Argentinian ground based AA during Falklands war?
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: somwhere over the rainbow
I have a question I hope you could help me with:
I am preparing a small presentation, for the Dutch Airforce, of the Falklands conflict, focussed on the air campaign.
I am now trying to find which types of anti-aircraft defence the Argentinians used during the conflict. So far I have only been able to trace the Rheinmetall 20 mm used at Stanley, but I cannot imagine that they didn't deploy radar-guided AA , surveillance radar and so on.
Could someone please point me in the right direction, preferably something which I can find easily on Internet? I am busy reading Vulcan 607 now, (great book), trying to find some links there as well.
Thank you all in advance!
edit to add: this would include radar systems used if possible. Thanks again!
I am preparing a small presentation, for the Dutch Airforce, of the Falklands conflict, focussed on the air campaign.
I am now trying to find which types of anti-aircraft defence the Argentinians used during the conflict. So far I have only been able to trace the Rheinmetall 20 mm used at Stanley, but I cannot imagine that they didn't deploy radar-guided AA , surveillance radar and so on.
Could someone please point me in the right direction, preferably something which I can find easily on Internet? I am busy reading Vulcan 607 now, (great book), trying to find some links there as well.
Thank you all in advance!
edit to add: this would include radar systems used if possible. Thanks again!
Last edited by hardhatter; 10th June 2009 at 06:29. Reason: extra question
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From: YES
Oerlikon GDF 35mm RAF pinched some of those for AD Aux Sqns
Roland
Tigercat
Blowpipe
There was another gun system but memory fails me I think Hispano
Radar
Skyguard
?Fledermaus
There is a nice aerial recce photo showing an Argentine Blowpipe det comming into action to try and engage the Recce aircraft. Have seen it on the net.
Roland
Tigercat
Blowpipe
There was another gun system but memory fails me I think Hispano
Radar
Skyguard
?Fledermaus
There is a nice aerial recce photo showing an Argentine Blowpipe det comming into action to try and engage the Recce aircraft. Have seen it on the net.

Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Lowlevel UK
Goose Green
Lt Nick Taylor was flying No2 of a three ship SHAR from HMS HERMES over Goose Green airfield on 4 May 82 and was taken out by radar guided AAA. The lead reported later that it failed to lock on him and shifted onto Nick. I believe it was 20mm AAA but there is an Argentine report with more detail. Nick was the first Fleet Air Arm pilot to be lost in the campaign.
Red On, Green On
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From: Between the woods and the water
Suspicion breeds confidence
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Gibraltar
A long time ago but here goes.
Tigercat: Useless unless you were in a desert airfield being attacked by WW1 bi-planes.
The Argentines had an assortmentof 20mm, 30mm and 35mm AA artillery, the latter being the most effective. I believe the Crabs actually used it to defend a RAF station after (Waddington?)
The 20mm was a visually laid weapon and the navy used some of the captured weapons from Goose Green and put them on LSLs after. They were then discarded.
The Roland had it own radar and fire control and was independent of the gun systems. The Roland was evaluated after the war and considered too bulky and cumbersome to be of little value apart from pre-prepared static defence.
Nick Taylor was hit by a 35mm.
Tigercat: Useless unless you were in a desert airfield being attacked by WW1 bi-planes.
The Argentines had an assortmentof 20mm, 30mm and 35mm AA artillery, the latter being the most effective. I believe the Crabs actually used it to defend a RAF station after (Waddington?)
The 20mm was a visually laid weapon and the navy used some of the captured weapons from Goose Green and put them on LSLs after. They were then discarded.
The Roland had it own radar and fire control and was independent of the gun systems. The Roland was evaluated after the war and considered too bulky and cumbersome to be of little value apart from pre-prepared static defence.
Nick Taylor was hit by a 35mm.
Last edited by Navaleye; 10th June 2009 at 09:52.
Thread Starter
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From: somwhere over the rainbow
@navaleye:
thank you for your input, just goes to show, no matter how good it looks on the drawingboard, what it does in the field is what counts.
Just for your information, I am trying to describe the Falklands air war form both sides using Col Warden's theory of 'the enemy as a system'. First time trying this, but it is quite a new way of looking at the conflict from this angle.
thank you for your input, just goes to show, no matter how good it looks on the drawingboard, what it does in the field is what counts.
Just for your information, I am trying to describe the Falklands air war form both sides using Col Warden's theory of 'the enemy as a system'. First time trying this, but it is quite a new way of looking at the conflict from this angle.
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: somwhere over the rainbow
Navaleye, be careful with what you offer, I just might take you up on that! 
first I'll try to finish my work on it today or tomorrow, try to translate it, and maybe drop a few questions your way if you wouldn't mind. Thanks in advance.
first I'll try to finish my work on it today or tomorrow, try to translate it, and maybe drop a few questions your way if you wouldn't mind. Thanks in advance.

