Posted on 01/31/2012 7:01:42 AM PST by blam
The UK Is Sending Its Most Advanced Warship To The Falklands
Adam Taylor
January 31, 2012
The UK announced today that they would be sending their most advanced warship to the South Pacific, near the Falklands Islands.
The announcement seems likely to inflame tensions with Argentina over the disputed Falklands, and may worsen the increasingly aggressive rhetoric from both sides, who went to war over the islands almost 30 years ago.
The Telegraph reports that the HMS Dauntless is a Type 45 destroyer, worth over £1 billion ($1.57 billion), and is "the most advanced anti-aircraft and anti-ballistic ship in the world".
"It can shoot down Argentine fighters as soon as they take off from their bases," a Navy source told the Telegraph. "This will give Buenos Aires serious pause for thought."
The Navy has denied that the deployment was due to the tension in the region, and told the BBC that the ship would replace another already stationed there.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
That looks like a USN cork. Give me a submarine..
How long can the force projection last? Are you sure those destroyers can outlast an onslaught of exocet missiles? I’m just playing the devil’s advocate here, but I’m sceptical that a few destroyers really deter a land based air wing.
“Let me apologize to the British people on behalf of many like-minded Americans; We suffer under a cruel and ruthless dictator and his administration. He has insulted and abandoned you our dear friends. Pray for America as Satan destroys our liberty.”
No need to apologise friend as we are far from blameless when it comes to picking leaders in the past too!
Argentia realizes that they may have a limited opportunity (Jan 20 2013) to do anything about the Falklands. Especially since the most anti Anglo president is in office since Andrew Jackson.
“How long can the force projection last? Are you sure those destroyers can outlast an onslaught of exocet missiles? I’m just playing the devil’s advocate here, but I’m sceptical that a few destroyers really deter a land based air wing.”
Well, one Type 45 using it’s PAAMS with Aster 15 and 30 missiles is capable of taking down the entire Argentinian fast jet force without a reload and at BVR, so I am confident. Factor in the other assets and I become entirely confident. The Exocets were a serious threat in 1982, but no longer.
Of course if Argentina suddenly finds some money and decides to turn this into a long hot war, then defending a remote outpost from a nearby mainland force can become more challenging, but I suspect a selection of well placed tomahawks would dampen their ardour somewhat and I doubt the political will to continue will exist. Nothing’s guaranteed in this life, but I don’t think setting up a Spanish language school in Port Stanley is going to be a good investment for a long time yet.
The Bermuda Regiment is what I had in mind. It’s odd that there is no Falklands counterpart.
“Yes, they either find themselves a lot of money or China decides to become generous with their military largess. I’m curious that the UK has not (at least I’ve not read of it) beefed up their local homeland defense apparatus. As I recall, one of the UK possessions maintained conscription long after the mainland abandoned it.”
Well, when the Falklands were invaded in 1982 we had 50 marines there, we now have the Falklands Islands Defence Force which is company sized and comprises entirely of islanders funded by the island govt. We also have a 500 strong British Army garrison, plus permanent deployments of RN ships and submarines and the permanent RAF presence of Typhoons, VC10’s and Hercules. In the event of imminent invasion, the Joint Rapid Reaction Force will be deployed as per:
http://navy-matters.beedall.com/jrrf.htm
So things are beefed up from 1982, but in all honesty Argentina doesn’t have the ability to attack and if they try to build up to it, it will be obvious. This newly built-up force will then have to get past several Type-45s, several Astute class subs whilst dodging tomahawks and all in the hope we don’t lose our rag completely and invlove our Vanguard class assets. It’s just not going to happen. What will happen is they will keep applying political pressure and pressure from their allies whilst hoping Obama will take his usual anti-British evil empire oppressor of downtrodden Argentina stance and try to rid the south atlantic of the evil British! :)
“The Bermuda Regiment is what I had in mind. It’s odd that there is no Falklands counterpart.”
13 years of labour governance embarrassed by the remains of empire. :(
The Falklands Islands Defence Force (FIDF) is the territorial defence unit of the Falklands Islands and is equipped and trained as a light infantry unit based on the Royal Marines...
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