[url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8518982.stm ]Here we go....again?[/url]
It worked for Mrs T, maybe Brown will get lucky!
Like to see them enforce it 🙂
Can't have too many 'Belgranos' left?
Richmars, a valid poiint.
Only thuing is, Mrs T hadn't already stretched the armed forces way beyond breaking point in a couple of questionable wars.
Also, they can't enforce any sort of total blockade on the whole South Atlantic!
Can understand them stopping ships going to and from the mainland but to South Georgia. Is it not international waters?
Entire fleet is smaller than the task force
No SHAR or replacement
No long range air assets
- and have we even got enough troops and planes left to reinforce MPA?
Only similarity would be the shortage of rotary wing! Still, at least we've still got Trident, we can roast a lot of beef with a few bucketfuls of instant sunshine 😈
I always wondered why they were so keen to keep hold of the Falklands.
Only thuing is, Mrs T hadn't already stretched the armed forces way beyond breaking point in a couple of questionable wars.
Be fair, she did her best with what was available at the time.
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This is why we have nuclear submarines, cruise tomahawk for land strikes and torpedos for ships. Just rotate a hunter-killer on patrol and only a major superpower would be a threat.
No doubt the US would help out to protect "our" ownership of what are thought to be the largest untapped oil reserves in the world....
tankslapper - MemberCan't have too many 'Belgranos' left?
Anyone watch QI at the weekend? General B was renamed by the Argentinians when she was bought from the US Navy. Previously she'd been known as USS Phoenix, the only ship to survive Pearl Harbour unscathed.
That film has a lot to answer for...
Instant sunshine, love it. Get some of that over to afghan
land I say!
Entire fleet is smaller than the task force
But more capable,
No SHAR or replacement
The GR7/9's are more than a match for their aging skyhawks,
No long range air assets
Not really required, long range air assets didn't really cause much damage last time round,
- and have we even got enough troops and planes left to reinforce MPA?
Always. If the conditions merited it, the forces would be withdrawn from elsewhere, like they were withdrawn from NATO commitments in 82,
Only similarity would be the shortage of rotary wing! Still, at least we've still got Trident, we can roast a lot of beef with a few bucketfuls of instant sunshine
We have a quantum leap in amphib capability copmared to 82, that coupled with TLAM equipped Submarines against a vastly inferior Argentine force compared to 82, means an conflict will be over very quickly.
So Argentina can do what they like, they have little to back it up with.
Plus I think the Americans wouldn't be chuffed to see the British forces leaving current warzones and would be putting pressure on Argentina to back off from that side too.
The really stupid thing is the new president in Argentina has made it one of her pledges that she'll get the Falklands back to their "true" ownership so it's going to get worse before it gets better.
Storm/teacup anyone?
Its Latin-American political posturing. In addition, isn't the stationed force on the Falklands larger now? In the Falklands War the small detachment of Marines gave them a bloody nose didn't they? I imagine a larger force (well equipped) wouldnt be a nice prospect.
It added that Argentina and Britain were "important partners" and pledged to "co-operate" on issues in the South Atlantic, where the Falklands are located.
Roughly translated -
"Now then, son, play the game nicely or we'll send you packing like we did last time"
😉
Bloody argies.....get stuffed and f*&k off, you want it , bring it on then.
El-Bent,
the GR9 has no radar therefore has practically no air-air capability unless you're really wishing to put all your faith in AIM-9M. I wouldn't! No radar = total reliance on visual acquisition. Oops!
You would be right about the lack of requirement for long range assets if we had a deployable air-air capability, but we sold those to the Indians!
and exactly where do you propose all these extra troops will come from?
The major draw through NATO is Afghanistan.
Keep taking the pills!!
and exactly where do you propose all these extra troops will come from?
The major draw through NATO is Afghanistan
A combat partner is invaded through the backdoor? I think Argentina would be given zero patience this time from other countries.
Teacup/storm.
A combat partner is invaded through the backdoor?
😯
It takes rather longer for the AA battery on the Falklands to come online than it does for a jet to get from Argentina to the Falklands. Unless they're sat waiting on 24/7 alert, the air defences would be likely to be destroyed before they managed to engage enemy aircraft.
