The Falklands

Air attack , an insight view.

The argentine attack against HMS Argonat from the british point of view, 21 may 1982:

I read with interest your info regarding the attachk on HMS Argonaut.

I was Heavily involved in this attack in being on the flightdeck of the ship at the time.

The MB339 came out of the sun and fired Rockets and followed through with a short burst of cannon, these went through the 965 radar and ran accross the hangar roof (I heard the rounds strike as we ran inside.

I have attached a picture of the Ships Flightdeck Crew, this was taken very shortly before the launch of the Lynx moments before the 1st attack.

For those Interested I am the one with the orange mug on my waist in the middle of the picture

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The guys on the left are the same as the rest of us, "Jumpy" towards the end of out time there we are even getting excited seeing seagulls oftem mistaking them for distant aircraft - You get like that sometimes.

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I have been reading some of the post in this threa, and have to say that it is a very impressive thread. I feel humbled by the depth of knowlewdge, and the fairness in the assessment.

I have to ask a question, and hopefully wont tread on any toes by doing that. I have always been an avid fan of the Sea Harrier, and have read in various accounts that they were responsible for shooting down something like 29 argentinian aircraft. They owed something of their success to two things, the sidewinders they were carrying, and their ability to "VIFF".

Is any of this true, or am i completely mistaken. If I am mistaken, to what extent was the british carrier air power affecting the air battle over the TF?

parsifal said:

I have been reading some of the post in this threa, and have to say that it is a very impressive thread. I feel humbled by the depth of knowlewdge, and the fairness in the assessment.

I have to ask a question, and hopefully wont tread on any toes by doing that. I have always been an avid fan of the Sea Harrier, and have read in various accounts that they were responsible for shooting down something like 29 argentinian aircraft. They owed something of their success to two things, the sidewinders they were carrying, and their ability to "VIFF".

Is any of this true, or am i completely mistaken. If I am mistaken, to what extent was the british carrier air power affecting the air battle over the TF?

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The influence of the Harrier it was huge as its performace was significantly better than anything the Argentine Forces had. The crews were well trained and were operating under radar control. On top of this the Sidewinders were of the latest type and the radar was pretty good as well so it was a potent fighter.

The ability to VIFF is often mentioned but it only of any use as a last ditch evasive technique, you gain height but lose a huge amount of energy, by the time you get it back the other aircraft is long gone. I have not heard of any occasion when it was used in combat. There was one occasion where the ability to slow down using the adjustable exhausts was used and that was to finish off a Pucara that didn't want to go down.

parsifal said:

I have been reading some of the post in this threa, and have to say that it is a very impressive thread. I feel humbled by the depth of knowlewdge, and the fairness in the assessment.

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Here ..Here.. On that statement...

And me being a dumb American..For some reason I was thinking the Falklands was not a big deal ..I know ,,I know It was called a war for a reason ..War is well .........War..duh.....But at the time it was going on the American News just past it off as no biggie.. .... ...

I hate the news ...
My respect to both sides and those who were there

I'm with you Haztoys, this has been a most humbling thread and much thanks to CB and the contributors.

The Sea harriers are gone now I notice...a sad day I think. I understand the Brits intend to build a large carrier, and to use F-35s....but not until 2013

I have been reading some of the post in this threa, and have to say that it is a very impressive thread. I feel humbled by the depth of knowlewdge, and the fairness in the assessment.

I have to ask a question, and hopefully wont tread on any toes by doing that. I have always been an avid fan of the Sea Harrier, and have read in various accounts that they were responsible for shooting down something like 29 argentinian aircraft. They owed something of their success to two things, the sidewinders they were carrying, and their ability to "VIFF".

Is any of this true, or am i completely mistaken. If I am mistaken, to what extent was the british carrier air power affecting the air battle over the TF

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Thanks.

My opinion is that more important than any intrinsecal flying characteristics of the Sea Harrier was his armament, the Sidewinder L was the most vicious killing machine of argentine aircraft.

Is worth to mention than before the war started some british pilots fought simulated battles between Sea Harrier and Mirage IIIE of the Armee del Air and the differences were not as big as later found in the Malvinas /Falklands war.

