Falklands Conflict '82
Suspicion breeds confidence
Pr00ne. Sorry you lack any credibility. BEages, yes, we should have retained the Vulcan. Rumour has it that the MR4A will have longe range Storm Shadow capability. Comments invited from all. I'm off for a few days 
Perhaps if the Airships had thought beyond WE177 strikes on the Russkis, we might still have the Vulcan. When I did my captaincy board, the AOC asked me whay I said that I wanted a F4 cross-over rather than a Vulcan captaincy. We had a good chat, he concluded, "Yes, that's the same view as I hear from Town. I happen to think they're wrong, perhaps we'll find out one day".
He was right, it seems. But he was nice enough to give me a top recommendation for Vulcan captaincy, should I change my mind. Unfortunately I didn't, so did the 500 hr pre-VC10K Phantom course!
If only we could have gutted the Vulcan of all those old black dustbins (Calc 2 & 3 ?) etc and given it a glass cockpit, twin GPS/LINS and B-1B level nav attack systems.....
Had the chance to taxy the old beast a few weeks ago. Wonderful! I gather that 558 will be getting a twin GPS fit when it flies again next year. Beats the heck out of Doppler, GPI and sun gun!
He was right, it seems. But he was nice enough to give me a top recommendation for Vulcan captaincy, should I change my mind. Unfortunately I didn't, so did the 500 hr pre-VC10K Phantom course!
If only we could have gutted the Vulcan of all those old black dustbins (Calc 2 & 3 ?) etc and given it a glass cockpit, twin GPS/LINS and B-1B level nav attack systems.....
Had the chance to taxy the old beast a few weeks ago. Wonderful! I gather that 558 will be getting a twin GPS fit when it flies again next year. Beats the heck out of Doppler, GPI and sun gun!
Hello all
I have a cousin who served as a steward on one of the STUFT ships. He was just after rolling into his bunk and nodding off after a duty, one time, when the Air Raid warning went. He had previously been told to bunk down in the centre of the ship, rather than in his cabin, which was at one side of the ship. He ignored this and put the head down under the cabin's porthole. He was jolted awake by a violent banging under his bunk, just in time to see a Skyhawk pulling up to go over the ship. The noise was the sound of cannon shells going through the ship. Some of the shells had punched clean through the entire hull. There were also strikes from unguided rockets on the upper structures of the ship. He stated that a large crack appeared in the ship's side, that was hastily patched over and not fully repaired until they got back to the UK. I don't know what the name of the vessel was or from which Company it was hired, but I suggest that the guys on them were very "unsung".
regards
TDD
I have a cousin who served as a steward on one of the STUFT ships. He was just after rolling into his bunk and nodding off after a duty, one time, when the Air Raid warning went. He had previously been told to bunk down in the centre of the ship, rather than in his cabin, which was at one side of the ship. He ignored this and put the head down under the cabin's porthole. He was jolted awake by a violent banging under his bunk, just in time to see a Skyhawk pulling up to go over the ship. The noise was the sound of cannon shells going through the ship. Some of the shells had punched clean through the entire hull. There were also strikes from unguided rockets on the upper structures of the ship. He stated that a large crack appeared in the ship's side, that was hastily patched over and not fully repaired until they got back to the UK. I don't know what the name of the vessel was or from which Company it was hired, but I suggest that the guys on them were very "unsung".
regards
TDD
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Off topic but..... Someone on E-bay is selling a Falklands Medal and it is over £500 with a buy now price of £625
Navaleye,
Credibility?
What???
Credibility?
What???
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A little known fact is that a Vulcan dropped 2 LGBs within 10 feet of the centre of a target in Luce Bay from 16,000 feet during the war. This was done to prove the capability to deliver the weapon using co-operative or ground designation but it was not used in-theatre.
The RAF Harriers did use LGBs in theatre towards the end of the war against targets designated by FAC laser and these attacks were very successful. Interesting to note that the LGB guidance kits and the instructions for use were air-dropped alongside HM ships in the South Atlantic - a lot of people did stirling work under great pressure to achieve those results.
