The Falklands

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

One of my Army buddys who was lucky enough to see the fighting told me that the thing had be brought down with a single round through the radiator.

To experience combat is not lucky...

I have experienced and I think the others in this forum who have will agree with me on that.

 

[blue_halloween]

At the time i was trained, young fit and ready to fight.You wanted, to see how good you were, to be tested.Im trying to relate to how i felt then and at the time i was so frustrated at not going, and people that did, in the eyes of a fully trained eighteen year old seemed lucky.I can be quite sure i would have changed my mind under fire but i was,nt.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Just from my experience. When I joined at 20 I knew that I might have to go to war and for that I trained very hard but I had no desire to prove myself or to go to war. I dont think anyone in my unit really wanted to either.

Then after serving in combat for 14 months I realized that I was correct in not wanting to go to war. War sucks and it is nothing to lucky about...

That is just from my experiences though.

 

[CharlesBronson]

One of my Army buddys who was lucky enough to see the fighting told me that the thing had be brought down with a single round through the radiator.

Uh..????


Are you talking about this aircraft...?

or perhaps about this ...?

 

[CharlesBronson]

No notices of Blue hallowen..??? Ha ¡¡¡ Why I am not surprized. Some people made "hit and runs", post crap and then disapear.


Well, back on topic, information about Argentine Armada Sbd on request by some Hungarian Member.


The ARA Santa Fe S-21 (Guppy II type) operated in the Falklands and Georgias.
It was used to infiltrate Buzos Tácticos ( Navy divers) during April 2nd and then used to reinforce the presence in the Georgias with a reduced group of marines (codename: Golf)
Damaged due to the impact of an AS-12 missile launched by Sea Lynx in the morning of April 25th, it managed to reach Grytviken.

Later, when the Argentinian forces surrendered, some personnel of the Santa Fe was order to move the sub to another position.Is not clear why but NCO Artuso ,who was operating the "manifold" and have to make fast moves in very short time was shot dead by a trigger happy RN marine.

In the summer of 1984-85 RMAS Goosander and other ship called Salvageman tried to tow ARA Sante Fe, but failed because of the severe conditions at sea.

The other was ARA San Luis.
The ARA San Luis was a Type 209 german sub, built in 1974 and it's situation wasn´t the best: refrigeration ducts and main structure covered with incrustations. Due to the need of the ship, divers started the cleaning operations because Mar del Plata's base lacked of a dry dock.

When te job was finished, the ship was re-supplied and armed with SST-4 and Honeywell Mk37 torpedoes.

By April 11th ARA San Luis was at the sea, travelling to the Falklands. During one of the exercises the fire director computer broke down. Azcueta informed this to his superiors, but with the lack of any other submarine (ARA Salta was at the dry dock) the mission have to continue.

The first contact with the enemy navy was in May 1st, when the sonnar detected the presence of one target cassified as a destroyer.
At 1015 the San Luis launched an SST-4 to the target, but it failed due to the cut of the cable. Then the sub was attacked with depth charges, but managed to escape from it's persuders.

The last "offensive" mission took place May 11 at 0140 when San Luis launched SST-4 torpedo to one target classified as frigate, but again the torpedo cable failed.
The commander Azcueta broke radio silence and informed his situation. The order: return to the base and try to repair the fire director.
By June 14th personnel of ARA San Luis were still trying to fix the sub to return to the Falklands.

The problem with SST-4 were in the fire train, that allows the explosion of the charge of the war head and the unrolling system of the cable.

 

[CharlesBronson]

Attack against the HMS Antelope, 23th may 1982:

In this date Argentine Air Force Escuadron III Grupo 5 A-4B and Argentine Navy Third Escuadrilla A-4Q Skyhawks attacked the type 21 Amazon class frigate, the HMS Antelope. During the attack A-4Q/B piloted by Captain P. Carballo was inverted by an exploding missile but damaged it manage to return the mainland.

Damage on Carballo s A-4.

A Group 5 Skyhawk piloted by 1st leutenat L.Guadagnini was hit by 20mm cannon in the moment he was dropping his bomb. He manage to hit the Antelope with the 500 kilograms weapon but crashed against an radar mast.

Another Skyhawk piloted by ensign H. Gómez dropped a bomb on HMS Antelope but the bomb didn't explode.

The Argentine attacks scored multiple bomb hits on Antelope causing serious damage and fires. The still afloat Antelope was forced from combat. During the night, while attempting to disarm an un-exploded bomb, the artifact exploded opening Antelope's hull and cutting the ship in half. HMS Antelope sank in the morning of the day 24th..