Those differences were probably explained by

a) The sidewinder L

b) The tactical situation, particulary the limited autonomy over the islands that the Argentine Mirages IIIEA ( 5 to ten minutes)

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Quote of "Dios y los Halcones" book, God and the Hawks by Cpt Marcos Carballo.

In a sense there was carrier loss arising from the Falklands. Just before the conflict arose, the Australian Government had negotiated the sale of the Invincible to replace the ageing Melbourne. The Navy at the time, to try and force the Australian Governments hand produced a report that indicated the need for major expenditure to extend the life of the Carrier (Melbourne) for another 10 years. This was to put pressure on the Australian Government to expedite the purchase of the Brit thru deck cruiser.

Then the war was fought, and all of a sudden the Brit Government wre not nearly as keen to offload their carrrier. There was a change of government in Australia, and the carrier issue became a political issue. Seems the outgoing Fraser government had not costed the 500 million it would take to put aircraft on the thing. New government arrived, cancelled the deal to buy the Invincible, and then also said it was not worth refitting the melbourne one more time. They scrapped the Melbourne, and the RAN has been without one ever since. So in a sense, the Flaklands cost Australia its carrier. A bit ironic

We were equipped with A4-Gs in the '70s, which carried as standard AIM-9 sidewinders on our FAA aircraft. We used to train to use our A-4s as air defence aircraft, as well as strike aircraft. We had only iron bombs at the time. The A-4s we thought were pretty good at their job. As a trainee, I watched several "hypothetical" excercises at the tac warfare school (a huge ampitheatre building with this massive computer that allowed us to simulate battle situations for training purposes. An enormous playstation inother words), that pitted the A-4s against aircraft of our near neighbours. Our Indonesian neighbour at the time had 16 ex-CAC f-86s, and a number of Mig-17s, Mig-19s and a few Mig-21s. I remeber the A-4s were considered competent against everything except the Mig-21s, and the Mig-19s were considered a bit of a habdful if they were missile armed.

I knew that the sidewinders were a major source of attrition against the Argentinians, but have never quite understood why the argentinians did not carry their own (or did they???). Also, didnt the Miragee IIIs carry matra air to air as well. If so, why werent they used.

In the RAAF we too had Mirage IIIs, which were equipped with matra, I believe the RAAF did not think much of the system. The general consensus in the RAAF was that the MIIIs were good aerodynamically, but fairly simple and austere in the electronics area.

What were the Argentinian observations???

melbourne with her skyhawk flight embarked, 1976 or 7, Enterrprise in the background

Detail of RAN A4 number 882. This is not my photo, it was taken of someone I knew years ago (Baddams), photo by Laurie Hillier. Caption reads

Down chains, off brakes, come ahead slowly !" Newly promoted LEUT 'Bruiser' Baddams RAN nervously applies generous throttle to get N13-154903 (side number 882) rolling forward as the ship (HMAS 'Melbourne' CVS-21) starts a roll to stbd, threatening to tip his lightly loaded (note the lack of external fuel tanks or armament) a/c backwards over the side. That single white line the a/c's nosewheel is about to cross is the flight deck safety line (the edge of the landing path visible to the upper right), illustrating how narrow the ship's flight deck was and just how far the WIDE wingspan of the RAN's twin prop S-2G Tracker ASW a/c reached …That's why the ship was modified to add what we called the 'tram tracks' jutting out over the ship's side. These allowed a number of Skyhawk's to be parked along (over) the ship's side aft of the 'island' … which is also why they ended-up with that curious (and hopelessly ineffective) yellow paint all over their leading edges, as may be seen on 882). It probably also accounts for why 882 has another a/c's nose cone … the 'control' part of corrosion control was almost non-existent aboard ship.

Things were very tight on the Melbournes flight deck esp when trackers were embarked. I agree with the comments in the caption. Corrosion on the CAG was a constant problem , but particulalry bad on the A4s for some reason.

