Falklands but with fresh Mayo

[Admiral Beez]

Let's have Argentina's carrier Veinticinco de Mayo have a refit in 1981, including upgrades to machinery and catapult in order to operate fully laden Skyhawks, Super Etendards and Trackers. Any impact in Argentina's war plans and its success?

 

[EwenS]

Let's have Argentina's carrier Veinticinco de Mayo have a refit in 1981, including upgrades to machinery and catapult in order to operate fully laden Skyhawks, Super Etendards and Trackers. Any impact in Argentina's war plans and its success?

Just how can this even be done?

Argentina's economy was tanking. That was the whole point of the Falklands War for the Junta - to divert attention away from the state of the economy. The later plans to replace her steam plant came to nothing for the same reasons.

The Jimmy Carter Administration in the US imposed an arms embargo in 1977 (effective from 1 Oct 1978) in response to human rights abuses in Argentina. It lasted for 12 years. So no military aid, training or arms sales allowed. So no help coming from there for ship or aircraft (the only country then producing steam catapults for example). That is why the Argentinian Navy sought out the Super Etendard from France in 1979.

The contractual arrangements for the Super Etendards meant that delivery and training in France was only to start in 1981. Only 5 aircraft with 5 AM39 air launched Exocets reached Argentina late in 1981, and the integration of the Exocets wasn't due to begin until April 1982. The remainder had to await the lifting of EU arms embargo later in 1982. It was 1983 before they first went aboard the carrier.

Apparently the Argentine Navy tried to acquire 16 A-4E Skyhawks from Israel in 1982. The funds were there I understand but export authorisation was never requested. Seems odd if the funds were really there. Once the civilian govt was elected in Dec 1983 they tried again. This time for 12 modernised by Elbit. 2 aircraft were modified and given Argentinian markings but never delivered.

The 25 De Mayo was in need of major work, that would have needed significant planning and yard time if your wish list is to be fulfilled.

 

[FrL]

Let's have Argentina's carrier Veinticinco de Mayo have a refit in 1981, including upgrades to machinery and catapult in order to operate fully laden Skyhawks, Super Etendards and Trackers. Any impact in Argentina's war plans and its success?

If the 25 de Mayo had been fully functional, when it detected the English flatops first, it would have had the advantage. He could then have sent his A-4Qs to attack and, with a bit of luck, damaged or sunk the Hermes or Invicible.
If the SuE had already been qualified to operate aboard her, the Argentinians would have had a considerable advantage.
While it seems possible that the 25 survived the British submarines long enough to launch a first wave of attack, the question remains: would the S-2 Trackers have been able to protect it over the long term ?
But I think the Argentine air force would have had to be more heavily involved to protect a mass sortie by the Argentine fleet and launch a saturation attack against the two British aircraft carriers spearheaded by the A-4Qs (with a greater range than the land-based aircraft) and the SuE/Exocet.
I think we would have seen a mini Midawy battle !

 

[Shortround6]

While it seems possible that the 25 survived the British submarines long enough to launch a first wave of attack, the question remains: would the S-2 Trackers have been able to protect it over the long term ?
I think we would have seen a mini Midawy battle !

It might have been just a few days before the HMS Splendid took out the 25 de Mayo. The S-2s were doing double duty trying to provide recon for the Argentines and trying to provide AS security. The ASW abilities of the S-2s may have been a bit lacking against modern nuclear submarines. The sub tracking the 25 de Mayo was only about 6-7 months old.

 

[FrL]

It would be interesting to imagine that some time before the start of Operation Rosario, the Argentinians decided to prepare for a strong response from the British. Exceptional funds would be given to the various armed forces.
The Navy would use these funds to modernise the ARA 25 de Mayo considerably (propulsion and catapult in particular) and ask the French to accelerate the delivery schedule for the Super Etendard and order more Exocet.
These funds could also be used to refurbish as many A-4Q Skyhawks as possible. The Israelis agreed to deliver spare parts, but refused to deliver new A-4Es without US re-export authorisation. Perhaps with a strong will on the part of the Israeli government, these A-4Es could have been smuggled in.
Another way of improving the 25 would have been to use these funds to buy second-hand Etendard IVMs from the French to replace the Skyhawks. They have no Exocet capability, but can launch AS-30s and AS-20s. They can be useful in the air-to-air role with R-550 Magics.