sycamore is correct. There were six tankers and each of the four 'downstairs' tanks in the tankers held approx 7000 lbs of fuel.

Two of the six did eventually go to Sri Lanka. A third, originally intended for them, was instead scrapped due to the condition it was found to be in, and the remainder went the same way.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....a69dcc73be.jpg
XV203 airborne from MPA in 1989
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....06e339a11b.jpg
The view from the flight deck: Teal Inlet

En route to the Falklands early Dec 1984.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....04af5a3b6c.jpg

Nice to see more
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....152d57d5ea.jpg
pics appearing.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....15ec1ea9ce.jpg
And another,N of the Falklands....

I was working in Eng Ops at Stanley in late 1982 when two QRA Phantoms were scrambled one afternoon, they were then followed by the Hercules tanker which taxied out of the dispersal next to the old air terminal but as it turned onto the runway there was a problem with the nose wheel which either jammed or snapped and the herc was stuck on the runway unable to move. there was great consternation as the phantoms would need refueling or return to Stanley and land but at that point they could do neither. I can't recall how the situation was resolved. I presume the Hercules was eventually towed back to the dispersal and the Phantoms landed without incident. does anybody else recall the incident?

Cracking shots. Jason Islands. We found the remains of an Argentinian Navy pilot and his A4 about 2/3rd of the way up of the first peak in the photograph. Heading East and presumably inbound to do his worst. What was left of him was repatriated home.

I was involved with the A&AEE trials of a JATE designed ASRA for the Herc tanker. The tankers were an obvious choice for a Search and Rescue aircraft in the Falklands and so JATE designed and built a platform that could be positioned in the port para door to despatch three linked MS10 containers. The trials were on the whole a success, but we never issued recommendations for a CA Release for the ASRA as it was pointed out that having three smoke floats secured to the cabin wall within feet of a single skinned fuel tank was probably not all that sensible. Also, as the aircraft itself didn't have a CA Release as result of the tanker mod we couldn't issue recommendations for the ASRA.
Incidentally every time we despatched the three life rafts two out of the three inflated inverted, I never complained about dinghy righting drills after that.

VX 275,
i find that very interesting as almost from day one of the C130K in RAF service we had a role to drop three containers from the port para door. These could be a mix of liferafts and/or supplies.They were linked together by rope in a plywood rope dispenser box. Certainly the tanker in the Falklands had such a role and the kit was available, Although my memory is not what it was I am sure we carried marine markers and smoke floats

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....a7abb9aaad.jpg
Pic shows the kit at the port para door and the cargo door open which is how we did it in FEAF. Normally the cargo door remained shut.

Forgot to mention that you can see the yellow smoke floats and a marine marker in a box to the left of the ASRA kit which has not yet been moved into the drop position.

oh yes! I was the Tower Controller. Full description being typed up! Fred Carno's Circus was Amateur Hour in comparison!

Thats a photo of Me!

The ASRA kit on the tanker was mounted on rails that ran in the gap between the end of the fuel tanks and the HDU on the ramp. It was all a bit cramped especially as we had additional MS10s stowed in the walkway alongside the fuel tanks. The rails were used so that a seat for an observer could be fitted in the open doorway before being slid out of the way and the ASRA positioned. Unlike the one in your photo the JATE design had the ropes stowed under the metal base on which the MS10s sat.
I believe JADETU came up with another ASRA design for the J Herc, having failed to remember they had designed one for the Herc Tanker.

VX275,
thanks for the clarification.

May well be wrong but as I recall it only 1 F-4 involved, 29 sqn crew..(it was during the 29/23 overlap as you say end of 82).

F-4 had launched, the original tanker I think went "inop" on taxi out and the nosewheel collapse happened on it's taxi back in (?).

Second C-130 was eventually despatched from the mid'ish point, entering via a clear intersection and then used reverse I think to back up to the stranded 130 to maximise runway length before power up, brakes off.

Some time later after a fair bit of tanking, the F-4 was recovered into the approach end cables with the stranded 130 still blocking runway.

FWIW the crew brief I believe was if they'd missed the wires the crew would have ejected, so we (Phandet) and others retired to a safe distance from the runway edge just in case.

C-130 I think went off to Montevideo.

Be very interesting to compare notes and see how others remember it.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....eee5e50250.jpg
Mail Drop - Grytviken, South Georgia

From what I heard, the F4s at Stanley used to engage the RHAG on every landing as SOP.

Correct ...( though I have a vague memory the set up wasn't exclusively RHAG).