Just one more (sorry, i really dig the A4). image of A4-G of 805 sqn

A VF805 (despite that blue yellow tail !) A-4G. N13-154904 (side number 883) snagging #4 wire (while still airborne: note the fully extended MLG struts still deployed speed-brakes) aboard HMAS 'Melbourne' CVS-21 circa 1980. This is what would be classed by the LSO as a ' … just made it' pass ' … that'll cost you a round the wardroom tonight'. 805 sqn A4s apparently carried 2 x 20mm cannons: despite the weight penalty involved (and subsequent reduction in fuel carried), all 805 sqn a/c carried 2 of 'em with full (75 rpg) ammo canisters. VC724, on the other hand, only fitted guns 'when required'. It's unusual that the a/c doesn't have a blue headed 'captive' AIM-9B 'Sidewinder' on the launch rail. Must have been light on for wind over the deck that day. (Picture Laurie Hillier)

Argentine aircraft lost

Saturday 3rd April

[a1] - Puma SA.330L of CAB 601 shot down at Grytviken, South Georgia by Royal Marine small arms fire.

Saturday 1st May

[a2, a3, a4] - One Pucara of FAA Grupo 3 destroyed and two more damaged and not repaired at Goose Green by CBU's dropped in attack by No.800 Sea Harriers flown by Lt Cmdr Frederiksen, Lt Hale and Lt McHarg RN (8.25 am). Lt Jukic killed in the destroyed aircraft.

[a5] - Mirage IIIEA of FAA Grupo 8 shot down north of West Falkland by Flt Lt Barton RAF in No.801 Sea Harrier using Sidewinder (4.10 pm). Lt Perona ejected safely.

[a6] - Mirage IIIEA of FAA Grupo 8 damaged in same incident north of West Falkland by Lt Thomas RN in No.801 Sea Harrier using Sidewinder. Then shot down over Stanley by own AA defences (4.15 pm). and Capt Cuerva killed

[a7] - Dagger A of FAA Grupo 6 shot down over East Falkland by Flt Lt Penfold RAF in No.800 Sea Harrier using Sidewinder (4.40 pm). Lt Ardiles killed.

[a8] - Canberra B.62 of FAA Grupo 2 shot down north of Falklands by Lt Curtiss RN in No.801 Sea Harrier using Sidewinder (5.45 pm). Lt Ibanez and Gonzalez ejected but are not rescued.

Sunday 2nd May

[a9] - Lynx HAS.23 of CANA 1 Esc embarked on ARA Santisima Trinidad lost in flying accident probably to north of Falklands.

[a10] - Alouette III of CANA 1 Esc lost on board ARA General Belgrano when she was torpedoed and sunk to south west of Falklands.

Monday 3rd May

[a11] - Aermacchi MB-339A of CANA 1 Esc crashed into ground near Stanley approaching airfield in bad weather (4.00 pm). Lt Benitez killed.

[a12] - Skyvan of PNA damaged by naval gunfire at Stanley on the night of 3rd/4th and not repaired.

Sunday 9th May

[a13, a14] - Two A-4C Skyhawks of FAA Grupo 4 lost. Possibly damaged by Sea Darts from HMS Coventry or crashed in bad weather, with one aircraft found on South Jason Island. Lt Casco and Lt Farias killed.

[a15] - Puma SA.330L of CAB 601 shot down over Choiseul Sound by Sea Dart fired by HMS Coventry (4.10 pm). Crew of three lost.

Wednesday 12th May

[a16, a17, a18] - Two A-4B Skyhawks of FAA Grupo 5 shot down off Stanley by Sea Wolf fired by HMS Brilliant and third aircraft hit sea trying to evade missile (1.45 pm). All three pilots, Lt Bustos, Lt Ibarlucea and Lt Nivoli killed.

[a19] - A-4B Skyhawk of FAA Grupo 5 shot down over Goose Green by own AA fire (2.25 pm). Lt Gavazzi killed.

Saturday 15th May

[a20-a25] - Six Pucaras of FAA Grupo 3; [a26-a29] - Four T-34C Mentors of CANA 4 Esc; [a30] - Skyvan of PNA, all destroyed or put out of action at Pebble Island in raid by D Sqdn SAS (early morning)

Friday 21st May

[a31] - Chinook CH-47C of CAB 601 destroyed on ground near Mount Kent by Flt Lt Hare RAF in 1(F) Sqdn Harrier GR.3 using 30mm cannon (8.00 am).