Also interesting to note that the only RAF fatality (as far as I know) during the war was to a FAC with the SAS cross-decking in a Sea King. RIP Garth Hawkins, you were a great chap.
The RAF Harriers did use LGBs in theatre towards the end of the war against targets designated by FAC laser and these attacks were very successful. Interesting to note that the LGB guidance kits and the instructions for use were air-dropped alongside HM ships in the South Atlantic - a lot of people did stirling work under great pressure to achieve those results.
Also interesting to note that the only RAF fatality (as far as I know) during the war was to a FAC with the SAS cross-decking in a Sea King. RIP Garth Hawkins, you were a great chap.
If m'learned friend will allow:
The Beatles - a popular beat combo from the North West, much admired by the nation's youth.
STUFT - Ships Taken Up From Trade.
The Beatles - a popular beat combo from the North West, much admired by the nation's youth.
STUFT - Ships Taken Up From Trade.
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Off topic but..... Someone on E-bay is selling a Falklands Medal and it is over £500 with a buy now price of £625
Hi all
He was on one of the civvie ships, Taken Up From Trade for the duration.He said that the ship had a couple of machine-guns fitted on the upper works as defences, manned by RN bods.
regards
TDD
He was on one of the civvie ships, Taken Up From Trade for the duration.He said that the ship had a couple of machine-guns fitted on the upper works as defences, manned by RN bods.
regards
TDD
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Pr00ne:
Even since EIS on Tomahawk on the SSNs (Kosovo, fired from Splendid in 1999, as well as outings in Afghanistan and Iraq 2)?
Let's face it, the notion of a TLAM zeroing in on your Presidential Palace would surely concentrate the mind of your average tinpot more soundly than an extreme range assignment like Black Buck.
Speaking of Bob Mugabe... is 1100km range far enough to get him?
The Vulcan has to be an example of a capability that would have proved useful in almost every campaign/deployment made by the UK military in the last 15 years, running on 2 squadrons would surely have been worthwhile.
Let's face it, the notion of a TLAM zeroing in on your Presidential Palace would surely concentrate the mind of your average tinpot more soundly than an extreme range assignment like Black Buck.
Speaking of Bob Mugabe... is 1100km range far enough to get him?
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My Uncle was one of the RAF guys that flew harriers of the Atlantic Conveyor and onto HMS Hermes adn flew a bunch of combat mission during the conflict.
I do remember him telling me about the people who where rounded up by the MoD to fly the sea harriers, as most of the Navy guys didn't have any experience or training with or Air to Air or Air to Ground (I can't remember which one). Some where from the MoD, some RAF, some Fleet air arm all transfered to Yeovilton for a crash course in carrier landings and then sent of to the Falklands...
He doesn't talk about the conflict much (as I've seen with most people who have been in combat), either you where there, you witnessed it and did the job and hoped you'd get home alive or you weren't and don't really know what you're talking about..
If you are really doing a lot of research I could ask him if he wants to answer some of your questions by e-mail. Send me a e-mail and I'll pass it on....
I do remember him telling me about the people who where rounded up by the MoD to fly the sea harriers, as most of the Navy guys didn't have any experience or training with or Air to Air or Air to Ground (I can't remember which one). Some where from the MoD, some RAF, some Fleet air arm all transfered to Yeovilton for a crash course in carrier landings and then sent of to the Falklands...
He doesn't talk about the conflict much (as I've seen with most people who have been in combat), either you where there, you witnessed it and did the job and hoped you'd get home alive or you weren't and don't really know what you're talking about..
If you are really doing a lot of research I could ask him if he wants to answer some of your questions by e-mail. Send me a e-mail and I'll pass it on....
MarkD,
I wouldn’t have advocated retention of the Vulcan as a TLAM replacement, or even supplement, but rather as a more efficient and longer ranged LGB delivery platform that also has the ability to drop a much large quantity of weapons, maybe the same as an entire Jaguar squadron?