 

[Glider]

The ARA Santa Fe S-21 (Guppy II type) operated in the Falklands and Georgias.
It was used to infiltrate Buzos Tácticos ( Navy divers) during April 2nd and then used to reinforce the presence in the Georgias with a reduced group of marines (codename: Golf)
Damaged due to the impact of an AS-12 missile launched by Sea Lynx in the morning of April 25th, it managed to reach Grytviken.

CB If it helps, the information I have is that the Santa Fe was first attacked by a Wessex from HMS Antrim that dropped two depth Charges which damaged her so she couldn't submerge. She was then harrased by machine gun fire from the Wessex and a Lynx from HMS Brilliant. The AS12 was fired by a Wasp from HMS Endurance that punched through the fin seriously injuring a machine gunner who had been trying to defend the Sub against the Wessex and the Lynx.
The machine gunner lost his legs and was taken on bord the Antrim for medical care.

 

[Glider]

Attack against the HMS Antelope, 23th may 1982:

CB My information is similar but different in a few respects.
During the first attack on the Antelope, Lt Filipini struck the after mast of the Anterlope with his drop tank. He survived the attack and the only damage to the drop tank was a deep gouge to one side of the tank with a fin knocked off. This was checked on landing at Rio Gallegos
Lt Guadagnini was also in this attack and his machine was hit by a Sea Wolf and possibly a Rapier resulting in his death.
A second strike by 3rd Escuadrilla came in almost at the same time and Lt Rotolo reported that they hadn't been expecting the Rapiers to be in place. This unit escaped without loss but on landing Lt Com Zubizarreta drifted off the runway, he ejected and was killed when the seat failed to operate correctly. Strangely enough the plane was later repaired and had he stayed with it, he would have survived.

Hope this is of interest

 

[CharlesBronson]

CB If it helps, the information I have is that the Santa Fe was first attacked by a Wessex from HMS Antrim that dropped two depth Charges which damaged her so she couldn't submerge. She was then harrased by machine gun fire from the Wessex and a Lynx from HMS Brilliant. The AS12 was fired by a Wasp from HMS Endurance that punched through the fin seriously injuring a machine gunner who had been trying to defend the Sub against the Wessex and the Lynx.
The machine gunner lost his legs and was taken on bord the Antrim for medical care.

Well, I woulndt cal a FM Fal a machine gun. The Captains word:

¿Podría relatar el ataque al "Santa Fe"?

Bicain: Tenía previsto partir desde la caleta a las 04:00, pero la maniobra de descarga se retrasó casi una hora. Concluida la tarea, ordeno al Jefe de Navegación partir con los motores diesel a la máxima velocidad posible y con la nave lista para ir a inmersión.

La salida de la bahía nos insumió unos 50 minutos, previendo realizar una derrota similar a la de la entrada. Cuando alcanzamos aguas abiertas envueltos por la penumbra del amanecer, caímos a babor, ya cinco minutos de pasar a inmersión nos sorprende un helicóptero Westland Wasp que salió de la nubes y nos arrojó una bomba de profundidad que expotó cerca del tanque de seguridad.

La explosión provocó no sólo el sacudimiento de la nave sino también la interrupción en el suministro de energía y el corte de comunicaciones. Ordené virar hacia la costa mientras se aproximaban más aeronaves que alcanzaron a lanzar torpedos buscadores, los que no fueron efectivos por la escasa profundidad.

En la vela se encontraban de guardia Feldman y Muraciole, estos tripulantes junto con Ghiglione, Mareco, Macias, Silva y Bustamante se armaron voluntariamente con los fusiles FAL de dotación y comenzaron a repeler el ataque.