[a32] - Puma SA.330L of CAB 601 badly damaged on ground near Mount Kent in same attack by Sqdn Ldr Pook and Flt Lt Hare RAF in 1(F) Sqdn Harrier GR.3's using 30mm cannon (8.00 am). Destroyed on 26th in same position by Sqdn Ldr Pook using CBU's.

[a33] - Pucara of FAA Grupo 3 shot down over Sussex Mountains by Stinger SAM fired by D Sqdn SAS (10.00 am). Capt Benitz ejected safely.

[a34] - Dagger A of FAA Grupo 6 shot down near Fanning Head by Sea Cat fired by HMS Argonaut or Plymouth, or more likely Sea Wolf from HMS Broadsword (10.30 am). Lt Bean killed.

[a35] - Pucara of FAA Grupo 3 shot down near Darwin by Cmdr Ward RN in one of three Sea Harriers of No.801 NAS using 30mm cannon (12.10 pm). Major Tomba ejected.

[a36, a37] - Two A-4C Skyhawks of FAA Grupo 4 shot down near Chartres, West Falkland by Lt Cmdr Blissett and Lt Cmdr Thomas RN in No.800 Sea Harriers using Sidewinders (1.05 pm). Lt Lopez and Lt Manzotti killed.

[a38] - Dagger A of FAA Grupo 6 shot down near Teal River Inlet, West Falkland by Lt Cmdr Frederiksen RN in No.800 Sea Harrier using Sidewinder (2.35 pm). Lt Luna ejected.

[a39, a40, a41] - Two Dagger A's of FAA Grupo 6 shot down north of Port Howard, West Falkland by Lt Thomas and a third by Cmdr Ward RN in No.801 Sea Harriers using Sidewinders (2.50 pm). Maj Piuma, Capt Donaldille and Lt Senn all ejected.

[a42] - A-4Q Skyhawk of CANA 3 Esc shot down near Swan Island in Falkland Sound by Lt Morell RN in No.800 Sea Harrier using Sidewinder (3.12 pm). Lt Cmdr Philippi ejected.

[a43] - A-4Q Skyhawk of CANA 3 Esc also shot down near Swan Island in Falkland Sound in same incident by Flt Lt Leeming RAF in No.800 Sea Harrier using 30mm cannon (3.12 pm). Lt Marquez was killed.

[a44] - A-4Q Skyhawk of CANA 3 Esc damaged over Falkland Sound by small arms fire from HMS Ardent and again in same incident as above by Lt Morrell using 30mm cannon. Unable to land at Stanley with undercarriage problems and Lt Arca ejected (3.30 pm).

Sunday 23rd May

[a45] - Puma SA.330L of CAB 601 flew into ground near Shag Cove House, West Falkland attempting to evade Flt Lt Morgan RAF in No.800 NAS Sea Harrier (10.30 am). All crew escaped.

[a46] - Agusta A-109A of CAB 601 in same incident near Shag Cove House, West Falkland destroyed on ground by Flt Lt Morgan and Flt Lt Leeming RAF in No.800 NAS Sea Harriers using 30mm cannon (10.30 am).

[a47] - Puma SA.330L of CAB 601 also in same incident near Shag Cove House, West Falkland damaged on ground by Flt Lt Morgan with 30mm cannon (10.30 am). Then believed shortly destroyed by Lt Cmdr Gedge and Lt Cmdr Braithwaite RN in No.801 Sea Harriers with more cannon fire.

[a48] - A-4B Skyhawk of FAA Grupo 5 shot down over San Carlos Water by unknown SAM (1.50 pm). Claims that day include "Broadsword" Sea Wolf, "Antelope" Sea Cat, and land-based Rapiers and Blowpipe. Lt Guadagnini killed.

[a49] - Dagger A of FAA Grupo 6 shot down over Pebble Island by Lt Hale RN in No.800 Sea Harrier using Sidewinder (4.00 pm). Lt Volponi killed.