I wouldn’t have advocated retention of the Vulcan as a TLAM replacement, or even supplement, but rather as a more efficient and longer ranged LGB delivery platform that also has the ability to drop a much large quantity of weapons, maybe the same as an entire Jaguar squadron?
Gentleman Aviator
I do remember him telling me about the people who were rounded up by the MoD to fly
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Falklands dits
Hoobs,
Its a bit vague in the old grey matter but there is a book and accompanying video which I think is called "mentions in Dispatches" and covers various accounts of action from Op Corporate. One of those is Flt Lt Morgan discussing his kills including the Puma loaded with ammo which he encouraged into the side of a hill. His apparent reaction was one of disappointment as he was hoping to give it a thorough hosing down with Aden 30mm!
On the more humbling side is a dit from an ex Pongo turned NAAFI manager who found himself in the middle of a scrap and being one of the few people on board who knew how to use the Jimpy - gave lots of support (of the goffa/nutty and emotional variety) to the ship's company but never agreed that he was brave - that commendation he gave to one of the PWO's from his ship who was last seen firing a Sterling at an inbound A4 just before the ship took a hit - think it might have been Ardent.
Very definitely worth scratching around for.
Its a bit vague in the old grey matter but there is a book and accompanying video which I think is called "mentions in Dispatches" and covers various accounts of action from Op Corporate. One of those is Flt Lt Morgan discussing his kills including the Puma loaded with ammo which he encouraged into the side of a hill. His apparent reaction was one of disappointment as he was hoping to give it a thorough hosing down with Aden 30mm!
On the more humbling side is a dit from an ex Pongo turned NAAFI manager who found himself in the middle of a scrap and being one of the few people on board who knew how to use the Jimpy - gave lots of support (of the goffa/nutty and emotional variety) to the ship's company but never agreed that he was brave - that commendation he gave to one of the PWO's from his ship who was last seen firing a Sterling at an inbound A4 just before the ship took a hit - think it might have been Ardent.
Very definitely worth scratching around for.
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RAF Participation
Pierre Argh
I don't doubt your experiences of the conflict but your claims about RAF participation are way off the mark. One thing which is seldom mentioned in publications about the air war in the Falklands is that there were a significant number of light blue pilots flying SHARs throughout the campaign. Why? you may ask. The answer is simple enough, there weren't anywhere near enough dark blue SHAR pilots!
As regards the 'limited' RAF participation, which of the other 2 services can even come close to matching the record and total lift accomplished by Chinook BN after Conveyor went down? Also which Service provided mail drops to the task force on numerous occasions?
Unfortunately, and for obvious reasons, the participation of RAF SHAR pilots is much played down by the Senior Service. With types like 'Sharkie' to contend with along with his version of history, is anyone in the least surprised?
I don't doubt your experiences of the conflict but your claims about RAF participation are way off the mark. One thing which is seldom mentioned in publications about the air war in the Falklands is that there were a significant number of light blue pilots flying SHARs throughout the campaign. Why? you may ask. The answer is simple enough, there weren't anywhere near enough dark blue SHAR pilots!
As regards the 'limited' RAF participation, which of the other 2 services can even come close to matching the record and total lift accomplished by Chinook BN after Conveyor went down? Also which Service provided mail drops to the task force on numerous occasions?
Unfortunately, and for obvious reasons, the participation of RAF SHAR pilots is much played down by the Senior Service. With types like 'Sharkie' to contend with along with his version of history, is anyone in the least surprised?
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As regards the 'limited' RAF participation, which of the other 2 services can even come close to matching the record and total lift accomplished by Chinook BN after Conveyor went down? Also which Service provided mail drops to the task force on numerous occasions?
Albert wasn't the only RAF fleet that was heavily in demand by various agencies during that war - and please bear in mind that many essential operational tasks were not necessarily within a few hundred miles of the islands themselves. Also remember that, for all three services, there was an overriding responsibility to maintain the NATO face to the USSR throughout the conflict, and heavy commitments in N Ireland, which could not be delegated elsewhere. Thus the overall workload on all services was proportionally far higher than the scale of the conflict might otherwise have justified.