Page 36 - History of War - Issue 10-14

FALKLANDS: THATCHER’S WAR

INSIDEAHERCULES C-130 “TO CONTROL THE SKIES, THE

THEWORKHORSEOFBOTHTHEBRITISHANDARGENTINIAN AIR FORCES CARRIERS HAD TO BE PROTECTED
AT ALL COSTS”
DevelopedbyAmericancompanyLockheed,
theHerculesC-130isusedtheworldover
asareliableandmulti-taskaircraft.During
the Falklands conflict both sides utilised Four Allison T56-A-15 turboprop
Hercules craft on transport, resupply and engines power the plane, with
even reconnaissance operations. They were a combined power of nearly
13,700KW. This made the C-130
crucial in transporting both men and supplies
capable of a 366mph top speed.
to Ascension Island, which didn’t feature
aworkingport,aswellasdroppingtroops
into the South Atlantic from high to medium
altitudes. Many RAF Hercules were given
additionalfueltanksinordertomakethe long
journey from Ascension to the Falklands and
back. Shortly after occupying the
Falklands, Argentine C-130s
were used to transport
troops, supplies
andevenUH-1H
helicopters from
the mainland.

Duetoitsincrediblesize,a The maximum weight at takeoff is
minimum of five crew members are over 70,000kg, which could include
required to man the C-130, including two up to 92 passengers or even several
pilots, a navigator, flight engineer and a vehicles such as helicopters and
loadmaster who would be responsible for armoured personnel carriers.
storing and deployment of the plane’s cargo.
Itwastrue.TheJunta’sleadersmayhave RearAdmiralSandyWoodward,hadsplititinto harriers turned out to be beasts and armed, as
worn flash uniforms and rows of meaningless two flotillas. The southernmost was an advance they were, with the latest sidewinder missile
medals, but few had been anywhere near a partyofwarships,includingthetwocarriers system, their pilot aces shot down three
battlefield. The same was tragically true of the Hermes and Invincible, while the other consisted Argentinian planes on the first day alone.
mentheysenttodotheirfighting.Asthetask of troop carriers and supply ships. The warships, But the Brits weren’t to have it all their
force edged closer, the Falklands began to fill hereasoned,wouldbattleforcontrolofthe own way. To control the skies, the carriers
upwiththousandsofyoungconscripts,many air and sea around the Falklands and, once had to be protected at all costs and after this
still teenagers. When hostilities started, there achieved, the invasion force would join them. led to the infamous sinking of the Argentine
mayhavebeen13,000Argentiniantroops This was a huge ask. At almost 400 miles Cruiser General Belgrano on 2 May, it also
ontheislands,buttheywereupagainstthe from the mainland, the Falklands were well caused Britain’s first major loss. On 4 May, the
very best the British war machine had – Royal withinrangeofArgentina’s100orsofighter- destroyer HMS Sheffield, which was effectively
Marines, the Parachute Regiment, Gurkhas, the bombers. To gain air superiority was clearly key, being used as a decoy to protect the carriers,
ScotsandWelshGuards,plusspecialforces. buttoachievethisBritainonlyhadasmany was attacked from the air in retaliation for the
fightersasitcouldfitonitstwocarriers–31. Belgrano and sunk with the loss of 20 lives.
Thecrisisescalatestoawar When the battle for the Falklands began on Fighting a campaign so far from home, with
By 17 April, as the task force reached Ascension 1May,thefirstclashinevitablywasintheair. no means of immediate resupply meant that
Island, Britain’s nearest base to the Falklands Despite being outnumbered, the British had the task force had to take everything it needed
3,500 miles to the east, its naval commander the technological edge. The newly acquired sea with them – from men and munitions, to fuel

THESINKINGOF
THEBELGRANO 30 April 1 May

THETASKFORCE’STWO EXCLUSIONZONEDECLARED ARGENTINECARRIERLOCATED BELGRANODETECTED TRAP FEARS GROW MOVEMENT MONITORED
CARRIERSHADTOBE 00:01 (SAT) 12:00 (SAT) 16:00 (SAT) 08:00 (SAT) 09.30 (SAT)
Conqueror locates a trio of
Navy HQ signals the task
PROTECTEDATALL Britain declares 200-mile Argentine warships including NuclearsubHMSConqueror cruisers, including Belgrano force that the two groups of
detects the Belgrano and
the carrier Vincente de Mayo
total exclusion zone (TEZ)
COSTS,LEADINGTOTHE around the Falklands, arelocated200milesWest her escorts outside TEZ and and two destroyers, 200 Argentinian ships are being
BIGGESTSINGLELOSSOF threateningtodestroyany oftheIslandsheadingnorth advisesNavyHQ. miles east of the Falklands. monitored.
Fears grow that the task
craftthatentersit.
towards the Task Force.
LIFEINTHEWAR… force is sailing into a trap.
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