Monday 24th May

[a50, a51, a52] - Two Dagger A's of FAA Grupo 6 shot down north of Pebble Island by Lt Cmdr Auld and a third by Lt D Smith in No.800 Sea Harriers using Sidewinder (11.15 am). Maj Puga and Capt Diaz ejected, but Lt Castillo killed.

[a53] - A-4C Skyhawk of FAA Grupo 4 damaged over San Carlos Water by ship and ground-based air defences and crashed into King George Bay, West Falkland on flight home (1.30 pm). Claims that day include "Argonaut" and "Fearless" Sea Cat, and Rapier and Blowpipe SAM's. Lt Bono lost.

Tuesday 25th May

[a54] - A-4B Skyhawk of FAA Grupo 5 shot down north of Pebble Island by Sea Dart fired by HMS Coventry (9.30 am). Lt Palaver killed.

[a55] - A-4C Skyhawk of FAA Grupo 4 destroyed over San Carlos Water by a variety of weapons, claims including small arms fire, "Yarmouth" Sea Cat, and Rapier and Blowpipe SAM's (12.30 pm). Lt Lucero ejected.

[a56] - A-4C Skyhawk of FAA Grupo 4 damaged over San Carlos Water in same attack, and then brought down north east of Pebble Island by Sea Dart fired by HMS Coventry (12.45 am). Lt Garcia killed.

Thursday 27th May

[a57] - A-4B Skyhawk of FAA Grupo 5 damaged over San Carlos Water by 40mm Bofors from HMS Fearless or Intrepid, and crashed near Port Howard (5.00 pm). Lt Velasco ejected.

Friday 28th May

[a58] - Pucara of FAA Grupo 3 crashed into high ground between Goose Green and Stanley returning from attack in Goose Green area (c10.00 am). Lt Giminez killed.

[a59] - Aermacchi MB-339A of CANA 1 Esc shot down at Goose Green by Blowpipe SAM fired by Royal Marine Air Defence Troop (5.00 pm). Lt Miguel killed.

[a60] - Pucara of FAA Grupo 3 shot down at Goose Green by small arms fire from 2 Para (5.10 pm). Lt Cruzado ejected and became POW.

Saturday 29th May

[a61] - Dagger A of FAA Grupo 6 shot down over San Carlos Water by Rapier SAM (12.00 pm]. Lt Bernhardt killed.

Sunday 30th May

[a62] - Puma SA.330L of CAB 601 lost in the morning in uncertain circumstances near Mount Kent, possibly to own forces fire.

[a63, a64] - Two A-4C Skyhawks of FAA Grupo 4 shot down east of Falklands by Sea Darts fired by HMS Exeter, although 4.5 inch gunfire from HMS Avenger may have hit one (2.35 pm). Lt Vazquez and Lt Castillo killed.

Tuesday 1st June

[a65] - Hercules C.130E of FAA Transport Grupo 1 shot down 50 miles North of Pebble Island by Cmdr Ward RN in No.801 Sea Harrier using Sidewinder and 30mm cannon (10.45 am). Crew of seven killed.

Monday 7th June

[a66] - Learjet 35A of FAA Photo-Reconnaissance Grupo 1 shot down over Pebble Island by Sea Dart fired by HMS Exeter (9.05 am). Wing Cmdr de la Colina and crew of four killed.

Tuesday 8th June

[a67, a68, a69] - Two A-4B Skyhawks of FAA Grupo 5 shot down over Choiseul Sound by Flt Lt Morgan RAF and a third by Lt D Smith in No.800 NAS Sea Harriers using Sidewinders (4.45 pm). Lt Arraras, Lt Bolzan and Ensign Vazquez killed.

Sunday 13th June

[a70] - Canberra B.62 of FAA Grupo 2 shot down west of Stanley by Sea Dart fired by HMS Exeter (10.55 pm). Pilot, Capt Pastran ejected safely but Capt Casado is killed.

