Falklands War

Status
Not open for further replies.
Interesting about the FAL's used by both sides even though there was a bit of a difference. The only other war I am aware of where the opposing forces used the same primary weapon was the Russo/Finn war where both used the Mosin Nagant.

fpgt72: In my opinion I do not believe the United States government is a reliable ally to anyone in its current incarnation.........
 
Just want to thank you guys for the history lesson. As a fan of history (especially military history) I have to admit ignorance of this war. Gotta love our public education system.
 
I have also read that several companies want to drill for oil in the waters around The Falklands, and the Argies are stirring things up again because they think they still own the islands and want their "cut".

How many British Troops are stationed in The Falklands now?

Just my .02,
LeonCarr
 
Last edited:
I was at an Army Aviation convention in Garmisch in 1983. I had a hot red RX-7 that was a screamer...anyhow, the keynote speaker was a Brit Brigadier, their Chief of Army Aviation. Anyhow, at the end of his speech, he had to hotfoot to the flughafen...I offered to drive him, he accepted only if he could drive. anyhow, we're tearing down the autobahn, enjoying the ride. I complemented him on his speech and asked if he had any funny sorties..he did indeed. Remember, this was 1983, still in the cold war...anyhow, he said inMarch 1982 he and family had booked their ski holiday for the Swiss Alps...as he was going out the door, he said he gave his #2 the chalet private phone, but admonished him to only call if there was an aircraft fatality, or war....anyhow, he said he and his family were having a great ski trip, when the chalet phone rang. his wifey answered and gave him the phone saying it was his #2....the BG answered saying "who died?"...his #2 responded no Sir, it is war! The BG said he stammered, astonished and said the Russians have attacked? #2 responded, no Sir, the Argies! Who? The Argies....where? The Falklands! He said his next comment was..where the bloody hell is that! true story as told to me by the Brit BG!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
The only other war I am aware of where the opposing forces used the same primary weapon was the Russo/Finn war where both used the Mosin Nagant.
Click to expand...

I believe the 1948 War of Independence between the newly established Israel and the Arabs both used British supplied Lee Enfields. The British were in charge of the transition as mandated by the U.N. and trained both sides. The war in Arabic is called "Nakba" (the disaster).
 
In addition to the FALs, both sides in the Falklands used the Hi Power, both navies had Type 42 destroyers, and there was probably other equipment in common. Even Argentina's aircraft carrier was ex-British!
 
You bet I remember it, I was in Germany & we went on high alert................
 
Last edited:
Interesting about the FAL's used by both sides even though there was a bit of a difference. The only other war I am aware of where the opposing forces used the same primary weapon was the Russo/Finn war where both used the Mosin Nagant.
Click to expand...
I'd say that most Civil Wars had the same arms on both sides, at least partially. Also, any bush war in the last 40-50 years has probably been AK-47 against AK-47.
 
@SteelHorseRider: Max Hastings' THE BATTLE FOR THE FALKLANDS (1984) is a good account, perhaps limited only by the fact that it was published so soon after the war ended.

I visited Argentina last year. I don't tend to make sweeping generalizations about people, but it is insane how obsessed many are in that country about the Falklands. A visit to a bookstore revealed at least five different books with pride of place about the book -- one in the window basically tried to justify (in my opinion) in a Sudetenland-style fashion why the Islands REALLY were Argentinean. Graffiti on the subject (Las Malvinas son Argentinas) was pretty common.

I even encountered a group of Falkland War veterans who had set up camp and were protesting -- claiming that they'd been stationed at an Argentinean airfield in Patagonia that (they claim) had been attacked by the SBS, and that they should've been receiving full veterans benefits, which their government was trying to deny....

Anyway, this is all egged on by an administration that is trying to distract attention from economic failures at home, but there's quite a lot of popular sentiment on the issue.

They really need to grow up and get over it.
 
I was in the Army stationed in Germany at the time the Falklands War broke out. Having trained with the British Army's Parachute Regiment and the King's Own Scottish Borderers, I had no doubt about the outcome of the war. The only way Argentina was going to keep the Falklands was if Britain decided not to fight. Fat chance of that with Maggie Thatcher in charge of the British government.

Both sides also used the MAG medium machine gun and the Browning M2 .50 caliber heavy machine gun.
 
Argentina has been making rumblings of wanting the Falklands again. I don't think they've ever really given up on the thought after all tese years. The US provided intel and logistics for the Brits as I'm sure we would in the event of another conflict. Well, as sure as I can be with our current administration. President Reagan and Prime Minister Thatcher shared a mutual respect and were close friends to the end. The question today would be Britain's ability to finance another conflict in the Falklands, not that they would have much choice. Troop and equipment transport would be another issue. That's where the US would be needed. In the final analysis of it all it is about the oil fields. Both Britain and Argentina want control of the oil. Can't say as I blame them. Fortunately Argentina isn't in a position to mount another war militarily, or financially. At least not in the foreseeable future. I'm curious as to what sort of naval presence the Brits maintain in the Falklands. Anybody know?
 
A stupid war. Hardly Britain's finest hour. I guess after having lost most of their empire long ago, it makes them feel good to hold on to what little bit they can.
I think the English people would be far better served if their government would restrict immigration and stop the wholesale destruction of the English folk and their way of life, rather than sending warships and good young men to kill good young Argentine soldiers.
 
The argentinian dictator only started the invasion, cause demonstrations
against his regime were getting out of hand - and he needed some national
BS to unite his folks under for a while.

By stayin in power a little longer .. he won his war.
The Falklands never were the set goal.

(... which reminds me of this guy from Texas....)
 
@mp7:

The macho Argentinean Junta also thought that a mere woman like Thatcher wouldn't fight back. Galtieri and his pals definitely did not achieve their objective, which was to retire in glory so that no one would complain too loudly about all of their crimes during the Guerra Sucia in the '70s and early '80s.
 
I was living in Toronto at the time, sat in a Tim Horton's, a Donut shop.

Two Canadians, a Londoner a Brit, talking to them.

The Brit, "Maggie will not send troops, those Ireland's are not worth it"

My comment (me, from Liverpool, the North) "If that Ireland was just a rock, that was only big enough for a seagull to land with one foot, Maggie is getting it back"

She did.
 
Mp7 said:
The argentinian dictator only started the invasion, cause demonstrations
against his regime were getting out of hand - and he needed some national
BS to unite his folks under for a while.

By stayin in power a little longer .. he won his war.
The Falklands never were the set goal.

(... which reminds me of this guy from Texas....)
Click to expand...
That is so true....people needed something else to think about....and it was a win/win for him in the end.

That last bit was funny....made pop come out my nose.
 
"rio nueces" said:
A stupid war. Hardly Britain's finest hour. I guess after having lost most of their empire long ago, it makes them feel good to hold on to what little bit they can.
I think the English people would be far better served if their government would restrict immigration and stop the wholesale destruction of the English folk and their way of life, rather than sending warships and good young men to kill good young Argentine soldiers.
Click to expand...

Oh really? A "stupid" war? Argentina invades British territory and England sends its military to get it back and it's STUPID?
Should all military invasions then go unchallanged? What license that would be for aggressors!!!!!!!
Good grief ! ​
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top