Falklands War

klong

20th anniversary this year.
What are peoples views on it?
Was it totally unneccessary?
Who should have won?

My views would be thus:
The people of the Falklands were [and still are] totally opposed to Argentinian rule. The view of the inhabitants should be taken more into account. Therefore, the UK was right to send the taskforce.

With all the controversy surrounding the sinking of the Belgrano, it should not be forgotten that it drove the Argentinian navy back to port. They were prepared to sink British aircraft carriers, and had an airstrike ready to go from their own carrier at one stage to attack Hermes. Because of the weather, they were unable to do so.

Despite the fact that the war was fought 8000 miles from Britain, it was they who emerged as the victors. The US view was that they would have needed 2 CVNs and a marine landing to do the job. If the Argentinians were better equipped and trained, they probably should have won.

ButcherOfNog

argentina lost due to the fact that they didn't push home air attacks on the british carriers from what i can remember

who was right or wrong? silly invasion tbh, they deserved ton lose.

Fidelis

The majority of the Argentine landing force was comprosed of conscripts. I can't picture myself dying for a group of useless rocky islands when I'm 18. There was a good documentary on C4 a few weeks ago about the war. Some factors were pointed out:

The British government *asked* France to discontinue supply of Exocets to Argentina. Argentina tried to buy them on the black market. British MI6 operatives stopped any chance of Argentina getting more Exocets. Argentina only had a handful (less then 10 I think) of the air-launched Exocets. They did, however, have a good few sea-launched Exocets. As a last act of desperation, though not taking away from the brilliance of it, Argentine engineers converted a sea-launched Exocet to be fired from the back of a truck at Port Stanley harbour. I think it narrowly missed one the British frigates.

An interesting fact is that one of the Exocets was fired at a British aircraft carrier but instead of going straight for it, was redirected to an even larger target - a supply ship. Doh. It hit the supply ship and destroyed a few Chinooks. Funny thing is that the Argentines believe - to this day - that they sunk the aircraft carrier. They even have a ceremeny each year to mark the occassion.

The British Army's SAM system at the time (Rapier) didn't work properly and their naval vessals had no decent point defence system. In a cheap move, a British harrier pilot shot down an Argentine Hercules and one of their subs destroyed the Gen. Belgrano outside the exclusion zone.

It only lasted about 3 months, but their were so many factors which could have meant victory for either side.

Victor

Originally posted by Fidelis
An interesting fact is that one of the Exocets was fired at a British aircraft carrier but instead of going straight for it, was redirected to an even larger target - a supply ship. Doh. It hit the supply ship and destroyed a few Chinooks. Funny thing is that the Argentines believe - to this day - that they sunk the aircraft carrier. They even have a ceremeny each year to mark the occassion.

The ship, the Atlantic Conveyor, was sunk on the 25th of May, Argentine Independance Day, hence the ceremonies. And there was a lot more than the Chinooks on board.

Paddy De Plasterer

Deaglan DE Breadun who is departing the Irish Times, says that Haughey's conduct over the Falklands was to quote DdeB "his finest hour". Haughey backed a South American dictator just to have a pop at The Brits, as state papers reveal. And he tried to get UN sanctions against Argentina lifted. He caused a major rift in Anglo/Irish relations which lasted for a long time.

Even France and Germany, traditional UK enemies backed the UK against the dictator Galtieri.

mattjack

Paddy, the thread is twelve years old.

Paddy De Plasterer

It has been reactivated by release of state papers under 30 year rule a few days ago. Showed the type of chancer and thug Haughey was.

cherryghost

If you want to discuss this matter, try Politics or even After Hours. Strategy forum is now only used for video games.