Postwar - Captured at Stanley

[a71-a81] - Eleven Pucaras of FAA Grupo 3

[a82-a83] - Two Bell 212's of FAA Grupo 7

[a84-a86] - Three Aermacchi MB-339A's of CANA 1 Esc

[a87] - Puma SA.330L of PNA

[a88] - Chinook CH-47C of CAB 601

[a89-a90] - Two Agusta A-109A Hirundos of CAB 601

[a91-a99] - Nine Iroquois UH-1H's of CAB 601

Unknown Date

[a100] - Pucara of FAA Grupo 4 reported lost over in the Atlantic on reconnaissance mission from Comodoro Rivadavia

BRITISH AIRCRAFT LOST
Thursday 22nd April

[b1, b2] - Two Wessex HU.5's of C Flt, No.845 NAS, RFA Tidespring crashed on Fortuna Glacier, South Georgia in bad weather. All crew rescued.

Friday 23rd April

[b3] - Sea King HC.4 of No.846 NAS embarked on HMS Hermes crashed into the Atlantic at night in bad weather south west of Ascension (8.15 pm). Pilot rescued but PO Aircrewman Casey lost.

Tuesday 4th May

[b4] - Sea Harrier of No.800 NAS, HMS Hermes shot down over Goose Green by radar-controlled, 35mm Oerlikon fire (1.10 pm). Lt Taylor RN killed.

Thursday 6th May

[b5, b6] - Two Sea Harriers of No.801 NAS, HMS Invincible lost in bad weather, presumably by collision, south east of Falklands (9.00 am). Lt Curtiss and Lt Cmdr Eyton-Jones RN lost.

Wednesday 12th May
[b7] - Sea King HAS.5 of No.826 NAS, HMS Hermes ditched in sea with engine failure east of Falklands (2.35 pm). All crew rescued.

Monday 17th May

[b8] - Sea King HAS.5 of No.826 NAS, HMS Hermes, then to the east of Falklands, hit the sea late at night because of altimeter problems (10.30 pm). All crew rescued.

18th/19th May

[b9] - Sea King HC.4 of No.846 NAS deliberately destroyed by its crew near Punta Arenas, southern Chile around this date.

Wednesday 19th May

[b10] - Sea King HC.4 of No.846 NAS, then embarked on HMS Hermes crashed into sea north east of Falklands, believed at the time due to a bird strike although this is now open to doubt (7.15 pm). Of 30 men on board, the aircrewman, 18 men of the SAS, a member of the Royal Signals and the only RAF man killed in the war are all lost. The two pilots were saved.

Friday 21st May

[b11, b12] - Two Gazelles of C Flt, 3 CBAS shot down by small arms fire near Port San Carlos (c8.45 am). Pilot Sgt Evans RM killed in the first incident and pilot Lt Francis RM and crewman L/Cpl Griffin RM in the second.

[b13] - Harrier GR.3 of 1(F) Sqdn RAF shot down over Port Howard, West Falkland probably by Blowpipe SAM (9.35 am). Flt Lt Glover ejected and injured, was taken prisoner-of-war.

[b14] - Lynx HAS.2 of No.815 NAS destroyed in bombing attack on HMS Ardent in Grantham Sound by Daggers of FAA Grupo 6 (2.40 pm).

Sunday 23rd May

[b15] - Sea Harrier of No.800 NAS, HMS Hermes crashed into sea north east of Falklands shortly after take-off and exploded (7.55 pm). Lt Cmdr Batt RN killed.

Tuesday 25th May

[b16] - Lynx HAS.2 of No.815 NAS lost when HMS Coventry sunk north of Pebble Island in bombing attack by A-4B Skyhawks of FAA Grupo 5 (3.20 pm).

[b17 - b22] - Six Wessex HU.5's of No.848 NAS D Flt; [b23 - b25] - Three Chinook HC.1's of 18 Sqdn RAF; [b26] - Lynx HAS.2 of No.815 NAS, all destroyed by fire when "Atlantic Conveyor" hit to the north east of Falklands by Exocet from Super Etendard of CANA 2 Esc.

Thursday 27th May

[b27] - Harrier GR.3 of 1(F) Sqdn RAF shot down over Goose Green probably by 35mm Oerlikon fire (1.35 pm). Sqdn Ldr Iveson ejected to the west, hid up and later rescued.