Esta acción les negó a los helicópteros la vertical de buque y sólo les permitió dispararnos con sus armas livianas de abordo. De pronto, una de las naves enemigas nos lanzó un misil, que estimo debe haber sido un AS-ll o AS- 12, que impacta y atraviesa la vela. Pensé que habían matado a todo mi personal allí destacado, pero cuando pregunté las novedades me informan que sólo había resultado herido Macias, quien perdió una pierna. El enfermero suboficial Funes le realizó los primeros auxilios, impidiéndole hemorragias que le hubieran costado la vida ( 1 ). A pesar de los daños recibidos, pudimos alcanzar el muelle de la estación científica británica cubiertos por las armas de los IM desembarcados, que le dispararon a los helicópteros hasta con los misiles antitanque. Con esta respuesta las aeronaves británicas adoptaron posiciones más seguras. Atracamos utilizando el periscopio y en cuanto las condiciones lo permitieron la tripulación fue descendiendo de la nave, la que al tener algunos de sus tanques perforados, se apoyó rápidamente sobre el lecho que estaba a escasa profundidad de la quilla. Mi segundo, el Capitcln de Corbeta Michelis, me sugiere alejar el submarino de la costa y hundirlo, pero ante la posibilidad de que la nave todavía tuviera posibilidades de navegar, ordeno esperar hasta la noche para evaluar los daños y en caso de ser posible retiramos bajo la protección de la oscuridad (2). Lamentablemente el Capitán Lagos me infonna a las 17:00 que íbamos a rendirnos para evitar una masacre, ya que las fuerzas británicas habían rodeado la posición y dos fragatas comenzaron su hostigamiento. Lagos cumplió con las directivas políticas que le había impuesto la superioridad. Esto es que los ingleses tenían que tomar las Georgias con un acto de fuerza. Posteriormente pude apreciar que la decisión había sido acertada por la cantidad de fuerzas británicas comprometidas para la recuperación

Bebelfish translation:

Could relate the attack to "Santa Fe"? Bicain:


It had predicted to start off from the creek for 04:00, but the unloading maneuver was delayed almost one hour. Concluded the task, I order the Head of Navigation to divide with the diesel engines for the Maxima speed possible and with the ready ship to go to immersion.

The exit of the bay consumed about 50 minutes to us, anticipating to make a defeat similar to the one of the entrance. When we reached open waters surrounded by the penumbra of the dawn, caímos to port, already five minutes to happen to immersion surprise a helicopter to us Westland Wasp that left clouds and it dropped a depth bomb to us that expotó near the security tank.

The explosion also caused not only the sacudimiento of the ship but the interruption in the provision of energy and the cut of communications. I ordered to turn towards the coast while more airships came near than they reached to launch seeking torpedoes, those that were not effective by the little depth.

In the connin tower they were of Feldman guard and Muraciole, these crew along with Ghiglione, Mareco, Macias, Silva and Bustamante armed themselves voluntarily with dowry guns FAL and began to repel the attack. This action denied to the helicopters the ship vertical to them and only it allowed to shoot them to us with his light arms of attack. Suddenly, one of the enemy ships sent a missile to us, that I consider must have been AS-ll or AS 12, that hits and crosses the candle. I thought that they had killed all my there outstanding personnel, but when I asked the new features inform to me that only it had been hurt Macias, that lost a leg. The nurse Funes sergeant major made first aid to him, preventing him hemorrhages that him had cost the life (1).

In spite of the received damages, we could reach the wharf of the British scientific station places setting by the arms of the IM disembarked, that shot to him to the helicopters until with the missiles antitank. With this answer the British airships assumed safer positions. We berthed using the periscope and as soon as the conditions allowed the crew it was descending from the ship, the one that when having some of its perforated tanks, leaned quickly on the bed that was to little depth of the keel.

My second, the corvette captain Michelis, suggests to move away the submarine off the coast and to sink it, but before the possibility that the ship still had possibilities of sailing, I order to hope until the night to assess the damage and in case of being possible we retired under the protection of the dark (2). Lamentably the Captain Lakes informed me at17:00 that we were going to surrender to avoid a massacre, since the British forces had surrounded the position and two frigates began their harassment. Lakes fulfilled the political directors whom the superiority had imposed him. This is that the English had to take the Georgias with an act from force. Later I could appreciate that the decision had been guessed right by the amount of British forces it jeopardize for the recovery

--------------------

And yes Zubizarreta was hit by a strong cross wind tipical of the patagonian flats.

The Air Force report does not indicate any hit of sea wolf or rapier in Guadagnini aircraft.

A picture of Luciano Guadagnini from 5th Air Brigade killed in action 23-5-1982.

Perversely the british tabloid "The sun" published a cover with the title "Argie suicide attack pilots" in relation with the death of this pilot.

 

[Glider]

Very close with the only difference being the Wessex droping the depth charge not the Wasp.
It was almost unheard of for a Wasp to carry a depth charge as they weighed too much for safety. I used to work on the Wasp in the RN and we normally took the doors off to save weight when operating at anything like a full load.

