Posted on 02/09/2012 7:13:42 AM PST by Reaganite Republican
The Brits do not have a carrier capable of carrying fighters any more...they trashed or sold all of their Harriers. They could cross deck US Marine Harriers...but I doubt Obama would approve any such support.
The Daunbtless is good, but carriers only 48 missiles before a reload is necessary. She could be overwhelmed with aircraft and missiles attacking her. The Brits need to dispatch another squardron or two of Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft to the Island to augment the four or five planes they have there now, and they could quickly use the HMS Ocean LHD to reinforce the Island with hundreds of Marines and armor and artillery.
That’s what they could do if the Argentines do not try to pre-empt it. Last time it was the surprise nature of it that allowed the Argentines to get on the island. This time the Brits already have a Offshore Patrol Vessel, the four or five fighters and a detachment of soldiers to keep from being surprised.
If they send the Dauntless, the Ocean and some more fighters, they should be ok.
But, outside of that, the UK is not nearly in as good a position as it used to be naval wise.
If Brazil, Venesuela, Cuba and Argentina all teamed up, the Brits would have a hard go of it.
The issue here is the oil they have found around the islands.
You can bet the Brits already have one or two nuclear attack subs there and that will keep the Argentines from using a naval force to try and invade...it would have to be air assault.
With the Dauntless and the Ocean and her escorts, and a beefed up 2-3 squadrons of Typhoons, I do not think the Argentines and their allies could do it.
We have our own socialist here who needs a boost. I bet the Iranian Show is scheduled for Summer in good time to re-elect a War President but without sufficient pre-election time for the pro-Sunni Caliphate and anti Israel goals of the war to be yet obvious.
It’s Bolivar not Bolivia. I believe that’s a reference to Simon Bolivar I’m not sure but Bolivar did not play a significant role when they tossed out the Viceroy of Argentina and by the way it was the US Navy which tossed out the pirates operating out of the Falklands and burnt down the town (Puerto Soledad) not the Brits .
An excruciatingly long article for it not to have said anything worth reading.
Uhm - one comment - Bolivia has been land-locked since 1879. They DO have a Navy (much to my surprise) but it is only a river patrol force today. I don’t think they would contribute much to any effort by Argentina. Maybe Cuba or Venezuela might choose to get involved though?
Britain’s military decline makes a repeat of her effort and victory and in the Falklands War implausible.
We should sell the Brits one of our old carriers—maybe a lend lease sort of thing? Newt would not sit back and watch—I know that.
The Dauntless will not venture that close to the Argentine shore. They would have to closer than 70 mile sor so to the base launching the aircraft where they would be subject to much, much more danger.
The Dauntless would position itself somewhere between the islands and the mainland on whatever the principle threat axis was.
She is very good, but with a loadout of only 48 missiles, alone she would be subject to a saturation attack if the Argentines were willing to risk it...which they wont.
The UK has four or five Eurofighter Typhoons on the Island at all tims now, but should send in at least one full squadron to reinforce them if there is a crisis so they had upwards of 18.
Amnyhow. here’s a good site about the Type 45 Daring Class Destroyers
http://www.jeffhead.com/aegisvesselsoftheworld/daring.htm
with airpower based on the islands based on technology a full 40 years in advance of the argentine air force i respectfully submit that the type 45 will not be overly troubled.
Technological advantages can be negated, especially when the defending forces are small in number and operate at a great distance from home.
over the space of a weekend the RAF would become the most capable airforce in the south atlantic, the single way the islands will become Argentine is the islanders wanting it.
I hope you are correct.
IMHO Kirchner is bluffing, she knows better. It didn’t hurt to see if the Brits would cave and give her some attention, what with all that oil laying under there.
But just read this, it says the Argentines wouldn’t stand a chance...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2077493/It-simply-inconceivable-Argentina-Falklands.html
If they really wanted the islands back they’d have single-mindedly built up a capability to attack them, as China is doing with Taiwan... but they didn’t
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