Friday 28th May

[b28] - Scout of B Flight, 3 CBAS shot down near Camilla Creek House, north of Goose Green by Pucaras of FAA Grupo 3 (11.55 am). Pilot Lt Nunn RM was killed.

Saturday 29th May

[b29] - Sea Harrier of No.801 NAS, HMS Invincible ready for take-off, slid off the deck as the carrier turned into wind to the east of Falklands (3.50 pm). Lt Cmdr Broadwater RN ejected and was safely picked up.

Sunday 30th May

[b30] - Harrier GR.3 of 1(F) Sqdn RAF damaged near Stanley by small arms fire from Argentine troops. Ran out of fuel short of "Hermes" and Sqdn Ldr Pook RAF ejected to be picked up to east of the Falklands (12.20 pm).

Tuesday 1st June

[b31] - Sea Harrier of No.801 NAS, HMS Invincible shot down south of Stanley by Roland SAM (2.40 pm). Flt Lt Mortimer RAF ejected and was later rescued from the sea.

Sunday 6th June

[b32] - Gazelle of 656 AAC Sqdn accidentally shot down west of Fitzroy by Sea Dart SAM fired by HMS Cardiff (1.10 am). Pilot, Staff Sgt Griffin, crewman L/Cpl Cockton and two Royal Signals passengers killed.

Tuesday 8th June

[b33] - Harrier GR.3 of 1(F) Sqdn RAF landed heavily at Port San Carlos with partial engine failure, and was damaged beyond repair (12.00 pm). Wing Cmdr Squire escaped unhurt.

Saturday 12th June

[b34] - Wessex HAS.3 of No.737 NAS destroyed when HMS Glamorgan hit by land-based Exocet off Stanley (3.35 am).

BRITISH SHIPS LOST DAMAGED

​

Saturday 1st May

HMS Alacrity - slightly damaged by bomb near misses

HMS Arrow - slightly damaged by cannon fire

HMS Glamorgan - slightly damaged by bomb near misses, all off Stanley by Daggers of FAA Grupo 6.

Tuesday 4th May

HMS SHEFFIELD - mortally damaged south east of Falklands by Exocet missile fired by Super Etendard of CANA 2 Esc. Burnt out and sank in tow on Monday 10th May.

Wednesday 12th May

HMS Glasgow - moderately damaged off Stanley by unexploded bomb (1) dropped by A-4B Skyhawks of FAA Grupo 5. Bomb passed through hull but damage took some days to repair and she shortly returned to UK.

Friday 21st May

HMS Antrim - seriously damaged in Falkland Sound outside San Carlos Water by unexploded bomb (2) dropped by Daggers of FAA Grupo 6. UXB removed but damage took some days to repair.

HMS Broadsword - slightly damaged outside San Carlos Water by cannon fire from Daggers of Grupo 6.

HMS Argonaut - slightly damaged outside San Carlos Water by rockets and cannon fire from Aermacchi MB.339A of CANA 1 Esc, and then seriously damaged by two unexploded bombs (3/4) dropped by A-4B Skyhawks of FAA Grupo 5. Removing the UXB's and carrying out repairs took a number of days and although declared operational, she soon sailed for the UK.

HMS Brilliant - slightly damaged outside San Carlos Water by cannon fire from Daggers of Grupo 6. (Different attack from "Broadsword")

HMS ARDENT - badly damaged in Grantham Sound by bombs - hits, UXB's (5+) and near misses - dropped by Daggers of Grupo 6, then mortally damaged by bombs from A-4Q Skyhawks of CANA 3 Esc off North West Island. Sank the following evening.

Sunday 23rd May

HMS ANTELOPE - damaged in San Carlos Water by two unexploded bombs (6/7) dropped by A-4B Skyhawks of Grupo 5. One of the bombs exploded that evening while being defused and she caught fire and sank next day.

Monday 24th May

RFA Sir Galahad - damaged by unexploded bomb (8) and out of action for some days,

RFA Sir Lancelot - damaged by unexploded bomb (9) and not fully operational for almost three weeks,

RFA Sir Bedivere - slightly damaged by glancing bomb, all in San Carlos Water probably by A-4C Skyhawks of FAA Grupo 4.

