Falklands conflict #2

[Furball]

You mean no war for sheep, right?

There are a lot of penguins there too apparently, we shall defend our penguins, whatever the cost may be!

[Dowding]

I'm sure if someone tried to invade Hawaii you'd find it very amusing.  

I watched a play the other day about the Falkland told from within Thatcher's cabinet - it was interesting to see our cousins trying to give a tin pot murderous dictator the same consideration as a long standing, democratic NATO ally. Glad they saw sense in the end.

Jeanne Kirkpatrick was a complete squeak, BTW.

[thrila]

I lived with an argentinian for a year, 2 years ago.  He wanted to join the airforce but said it was almost impossible, he told me their airforce is very run down. He said there don't even have any frontline fighters. 

The lack of funding + kit of our forces is nothing in comparison to the neglect of the Argentinian navy + airforce ,due to argentinas economic problems.  The only real naval threat to the Royal Navy would be the 4 meko 360 destroyers with their 2 quad exocet missile launchers. 

Despite our navy bing much smaller than it was at the time of the falklands, I feel it is much better equipped for amphibious assaults.   I've little knowledge of the RFA so i don't know how our ability to supply our forces 8000miles away compares to 25 years ago.

[moot]

As long as no one messes up antarctica...

[ZetaNine]

As long as no one messes up antarctica...

do they have oil there?

[xbrit]

What do the Falklands have besides fishing rights and sheep?

A population that wishes to remain protected by GB.

[Rich46yo]

Ever study the Falklands war?

That was as mean and nasty a little war as you'll ever find.

Currently the Brits always have a surface asset in the area. A DD or a frigate.

I dont know what the current state of the Brit Astute class SSN is but the Argies had better hope none are in the area when/if they have their big adventure. They have several other classes of SSN as well, all armed with excellent torpedoes, Harpoon, and Tomahawk. The Argie Mekos would have a hard time dealing with them and any amphib group would probably be sunk. Not that they have much amphib assets anyways. They would have to rely on a airborne drop to capture an airfield.

The big news however is the Brits they plan to base their new Eurofighters there, if they aren't there already. Plus they have much bigger and better airfield facilities now. They could easily whistle up a dozen fighter bombers and piggyback them down there. The Argie naval air force is pretty ran down. Their regular air force is still flying Mirage-lll's.

At the least the Brits would have access to the Yank electronic Intelligence network. Which also probably precludes any surprise attacks.

My conclusion is "no" they couldnt do it.

My other conclusion is Britian isnt buying two supercarriers in order to give up Falklands oil exploration rights.

[lasersailor184]

Who said they weren't under contention? It's not news to me. I had a long discussion 6 years ago with an Argentinian who refused to call the islands anything other than the Malvinas. You were made fun of because you denied the Falklands war was in fact a war.

Swoop is right. We don't have the Cold War sized military anymore and we are stretched in Iraq and Afghanistan as it is. Can't the Argies wait until 2014 when we have new carrier groups? Rather unsporting if you ask me.

Actually, not.  I said that the Falklands didn't come to a resolution because total war wasn't used.

[Jester]

Where is the "REAL" H.M.S. ARK ROYAL when you need her?




 

[storch]

I believe the famous clipper the flying cloud is moored there in port stanley or there abouts.

[Dowding]

Actually, not.  I said that the Falklands didn't come to a resolution because total war wasn't used.

Even though the Falklands never came to a great conclusion, they can be viewed as a single battle, not a war.

Which came first, I wonder...?

[68Wooley]

The British claim to the Falklands has very little to do with the Falkland Islanders' desire to remain British and everything to do with having a legitimate claim to Antarctic mineral deposits.

If the Argies were ever to try something, now would be the time. After years of decline, our ability to project power is going to increase rather dramatically over the coming years.

That said, even today the British ability to defend the Falklands has probably diminished less than the Argentinian ability to take them. As Rich46yo pointed out, the a couple of British SSN's would render the Argentinian surface fleet unusable and their air forces are probably not operating at the level they were in 1982.

Our biggest problem would be that our three mini-carriers now carry the Harrier GR7 and GR9 - neither of which can carry out an air-to-air role.

[Angus]

Au contraire, this is her majesty's doorstep.
In the 80's some lefties claimed it was all about UK resources. Well, they must have thought well ahead, since they don't seem to be using them yet.....

[Vulcan]

I've been waiting for antartica to 'heat up', NZ has vested interests there and I do think people here understand where it's going. Sooner or later the rights of penguins will be meaninigless.

[kennyhayes]

ABOUT BLOODY TIME brits pwn argentina hopefully no one gets hurt