Discussion
Simpo Two said:
onyx39 said:
Could have been embarrassing.... "hello Mrs Thatcher, we have sunk an Argie Heavy Cruiser, oh and a type 42 Destroyer!"
I read that as a Type 42 (Argentine) destroyer escorting the Belgrano.Aha: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARA_H%C3%A9rcules_%28... and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARA_Sant%C3%ADsima_Tr...
Simpo Two said:
It's good business. Sell them ships, then sink then so they have to keep buying more 
Reminds me of the stories of the "International Arms Dealers / MI6 agents" who were apparently trying very hard to procure Exocets for the Argies, only for the deals to fall through at the last minute every time, thus ensuring that there were no Exocets available. Anywhere.onyx39 said:
Reminds me of the stories of the "International Arms Dealers / MI6 agents" who were apparently trying very hard to procure Exocets for the Argies, only for the deals to fall through at the last minute every time, thus ensuring that there were no Exocets available. Anywhere.
Good old Carlton-Browne of the FO!
I would have course sell them the Exocets, thereby collecting the money, but nobble the guidance system or replace the explosive with peanut butter.
Meet one of my ancestors...!
We would have been legally arranging to buy Exocet missiles back then from the French as our County Class Destroyers HMS Antrim and HMS Glamorgan (both in action during the Falklands) and 7 Frigates of the Leander Class were equipped with them (3 served during the conflict). So just buying more than we needed then finding out we had some already in the stores at Plymouth down the back of the supply officers sofa. Whether they were operational or not was not an issue at the time 
Tango13 said:
The Conqueror launched three torpedos, not two as the Telegraph reported in the link. Two hit and sank the Belgrano the third is thought to have struck a glancing blow on one of the escorting Type 42's without detonating.
Was that a spread and on hit the other or the other targeted?Edit. I would have thought that Mr Sub would get as much off as they can before playing a very serious game of hide and seek.
Edited by jmorgan on Saturday 31st December 09:02
Never got why there was such a fuss over the sinking and why some keep just saying " she was sailing away ". It's not like it doesn't take a few mins for her to make a turn.
The real fuss could have happened when Conqueror returned to the area of the sinking later and found two Frigates there searching for survivors. Of course, no attacks were made.
The real fuss could have happened when Conqueror returned to the area of the sinking later and found two Frigates there searching for survivors. Of course, no attacks were made.
onyx39 said:
Tango13 said:
The Conqueror launched three torpedos, not two as the Telegraph reported in the link. Two hit and sank the Belgrano the third is thought to have struck a glancing blow on one of the escorting Type 42's without detonating.
Could have been embarrassing.... "hello Mrs Thatcher, we have sunk an Argie Heavy Cruiser, oh and a type 42 Destroyer!"The other torpedo hit ARA Buchard, and old American destroyer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Borie_(DD-704)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Borie_(DD-704)
The Belgrano was a warship from an earlier conflict, but still posed a serious threat. Hostilities had been declared so it was no suprise really to see that it was attacked and sunk, as to where it was or where it was heading is irrelevant. If the UK fleet had the Ark Royal with it`s strike capability, maybe the Argentine carrier would have recieved a bit of attention too. It`s lucky that the major powers didn`t get involved in this conflict ! I did hear stories of the major powers squaring up over this and pledging support and military aid 
steve j said:
It`s lucky that the major powers didn`t get involved in this conflict ! I did hear stories of the major powers squaring up over this and pledging support and military aid
The stories I've heard are of both the US and the USSR supporting the UK on the QT. The Americans by selling us AIM9L missiles, allowing us use of Ascension and supplying an awful lot of fuel, and the USSR by having one of their submarines keeping the Argentinian Navy busy until the Royal Navy sailed south.Certainly, at the UN conferences, the Argentinians didn't have a lot of public support from other nations.
We are the landlord, we got the US as tenant to build a lovely base on the pretext that they could use it to launch an attack on Guinea Bissau in West Africa after they were "tipped off" by MI5 that they were planning anti-US terrorism. So the US moved in built the base, annually retarmaced the runway and keep it all spick and span for when we wanted to use it. The US Gov is not that bright you know
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