Tuesday 25th May

HMS Broadsword - damaged north of Pebble Island by bomb from A-4B Skyhawk of Grupo 5 bouncing up through her stern and out again to land in the sea.

HMS COVENTRY - sunk north of Pebble Island in same attack by three bombs.

ATLANTIC CONVEYOR - mortally damaged north east of Falklands by Exocet missile fired by Super Etendard of CANA 2 Esc. Burnt out and later sank in tow.

Saturday 29th May

British Wye - hit north of South Georgia by bomb dropped by C-130 Hercules of FAA Grupo 1 which bounced into the sea without exploding

Tuesday 8th June

HMS Plymouth - damaged in Falkland Sound off San Carlos Water by four unexploded bombs (10-13) from Daggers of FAA Grupo 6.

RFA SIR GALAHAD - mortally damaged off Fitzroy by bombs from A-4B Skyhawks of Grupo 5 and burnt out. Later in June towed out to sea and sunk as a war grave.

RFA Sir Tristram - badly damaged off Fitzroy in same attack and abandoned, but later returned to UK and repaired.

LCU F4, HMS Fearless - sunk in Choiseul Sound by bomb from A-4B Skyhawk of Grupo 5.

Saturday 12th June

HMS Glamorgan - damaged off Stanley by land-based Exocet missile

That's a lot of naval assets the Brits lost. Didn't realize it was that significant.

We were equipped with A4-Gs in the '70s, which carried as standard AIM-9 sidewinders on our FAA aircraft. We used to train to use our A-4s as air defence aircraft, as well as strike aircraft. We had only iron bombs at the time. The A-4s we thought were pretty good at their job. As a trainee, I watched several "hypothetical" excercises at the tac warfare school (a huge ampitheatre building with this massive computer that allowed us to simulate battle situations for training purposes. An enormous playstation inother words), that pitted the A-4s against aircraft of our near neighbours. Our Indonesian neighbour at the time had 16 ex-CAC f-86s, and a number of Mig-17s, Mig-19s and a few Mig-21s. I remeber the A-4s were considered competent against everything except the Mig-21s, and the Mig-19s were considered a bit of a habdful if they were missile armed.

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Nice pictures, the aussie carrier seems very much alike the 25 de mayo used until 1992.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr5s0hdCo0E

The argentine A-4s both Air Force and Navy aircraft did not carry sidewinder by the simple fact they didnt had the avionics needed to shoot that missle, the Air Force A-4B/C avionics was particulary poor compared with teh latef A-4g, F, and M models.

I knew that the sidewinders were a major source of attrition against the Argentinians, but have never quite understood why the argentinians did not carry their own (or did they???). Also, didnt the Miragee IIIs carry matra air to air as well. If so, why werent they used.

In the RAAF we too had Mirage IIIs, which were equipped with matra, I believe the RAAF did not think much of the system. The general consensus in the RAAF was that the MIIIs were good aerodynamically, but fairly simple and austere in the electronics area.

What were the Argentinian observations???

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The electronics was considered adecuate, not briliant but adecuate the problem was really the missile armament, the IIIEA carried Magic 1, the IAI Nesher carried Sidewinder b/C and the IAI Shafrir....all those were really CRAP, with capital letters.

By the way, I am curious about this signature:



What this suppose to mean ? that Britain have no honour until 1982 ?

Or maybe they had but losted it in some year in the post ww2 ?

If she losted it...why ? and when ?

CB... Why push the envelope. You are above this. And you only quoted half of his siggy. The other half is quite telling actually.

Haztoys said:

Here ..Here.. On that statement...

And me being a dumb American..For some reason I was thinking the Falklands was not a big deal ..I know ,,I know It was called a war for a reason ..War is well .........War..duh.....But at the time it was going on the American News just past it off as no biggie.. .... ...

I hate the news ...
My respect to both sides and those who were there

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Wow ...After reading the British loses just posted ...I realy feel in the dark.. ....