Falklands War myths
Okay, for such a small scale war, it's still front and centre in the British psyche. And maybe it's because of the myths that surround the whole thing. Here's the top ten that I keep hearing.
- Top of the tree, as said by others, that Rapier was in any way a decent system. It was shite, and its considerable shortcomings were kept very quiet in order to boost international sales. Having served on a Rapier squadron, I wholeheartedly agree.
2. The infallible SAS. Through sheer hubris, they nearly froze to death on Fortuna Glacier, which then caused the loss of two helicopters in an attempt to drag their sorry arses back aboard ship, as well as risking several other aircraft and crews at the same time. They also ambushed an SBS patrol and caused blue on blue fatalities, and the paras didn’t always trust them for sharing intelligence information. They also refused to take part in Op Mikado, although on that point, I would have as well.
3. That the Argentine soldiers were all useless conscripts and didn’t put up a fight.
Yes, the bulk of the argentine ground forces were conscripts, but they were no way a pushover. At Goose Green, a largely conscript force fought 2 Para to a standstill. That’s worth repeating. At Goose Green, a largely conscript force fought 2 Para to a standstill. The Argentines did eventually surrender, but only after a night and a day of hard fighting, and as much by bluff from Chris Keeble as anything else.
All of the high points around Stanley were hard fought, and you don’t get to hand to hand fighting against an enemy that’s running away. With a minimum of training, in sometimes cobbled together units, and zero experience, they stood and fought against modern, well-equipped and highly experienced professional infantry.
4. That every soldier yomped from San Carlos to Stanley.
Some did, absolutely they did, but not all of them.
45 Commando yomped across the Falklands and then took Two Sisters.
42 Commando moved to Mount Kent by helicopter.
40 Commando secured the San Carlos beach head and then amalgamated with the Welsh Guards in preparation for an attack on Stanley.
2 Para tabbed to Goose Green, and then moved by helicopter to Bluff Cove.
3 Para tabbed across the Falklands and then took Mount Longdon.
But however they moved, it’s largely academic. They all did a truly incredible job.
5. That it was achieved with no help whatsoever from anyone else.
The US helped with satellite intel, up to date Sidewinder missiles, the Ascension Island airfield, and if the British needed it, the USS Iwo Jima.
New Zealand offered the British HMNZS Canterbury if needed.
Chile allowed Britain to requisition RFA Tidepool.
Spain foiled an Argentine attack on a British warship in Gibraltar.
Portugal offered the Royal Navy the use of the Azores.
The EEC as it was then known, imposed economic sanctions on Argentina.
Sierra Leone allowed British ships to refuel.
Gambia allowed British transport aircraft to land.
6. That France was the villain of the piece.
The French president imposed an embargo on French arms sales and assistance to Argentina. The French allowed British aircraft and warships use of its port and airfield facilities at Dakar, where they let Harrier pilots train against the French aircraft types used by Argentina. French intelligence worked with British counterparts to prevent Argentina from obtaining more Exocets. Four Exocet missiles that had been ordered by Peru were prevented by the French government from being delivered until the conflict was over.
7. That Britain could not have anticipated the Argentine landings.
We’ll probably never know for sure, but it’s pretty hard to assemble an invasion force and keep it off the radar completely. And if nothing else, Britain gave Argentina a few encouraging signs they they weren’t interested in the islands, like Tory minister Nicholas Ridley suggesting a leaseback, like Thatcher’s government not granting the islanders full citizenship, like the decision by the Thatcher government to scrap/sell Britain’s aircraft carriers. The foreign office suspected something was up in Autumn 1981, but there wasn’t the political expertise in place to put two and two together, and unlike the successful Operation Journeyman in 1977, cutbacks meant the intelligence services weren’t in place, and all of the albeit small signs were ignored.
8. That the Argentine navy was useless.
The Corvette ARA Guerrico provided close support for the initial landings at South Georgia, taking hits and casualties. It got up close and personal enough to the defending British forces to need dry dock repairs, after which it returned to active duty.
The sinking of the Belgrano probably sent a shock wave right through the Argentine navy. 323 personnel died, about half of the total Argentine deaths for the entire conflict. It’s not surprising that the navy returned to port. What were they supposed to do? Offer up their lives for no tactical gain? Like the rest of their armed forces, they were using largely second hand gear, had zero experience and were facing a premier league navy. They weren’t useless, or cowards, they were simply outclassed and outgunned.
9. That the Black Buck raids did any damage at all to Stanley’s runway.
One bomb hit the runway, and the damage was repaired within 24 hours. The raids were viewed in the real world as a move by the RAF to get in on the battle, and to influence future spending. The raids had political and propaganda value, but very little military impact.
10. That Britain was somehow reborn as a new-world power.
Absolute codswallop. It definitely got Thatcher re-elected in 1983, it made sure her government did a screeching U-turn on aircraft carriers, but the shipworkers who worked around the clock supporting the task force were slung out on their ears, and the British Empire didn’t return.
Under Thatcher, everything in sight was privatised. Britain signed up to ever greater integration with the EEC and then the EU, which did much more for Britain’s prosperity and standing than a small war at the arse end of the world ever did.
The Falklands War was a tremendous feat of arms, against an enemy that was much more of a threat and a challenge than the chest-beaters would ever admit. Every man jack who sailed south has my absolute respect and admiration. Militarily, the British achieved the impossible, and it cemented the country’s military reputation.
It absolutely did no less, but in the real world, no more, either.
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