 

[royal744]

What strange war this was! With not a single Argentinian citizen living in the Falklands, the Argentinians had the cheek to lay claim to these islands which have been British for a very, very long time. One hates to speak of such things, but frankly, the Argentinians - ruled at the time by a bunch of very dim-witted army types - were ssuffering from testosterone poisoning and blithely assumed that because a woman was the Prime Minister of Great Britain, that they could just do the tango and take it. Clearly, they had no knowledge of Margaret Thatcher. They even had the execrable bad taste to cast sexual slurs in her direction which probably sealed the deal for the Argentinians. It is a fact that the French Exocets were a grave threat to the British task force, but the Argies did not have enough of them to make a decisive difference. Little known is role played in the Falklands war of the Asian troops that England also used, some of the best fighters in the world. Frankly, Argentina was incredibly stupid to launch this disastrous adventure and, in the process, lost the only aircraft carrier they had. Now their navy air force has to practice touch and gos on American carriers when they come to call. What a waste this all has been. There are few things as dumb as the male ego given full rein, but then, on the other hand, the British ego and professionalism made relatively short work of the Argentinians.

 

[mkloby]

What strange war this was! With not a single Argentinian citizen living in the Falklands, the Argentinians had the cheek to lay claim to these islands which have been British for a very, very long time. One hates to speak of such things, but frankly, the Argentinians - ruled at the time by a bunch of very dim-witted army types - were ssuffering from testosterone poisoning and blithely assumed that because a woman was the Prime Minister of Great Britain, that they could just do the tango and take it. Clearly, they had no knowledge of Margaret Thatcher. They even had the execrable bad taste to cast sexual slurs in her direction which probably sealed the deal for the Argentinians. It is a fact that the French Exocets were a grave threat to the British task force, but the Argies did not have enough of them to make a decisive difference. Little known is role played in the Falklands war of the Asian troops that England also used, some of the best fighters in the world. Frankly, Argentina was incredibly stupid to launch this disastrous adventure and, in the process, lost the only aircraft carrier they had. Now their navy air force has to practice touch and gos on American carriers when they come to call. What a waste this all has been. There are few things as dumb as the male ego given full rein, but then, on the other hand, the British ego and professionalism made relatively short work of the Argentinians.

Margaret Thatcher carried bigger balls as PM than just about any PM in recent memory.

 

[plan_D]

"Little known is role played in the Falklands war of the Asian troops that England also used, some of the best fighters in the world."

Little is known because they did little. The Ghurkas hardly did anything, they were there but the Royal Marines and Paras made all the gains.

 

[CharlesBronson]

What strange war this was! With not a single Argentinian citizen

Untrue.There was about 40-50 citizens living in the islands. Even more the only Airline who reach the islands was Argentine, LADE (Lineas Aereas del Estado)

living in the Falklands, the Argentinians had the cheek to lay claim to these islands which have been British for a very, very long time

If the britons dont want any claim they shouldnt invaded the islands in 1833

One hates to speak of such things, but frankly, the Argentinians - ruled at the time by a bunch of very dim-witted army types - were ssuffering from testosterone poisoning and blithely assumed that because a woman was the Prime Minister of Great Britain, that they could just do the tango and take it. Clearly, they had no knowledge of Margaret Thatcher. They even had the execrable bad taste to cast sexual slurs in her direction which probably sealed the deal for the Argentinians , some of the best fighters in the world. Frankly, Argentina was incredibly stupid to launch this disastrous adventure What a waste this all has been. There are few things as dumb as the male ego given full rein, but then, on the other hand, the British ego and professionalism made relatively short work of the Argentinians

Debatable, in any case there is far better examples ( and more modern ones) of "testosterone poisoning" "disastrous adventures" "stupid launchings" and wasted human lives in a scale much bigger than 1982 , and those did not include Argentina, argentine military and not even a military goverment.

and, in the process, lost the only aircraft carrier they had. Now their navy air force has to practice touch and gos on American carriers when they come to call. .

PURE, SCANDALOUS and BIG CRAP, the ARA 25 de mayo was decomissioned in 1997.

Man...there is people who work hard to be perceived as morons in here.

 

[Matt308]

Easy CB. It's all a learning process and the debates are educational for all.

 

[CharlesBronson]

You see ?... No response at all by "royal744" . I dont know why this topic atract so many trolls/opinators.

 

[Matt308]

Because it is educational. Hey, I find your posts to be very informative and for the most part unbiased. For the most part. Those who are in disagreement can form an argument. I haven't seen too many of those.

 

[CharlesBronson]

Hey, I find your posts to be very informative and for the most part unbiased.

Oh, thanks for that.

 

[Matt308]

Great pic. What is the sidearm and the leather mag pouches?

 

[CharlesBronson]

The leather pouch Is for a 9mm Sterling smg ,used exclusively by Arg. navy tactical divers.

The sidearm I am not sure, it could be a 9x19 FM High Power...

..or a .45 Ballester Molina.