Falkland Islands

[Rainbow Six]

Originally Posted by Rainbow Six

Guys, looking at the information on the Lynx, it's worth remembering that the Falklands and South Sandwich Islands (of which South Georgia is a part) are two separate island chains, which are (I think) about six hundred miles or so apart so when the plate states that the Lynx "has not been stationed to the Islands long" that may refer to how long it has been in the South Sandwich Islands rather than how long it's been in the South Atlantic. It's possible the Lynx may have been based in the Falkland Islands since before the war and has transferred from there to the South Sandwich Islands (for whatever reason) rather than having arrived directly from the UK.

Looking at this again, I think I was wrong when I said the islands are six hundred miles apart...according to the Commonwealth website (link below) South Georgia is 1,390 kilometres east south east of the Falklands, so even with the added fuel from the bladders that's a big distance for a Lynx to cover (and the consequences of a navigational error would most likely be fatal).

http://www.thecommonwealth.org/Yearb...dwich_islands/

Also, South Georgia isn't actually part of the South Sandwich Islands per se - they're another 640 k's away from South Georgia...

[Rainbow Six]

Originally Posted by Fusilier

You aren't alone on that. There are several geographical errors in the different books so I'm assuming that this was just another one.

It would be the most logical explanation...

[Sanjuro]

If you want to stick with canon (geographical errors notwithstanding) you could say that at least two of the helos were from a ship that suffered damage; perhaps the helos were airborne on ASW work and the helideck/hangar was hit? Admittedly, that creates the questions of whose submarine and who won, but it is a logical reason for those Lynxes being there.
One of the things I like about this website is the fact that I can use words like "notwithstanding"...

[Legbreaker]

What if an infrequent naval patrol of the islands uncovered the recently reestablished Argentine base on Thule Island?
The small patrol boat did not have the ability to do more than report their presence at which point a platoon or perhaps even company of infantry was transported by ship to the islands to deal with them.
The three helicopters were brought along to provide mobility and longer range scouting capability.
Once the Argentinians are dealt with, the entire force would be withdrawn (after ensuring there was nothing left for the Argentinians to rebuild).

That could explain why three operational Lynxes are present and there's a reference to a UK "Garrison".

[James Langham]

An interesting BBC article on the current Rw position:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17157373

[RN7]

Originally Posted by James Langham

An interesting BBC article on the current Rw position:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17157373

A good assesment of the current balance of power in the Falklands Islands and the relative capabilities of Argentine and British forces. British forces in the Falklands are much stronger than they were in 1982 and Argentina just doesn't have the hardware to pull off an invasion.

Mount Pleasant guarantees the defence of the Falklands Islands, and it could be reinforces within 24 hours from Britain via Ascension Island and inflight tankers. If Argentina decided to become militant about with Hugo and Fidel throwing in their support four ships would probably be enough to deter them. A nuclear submarine and a Type 45 in the South Atlantic and another sub and Type-45 in the Carribean would put an end to any hostile air and naval manouvers. The Type-45 can track and take out anything they have flying, and despite having a published armamant of 48 air defence missiles the unofficial figure may be closer to 100 missiles.

[Mahatatain]

Originally Posted by James Langham

An interesting BBC article on the current Rw position:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17157373

More on the current RW situation - two cruise liners were apparently denied entry into Argentina because they had stopped at the Falklands. I bet the local Argentinian tour guides were pissed off that their trips were cancelled!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-17184955

[RN7]

Interesting article about a planned British special forces raid on the Argentine mainland during the Falklands War that was cancelled at last minute. The SAS were supposed to have been active in Argentina during the war reconnoitering Argentina military movements but this would have taken things to a new level.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...e-mission.html

[RN7]

In slightly more detail and including some information about Britains deperate attempt to stop Argentina getting more Exocets..

http://www.eliteukforces.info/articl...us-exocets.php

[Targan]

Those were great reads, RN7. Thanks for posting the links.

[pmulcahy11b]

I think I've said this before, but:

The Falklands would probably be important as a jumping-off station for the British and important to the Argentinians as a matter of national pride early in the Twilight War, but perhaps as early as late 1997, nobody would be bothering with the Falklands anymore. As for those who lived there -- as time went by, visits from the outside became fewer and fewer, and the livestock supplies became smaller and smaller, those people would become smaller and smaller in number. By 2000, they would be hanging on to a more and more bitter edge of survival; after a century or so, the reconstituting world might find what's left, including a less-and-less coherent account of the last days...

[Sanjuro]

Their livestock supplies would last a lonnggggg time (as long as you're not allergic to mutton)!