The Falklands

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On this one the reality was slightly different. The Broadsword and Coventry came under attack by four aircraft, two of which attacked each frigate. On the attack on the Broadsword, the two attacking planes crossed in front of each other and this caused the guidence system to trip out. If they hadn't done this there is little doubt that the two planes would have been doomed, as the ship had two firm lock ons and were simply waiting for them to come into range.
When the system tripped the ship was defenceless and although they did fire one missile, it wasn't guided and was simply fired to try and distract the attacking plane, it didn't hit anything (including the Coventry). The two planes dropped four bombs, three missed, the fourth hit the sea short of the ship and bounced up through the bottom of the flightdeck and carried away the nose of the Lynx being prepared for take off, no one being hurt.

The other two planes went for the Coventry, again the Broadsword got a lock on and this time the Coventry broke the lock by manouvering between the ships. The results of which we all know, she was hit by three bombs all of which exploaded and she did well to last 20 minutes before turning over.

I am certain that the Broadsword wasn't seriously damaged as a friend of mine who I served with in the RN was on board in the hanger when the bomb came up through the deck, as he said, 'scaring the c##p out of him'.

The Broadsword did stop to assist with the rescue of the Coventry crew and more than one person mistook the funnel smoke for a fire but she wasn't hurt.

Later in life I met the man who got the Seawolf system up after it tripped the first time. He described it as the loneliest seconds of his life as everyone knew they were defenceless and the only voice he could hear was someone saying, five miles and closing, three miles and closing, while he franctically hit the keys to get it going with everyone looking at him unable to help.
 
Of the Seawolf had been given the funding to complete. In 1973 I saw the first trials installation on HMS Mermaid during which she shot down a 4.5in shell in flight. There is no excuse why it couldn't have been installed fully operational by 1982.
 
On this one the reality was slightly different. The Broadsword and Coventry came under attack by four aircraft, two of which attacked each frigate. On the attack on the Broadsword, the two attacking planes crossed in front of each other and this caused the guidence system to trip out. If they hadn't done this there is little doubt that the two planes would have been doomed, as the ship had two firm lock ons and were simply waiting for them to come into range.
When the system tripped the ship was defenceless and although they did fire one missile, it wasn't guided and was simply fired to try and distract the attacking plane, it didn't hit anything (including the Coventry). The two planes dropped four bombs, three missed, the fourth hit the sea short of the ship and bounced up through the bottom of the flightdeck and carried away the nose of the Lynx being prepared for take off, no one being hurt.
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Actually every A-4C carried just one 454 kilograms ( 1000 pounds) bomb so 2 aircraft can only deliver 2 bombs, that mistake is also committed in the Video graphics of the National G. documentry wich the A-4s were portrayed with a centreline drop tank and two underwing bombs, when in fact was the contrary, a centreline bomb and two underwing tanks.


50qy.jpg




And yes , there was a lucky thing that the ships crossed between and the Seawolf, did not work , I remember saw a crewman saying that he manually aimed the missile and he was waiting to get the A-4 in range.
 
Glider said:
Of the Seawolf had been given the funding to complete. In 1973 I saw the first trials installation on HMS Mermaid during which she shot down a 4.5in shell in flight. There is no excuse why it couldn't have been installed fully operational by 1982.
Click to expand...

Glider, I'm sorry but I don't believe that for one picosecond.
 
Range of course, the Skyhawks reached the islands by itself but sometimes were nursed by the KC-130s on the way home. Aniway the Skyhawks had more time on target that his supposed top cover, the Mirages IIIEA wich had not in flight refueling system.

Right on Time:
Argentine Air Force's Douglas A-4B, flown by Alférez Dellepiane, comes back limping after having its fuel tanks peppered by shrapnel and AAA -thus losing all of its fuel-, over Bluff Cove on June 8th, 1982. As soon as the emergency was declared, an Air Force KC-130H was sent over to refuel the aircraft in flight, in order to keep the Skyhawk flying. You can see several fuel leaks from the A-4B leaving their trails. Both aircraft arrived safely at the mainland

Sanchez.jpg



In the attack against the HMS invincible the A-4s and super etendar were refuelled in the way to target and also when they come back to the mainland.
 
Matt308 said:
Glider, I'm sorry but I don't believe that for one picosecond.
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Which bit don't you believe. The seawolf system has down a number of shells in flight its almost a party piece when trying to sell the system overseas. On one demonstration the RN let the Chinese fire the shell from one of their own ships because they didn't believ that it could be done.
 
This may help and I apologise for having the wrong ship, it was HMS Penelope.

The requirement was issued in 1964, and work began as project Confessor. In 1967, BAC was given the contract for the missile, and Vickers were to build the launcher. Firing trials took place between 1970 and 1976 in Aberporth, Wales, and Woomera, Australia. Trials of the guidance system took place on the Leander class frigate Penelope, and shipboard missile trials took place the next year. On various trials, the missile intercepted both practice and telemetry missiles, aircraft, and even a 4.5" shell. Sea Wolf first became operational on the Type 22 frigates, and was retrofitted to the Leanders
 
Another quote to support my statement

SEAWOLF was the first operational anti-missile ship defence weapon system. It has proved its efficiency against fast sea skimming and high angle supersonic missiles. Vertical Launch SEAWOLF is a fully automatic, fast reaction, high speed, point defence missile system offering an effective counter to multiple missile attack.
VL SEAWOLF (VL = Vertical Launch) is accurate enough to intercept 4.5 inch (114 mm) shells.

and another from the RN website
The state-of-the-art weapon has proved highly effective in shooting down a wide variety of air threats such as fast sea-skimming and high-angle supersonic missiles to strike aircraft. It even has the accuracy to shoot down 4.5-inch artillery shells, and has done!

I think the point is well made matt, check before telling people they are lying.
 
They didn't drop tanks? Is that normal during a known AAA area for A-4 operations or was that of necessity to for range to make it back home?
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No, they never do that, that were carried all the way. Incidentally the first time I saw a Skyhawk without droptanks was in the movie "Top gun" 8)

A-4Q.jpg
 
Very good ones, in the first you can actually see the Rheinmethal RH-202 twin 20 mm AAA gun actually hitting a Harrier. Also is interesting the C-130 footage coming very low, sometimes these aircraft were target of british naval gunfire.


Metallica rocks by the way. :twisted:
 
Wow, I haven't been to the forum in a while. 16 pages of glory. Good videos matt, awesome footage!
 
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