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Thanks - appreciate the comments and compliments! I don’t write for Janes, but I am an avid reader (Aviation Leak too!)

One thing to add, there never should have been a fight in the Falklands to begin with. Argentina was emboldened by major cuts in the RN in the late 70s an early 80s. Specifically the retirement and scrapping, without replacement, of the HMS Ark Royal - which was the last “conventional” (catapults and arrester gear) carrier in the RN, as well as the sale of HMS Invincible (later rescinded) to Australia and the retirement of HMS Intrepid (assault ship, which was quickly returned to service and took part in the retaking of the Islands).

It’s believed that if the RN still had the Ark, with her Phantoms (fighter/bombers with BVR capability), Buccaneers (medium attack jets) and Gannetts (airborne early warning and control), there’s no way that the Argentinians would have made a play for the Falklands.

"One thing to add, there never should have been a fight in the Falklands to begin with. Argentina was emboldened by major cuts in the RN in the late 70s an early 80s. Specifically the retirement and scrapping, without replacement, of the HMS Ark Royal - which was the last 'conventional' (catapults and arrester gear) carrier in the RN, as well as the sale of HMS Invincible (later rescinded) to Australia and the retirement of HMS Intrepid (assault ship, which was quickly returned to service and took part in the retaking of the Islands)."

Fascinating insight, my friend.
I recall Reagan catching unholy hell from the miserably rotten-to-the-core Liberal-Socialists *and* their quisling mediots for lending aid to Maggy T.
Some things never change, eh?

IIRC there was [some] serious doubt concerning the RN's Harrier jump-jet. Whether it could perform the entire job, was too slow for certain missions?

Now the Harrier-carrier {hey, a RAP? :o) } was/is an odd looking thing. However when compared to a conventional carrier, money-wise, a bargain considering the state of GB. Isn't that correct?

"It’s believed that if the RN still had the Ark, with her Phantoms (fighter/bombers with BVR capability), Buccaneers (medium attack jets) and Gannetts (airborne early warning and control), there’s no way that the Argentinians would have made a play for the Falklands."

I might've previously heard that theory, can't remember anymore. Age, it ain't for sissies. ;^)

I can clearly recall the chaos the French Exocet surface-to-surface missile caused, though. One even sunk a RN warship. Of course *that* sinking was avenged 10x over by the time everything was said and done.
The Argentinians had plenty to regret when the war ended, that's for sure.

In any event the Falklands were the last time the Brits had to do anything militarily and I thought their army, marines and the RN didn't do too bad.