Nice AAR, thanks for sharing it.

 

IMHO, politics aside, I think the Royal Navy and RAF significantly outclass the Argentines and this would readily show in any toe to toe conflict.

 

Yes, the Harriers are gone, and much of the force just a shadow of its former self, but the years haven't treated the Argentine armed forces very well either.

 

Geography hasn't changed, and though the islands are still painfully far from the UK, they are in many ways effectively just as far for Argentina.

 

Could Argentina even mass and embark an invasion force and hope to achieve any element of surprise in the 21st century? I have to wonder.

 

I think you hit upon an important point with the Flight 1435 detachment of four Typhoons. Some sort of special forces raid, or asymmetric attack, would seem the method most likely to achieve success in removing them.

 

Even with that done, Argentina would have to put boots on the ground in the Falklands very quickly and then tackle the difficult problem of reinforcing and supplying them.

 

Btw, the generally accepted approach with scenario and database downloads is that you do not package the DB with the scenario.

 

It makes for a larger download file (with unnecessary duplication if you're doing it for every scenario) and unless its a 'one off' DB, the DB generally gets updated regularly and is backwards compatible with the scenario.

 

Just make sure you are matching the right scenario with the right database with the right battleset and you're off to the races.

Nice AAR, thanks for sharing it.

 

IMHO, politics aside, I think the Royal Navy and RAF significantly outclass the Argentines and this would readily show in any toe to toe conflict.

 

Yes, the Harriers are gone, and much of the force just a shadow of its former self, but the years haven't treated the Argentine armed forces very well either.

 

Geography hasn't changed, and though the islands are still painfully far from the UK, they are in many ways effectively just as far for Argentina.

 

Could Argentina even mass and embark an invasion force and hope to achieve any element of surprise in the 21st century? I have to wonder.

 

I think you hit upon an important point with the Flight 1435 detachment of four Typhoons. Some sort of special forces raid, or asymmetric attack, would seem the method most likely to achieve success in removing them.

 

Even with that done, Argentina would have to put boots on the ground in the Falklands very quickly and then tackle the difficult problem of reinforcing and supplying them.

I agree.

But it must remember the Sea Eagle (1985-2000) was retired in 2000

But it must remember the Sea Eagle (1985-2000) was retired in 2000

 

True, but probably of little consequence in the overall scheme of things in any modern UK vs Argentina scenario.

 

It wasn't around the last time either.

Falkland 2010 After Action Report

 

and also (with foreign help) find a way of interdicting any reinforcements coming from Ascension,

 

After further reading, I feel that the above requires some expansion. All of the South American nations now support Argentina's claim to sovereignty over the Falklands. The major player amongst these, in terms of location and strength is of course, Brazil. A very quick internet search with regards to her armed forces reveals that she is proceeding with a major up-grade to her airforce. Flanker, Super-Hornet, Rafale and Eurofighter have all been up for consideration. However the most likely candidate at the moment (with a final decision to be anounced early this year) seems to be the Swedish JAS 39c Gripen.

 

Let us assume that some time in the not too distant future, Argentina decides on military action to re-capture the Falklands, but this time with active Brazilian military support. I think that we are all agreed that if the Brazilian Airforce was equipped with Gripen, any attempt by the British to reinforce from Ascension Island would be hazardous. Also, Gripen could be used from Argentinian bases for the purposes of direct assault on the Falkland Islands.

 

Would anyone out there care to produce a scenario (or two) based around this premise? There are two questions that need to be addressed.

 

1) What scale and disposition of defence would be needed by the British to retain the Falklands WITH the CV Prince of Wales?

2) What scale and disposition of defence would be needed by the British to retain the Falklands WITHOUT a CV?

 

Any thoughts on this would be gratefully received.

 

Pongo.

I'll add some further thoughts to this thread later (its a travel day for me), but to start ...

 

Even in the NG (New Generation) configuration, Gripen would be hard pressed to reach the Falklands (and operate there effectively) except from all but the southernmost Argentine runways.

1) What scale and disposition of defence would be needed by the British to retain the Falklands WITH the CV Prince of Wales?

2) What scale and disposition of defence would be needed by the British to retain the Falklands WITHOUT a CV?

 

Any thoughts on this would be gratefully received.

 

Pongo.

My idea about Harpoon is: make some test scenarios with those premises and slight variations and check the results. Harpoon IS the tool to answer these typus of questions, not our previous thinking and reckoning about the concrete scenario and force disposition ...

This Scramble site about Argentine air arms might be useful to you.