That said, exactly this kind of sabre rattling is the kind of thing that would cause the AA battery to be put on alert 😆
Only thing is, Mrs T hadn't already stretched the armed forces way beyond breaking point in a couple of questionable wars.
Correct, she'd just cut their budgets like buggery and as a result had to get one aircraft carrier back from the knackers yard and the other from the Australian Navy who she'd just sold it to. Apart from that your point is factually correct Cap'n
Hora, that would be foolish to assume that we'd get unconditional support. If we want the reserves, we need to be able to fight for them.
Blimey, the Diplomatic corps won't be recruiting anywhere round here in a hurry...
Key word here is Oil. Argentina wants either what it thinks is a fair share, or a bit more of a share, and it knows full well that to make it viable people will want to use Argentine ports. Opening shots in a trade war, not a re-run of '82...
The new detachment of Typhoons down there all have nice radars though
Thatcher had also withdrawn( or in the process of doing so) the military presence form the region IIRC - not that it was much anyway but it was taken as a signal that britain was not interested.
the air defences would be likely to be destroyed before they managed to engage enemy aircraft.
There will be alot of electronic eavesdropping etc going on on Argie radio traffic as well.
Right, I'm off down to Argie town here on Craggy Island to start cracking some heads 😈
Aiee, a squadron of Typhoons woud have some fun down there.
Perhaps that's why the Vulcan was recently restored to airworthiness.
I think flying the XH558 on VFR's to the Falklands and back might be a bit of a challenge
The new detachment of Typhoons down there all have nice radars though
I was wondering how long it would take for someone to remember they were there....
Out of interest. How does Argentina stand with the US interms of region/politics? I read that Argentina was key back in the early 80's as a ally/buffer against Communist elements in South America?
We'd need the help of Pinochet again! 
I'm sure the 'phoon will be fine. As long as MPA runway isn't denied and they've got a serviceble tanker. Obviously the argies primary target would be the runway. Once that's gone it's fair game.
Time to deploy the "Bombers" so we can own them!
Time to deploy the "Bombers" so we can own them!
Post of the day.
Sad fact for the Argetinian AF is that the RAF has gone through three generations of fighters at Mount Unpleseant while they are still scrapping around for spares for the same kit they had in 82.
Anyhoo, nothing like a bit of shit stirring from the Current Bun....
[i]RAF chiefs have enraged Argentina by sending four of their most sophisticated superjets to the Falklands.
The £60million Typhoons are already posted on the South Atlantic isles after slipping out of the UK last week.
They are now the most sophisticated war jets in the southern hemisphere. Argentina, who went to war with us in 1982 over the Falklands, is understood to have made a formal protest.
The Typhoon can be used as a fighter and a bomber. It flies at twice the speed of sound and is far more manoeuvrable than the Tornado it replaces.
Its missile system even knows the target the pilot is looking at using helmet sensors. A senior RAF source said: "The Argentines are unhappy but it's our duty to provide the best possible defence of the Falklands."[/i]
Can't wait for the Daily Wail to chime in.
Park 1x Trident platform in the South Atlantic. Job done.
Its missile system even knows the target the pilot is looking at using helmet sensors.
😀
Love it when my work makes the news!!
Didn't they build a massive runway down that way after 82? Presumably the argies wouldn't get near it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Mount_Pleasant
Thatcher had also withdrawn( or in the process of doing so) the military presence form the region IIRC - not that it was much anyway but it was taken as a signal that britain was not interested.
I think its difficult to overlook there the fact that there were years of mixed messages from various governments, leading to a false expectation of the outcome of negotiations by Argentina.
Fair enough Zulu
Troll mode......
Why not give the Argies the Shetland Isles? It makes as much geographical sense as us having The Falklands.
/Troll mode
Its Latin-American political posturing. In addition, isn't the stationed force on the Falklands larger now? In the Falklands War the small detachment of Marines gave them a bloody nose didn't they? I imagine a larger force (well equipped) wouldnt be a nice prospect.
There were ~70 marines on the Falklands at the time, as I recall they hit an armoured personal carrier (killing 1, wounding a few?) before they were ordered to surrender by the governer due to the overwhelming forces the argies had.
Does that class as a bloody nose?
/me plays macc lads bunous aeries..