 10:54 a.m. PST |
It marked the end of many things my friend… Amicalement Armand |
55th Division | 18 Jun 2016 2:56 p.m. PST |
at least we still have you Armand |
Legion 4 | 18 Jun 2016 4:34 p.m. PST |
Yes, very glad the Angel of Death missed you … |
Jemima Fawr | 19 Jun 2016 10:36 a.m. PST |
Glenn, The Monroe Doctrine was not applicable, as this was neither an attempt by a European power to establish a new colony or an attempt by a European power to interfere in the internal affairs of an American country. The UK was also fully authorised to carry out military action by UN Security Council Resolution 502. |
Tango01 | 19 Jun 2016 3:14 p.m. PST |
Many thanks my friends!… (smile) Amicalement Armand |
Andy P | 21 Jun 2016 3:52 a.m. PST |
See if they are silly enough to try it again. |
Legion 4 | 21 Jun 2016 6:36 a.m. PST |
The Monroe Doctrine ? |
By John 54 | 07 Aug 2016 9:17 a.m. PST |
Sorry, legion, no, these boys are nearly all Royal Marines, I did zoom in on some faces, me, they are 'nails'! John |
Legion 4 | 08 Aug 2016 3:54 p.m. PST |
Hardy looking lot … some tough hombres there John ! As we said on another post … "Shows the courage and determination of the UK fighting forces." … And that I have never doubted … |