Originally Posted by
Easy Street
IIRC the laser code selector for LRMTS only controlled which code the receiver looked for when searching for an off-board laser spot; it had no effect on the code transmitted by the ranging laser, which was fixed and not typically known by the aircrew. I'd bet the duff gen was to do with that?
As stated, according Jerry Pook, 1(F) were given a brief on weapons trials with PWII in Canada just before the Argentines invaded the Falklands and the Briefing Officer had said yes to Pook's question about was it possible to use the LRMTS as an emergency designator. it was only after a couple of failed attempts, firstly by 1(F) alone and then with a single GR 3 as the designator (as it was 1(F)'s only serviceable aircraft) and the LGB's coming off a SHAR, that the Squadron got a signal saying that LRMTS and PWII guidance system were not compatible. In both cases VIFFing was used by the designator at high altitude to allow the laser to be pointed at Stanley's runway.