Joined: Jan 2008
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From: South, near the end of the world.
My dear friend, you can try to get the information from Zona Militar website, www.zonamilitar.com.ar
There are many post in english about the war. We have many Malvinas/Falklans war veterans who like to write there.
Rey del Castillo is one of them who was operating one of the Argentinian Army radars in Pto Argentino/Stanley.
Thunder was another who was serving in the GADA 601.
Try Proyecto Guerra de Malvinas/Falklands War - Foros Zona Militar
See you there.



Ariel
There are many post in english about the war. We have many Malvinas/Falklans war veterans who like to write there.
Rey del Castillo is one of them who was operating one of the Argentinian Army radars in Pto Argentino/Stanley.
Thunder was another who was serving in the GADA 601.
Try Proyecto Guerra de Malvinas/Falklands War - Foros Zona Militar
See you there.
Ariel


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From: Falling off the end of the thread
I seem to remember in the distance pass the RAF police were using some of the captured radars to check for low flying and speeding in areas of high complaints........... straight up!

Joined: Jan 2008
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From: South, near the end of the world.
Blowpipe in the Argentine side
We also had the british made MANPAD Blowpipe.
The Argentine Army Commandos used it on May 21st in the Gran Malvina island against a Harrier GR3.
Two Harrier GR3s were attacking the argentine positions located in Port Howard.
The Argentine Commandos (Company 601) were ambushing the british aircraft and lunched two missiles, one failed but the other hit the GR3.
The pilot could eject and was taken prisoner by the Commandos.
The pilot's name is Leutenant William Glover.
The Argentine Army Commandos used it on May 21st in the Gran Malvina island against a Harrier GR3.
Two Harrier GR3s were attacking the argentine positions located in Port Howard.
The Argentine Commandos (Company 601) were ambushing the british aircraft and lunched two missiles, one failed but the other hit the GR3.
The pilot could eject and was taken prisoner by the Commandos.
The pilot's name is Leutenant William Glover.
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: somwhere over the rainbow
Here's something which I leave to the experts to the answer:
was the Matras R350 used by the Argentinian Mirage III IR or radarguided?

by the way, keep the stories oming.
Just read about the first Harrier of 'Nick' Taylor to be lost during the conflict.
was the Matras R350 used by the Argentinian Mirage III IR or radarguided?

by the way, keep the stories oming.
Just read about the first Harrier of 'Nick' Taylor to be lost during the conflict.
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: somwhere over the rainbow
@Enrique
Good morning over there!
First off, see my previous post: was the Matras as used by the Mirage III IR or radar guided?
I'll keep posting questions as I go along.
thanks
Good morning over there!
First off, see my previous post: was the Matras as used by the Mirage III IR or radar guided?
I'll keep posting questions as I go along.
thanks
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From: USA
On that one ( Argentine Aircrafts and Amo ) I will have to bring Thunder -
I was the Operator for the Long Range radar in the islandos that belon to the army , two long range radars were deployed :
The antps 43 Westinghouse , belong to Air Force and primary mision to guide our planes during atacks
The antps 44 Cardion , belong to Army and primary mision to alert on incoming enemy planes
If You could go to the page that Ariel mention , post in English , and they will respond in English - I dont know if Thunder speacks some english to have him come here -
Regards Enrique
I was the Operator for the Long Range radar in the islandos that belon to the army , two long range radars were deployed :
The antps 43 Westinghouse , belong to Air Force and primary mision to guide our planes during atacks
The antps 44 Cardion , belong to Army and primary mision to alert on incoming enemy planes
If You could go to the page that Ariel mention , post in English , and they will respond in English - I dont know if Thunder speacks some english to have him come here -
Regards Enrique




Hopefully enough is in English.