Posted on 01/12/2013 2:58:56 PM PST by Sub-Driver
Defence chiefs prepare new plans to defend Falkland Islands
Defence chiefs have drawn up new contingency plans designed to prevent hostile action by Argentina towards the Falkland Islands.
By Sean Rayment, Defence Correspondent
9:00PM GMT 12 Jan 2013
A series of military options are being actively considered as the war of words over the islands intensifies.
It is understood that additional troops, another warship and extra RAF Typhoon combat aircraft could be dispatched to the region ahead of the March referendum on the Falkland Islands’ future.
The options being proposed by planners at the Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood, north-west London are also said to include a “show of force” such as conducting naval exercises in the South Atlantic.
These could involve the deployment of the Royal Navy’s Response Task Force Group, a flotilla comprising destroyers, a frigate, a submarine and commandos.
Alternatives include deploying elements of the Army’s 16 Air Assault Brigade — the airborne task force which includes members of the Parachute Regiment — which has just completed a series of demanding exercises in Spain preparing for “general war”.
The Government is expecting a 100 per cent “yes” vote when the islanders are asked on March 11: “Do you wish the Falkland Islands to retain their current political status as an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom?”
Intelligence chiefs have warned David Cameron that a resounding “yes” vote could lead to an aggressive “stunt” by the Argentine government, such as the planting of the country’s flag on the island by a small raiding party.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
The Falkland Islands and Our Pants
Think Defence | April 19, 2011
http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2011/04/the-falkland-islands-and-our-pants/
Argentina military grapples with old stuff
disclaimer: image is for illustration purposes only
by Staff Writers
Buenos Aires (UPI) Dec 20, 2010
http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Argentina_military_grapples_with_old_stuff_999.html
In 1982, the Argentine army deployed troops from a couple of Jungle Regiments to the Falklands. These poor sods had only their jungle kit and were totally unprepared for the bitter cold of the Falklands. The Brits, on the other hand, WERE prepared. Royal Marine Commandos had just finished a NATO exercise in Norway and when they returned to the UK, they were alerted to ship out to the South Atlantic and still had their Arctic kit. At the time in Jeddah, the British and Argentine embassies shared a common wall, and the two ambassadors were best of buds. The hostilities drove a wedge between them.
They don’t new plans. They need new equipment.
I was only addressing the ground troops, if I were an Argentine soldier, I would not look forward to facing actual killers and war fighters.
The Argentinians don’t possess cruise missiles let alone sub-launched variants.
The 209’s and the exocet’s are anti-ship systems and while they might be useful in delaying any subsequent heavy lift into the area they are next to useless in ground operations.
The 209 and 1700 class subs are small (crew complement 25 to 35) and wouldn’t be able to land anything more than a handful of troops and that is the best and only capability they have for this type of operation.
Even if they did succeed, they’d have to also hold the base against 700+ UK troops to prevent the reinforcement of fresh aircraft and troops which could arrive within 12 hours. Frankly, that’s an absurd proposition
I agree that Obama wouldn’t lift a finger but he’s not going to be put into that position. The Brits learnt the lesson 30 years ago that it’s easier to defend and reinforce a position than it is to lose it and have to mount an amphibious operation to retake it, especially if it’s 12,000 miles from home. The fact the the Argentinians don’t have anything like a serious offensive capability helps a lot.
Sounds as though trouble is brewing in Argentina and they new another Falklands brouhaha to distract from what is happening at home.
I was in Argentina in the 80s when the battle over the Falklands began anew. At that time, Argentina had an extremely high rate of inflation and most Argentines had 2 or 3 “make-work” jobs to make ends meet.
El Presidente at the time, Gral. Galtieri, tried to pick a fight with neighboring Chile over a longstanding border dispute, but the Chileans wouldn’t play. Unfortunately, the hapless Brits would and got sucked into Galtieri’s distraction from the economic problems at home.
So, they are rewinding the tape from the 80s and starting the movie over.
‘Scuse me, this is where I came in.
At the time I was following the story pretty close.
I would meet with two friends for coffee, and we would all buy a different newspaper to read and share, one of the friends was an ex-WWII Brit commando, so he was well interested.
In 1986, I got assigned to the US Embassy, Office of the Military Attaché, in Buenos Aires. There were still some old timers hanging on who’d been there during the hostilities and told me that the Argies were really pist at us for backing the Brits, and a lot of the Argie Army, Air Force and Naval officers gathered in front of the Embassy and threw their awards and letters of praise that they had earned on courses while in the States over the Embassy fence. Yet before I left in 1989, we were running exchange programs with the Argie Military. Even up to this day, the Argies still like the Brits better than they like us.
Has not Obumber said or hinted he favors the Argentines? Just asking.
“The real nightmare is that the political situation has changed in south America. Brazil and other south Americans might ally with Argentina if that Argentine woman can cast this as Europeans against poor south America. And Obama would never help England. He hates them as much as he does us.
It could all get really weird.”
Agreed.
If Argentina moves on the Falklands, the Brits probably have no better than a 50/50 chance of holding them. If any other nations of South America offer Argentina support and arms, the Brits may be done there, short of using nukes...
Not a chance for Argentina. They simply cannot do it.
the Brits still have some tricks up their sleves. See what the citizens of Buenos Aires think then their power grid gets dropped by a few of those nifty carbon filiment warhead Tomahawks fired from RN SSNs
Born to Conserve ~ That’s impossible.
Not at all. But it still wouldn't do any good. The Brits would just strike a 5 sided pentabazillion coin...
“Don’t make us come down there and kick your ass again.”
The exclusion zone was for commercial traffic, any Argentine Navy ship was always a target no matter where it was in any Sea or Ocean.
Thatcher's decision was 100% correct..Why let enemy troops land, where they will have to be dug out by Brit forces, at the cost of considerably casualties. Far better to sink the ship..see if the enemy can swim/float
There are a few misconceptions about the Falklands Conflict, first one is it was a ‘conflict’ and not a war. Calling the Falklands a conflict was an expedient and, as short lived as it was, it was still a war, it’s not about the longevity it’s about the intent. My point is my countrymen died in a war, as they did in the Gulf and now do in Afganistan, all wars require sacrifice and therefore a willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice for your country.
The second is that outside the exclusion zone any Argentine ship military or otherwise supporting the campaign would not be a target. If their Aircraft Carrier was 100 miles outside the exclusion zone it would have been sunk. If an ARA destroyer turned up off Ascenscion Island or decided to make a move on the Kiwi’s boat that took over from the Royal Navy’s pacific stations it would have been sunk by the Kiwi’s. If the ARA sailed up the Thames Estuary it would have been sunk.
The Belgrano was a legitimate target no matter where it was, and it was zig zagging at the time, it could’ve change course at any time and threatened the Royal Navy task force.
I was questioning your earlier statement that any Argentinian NAVAL vessel OUTSIDE the exclusion zone was still a legitimate target. You may well be correct; however, that is not my understanding of how the exclusion zone worked. Could you provide a source/link? Thanks
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