The very effective Exocet missiles used by the Argentine aircraft, against UK ships, were made in France (awkward!). Argentina only had a limited supply - so the UK security services set up an agency to buy all the unsold missiles, so that Argentina could not purchase further supplies.

I was there. It was no sinecure.

This is a good basic overview for people who don't know much about it. I hated Thatcher then and still do.

I loved Mrs Thatcher, and still do

@@francisalderson4469 I appreciated her stoicism and her relentless spirit. The people who hated her were the ones who didn't want to work hard for what they had in order to obtain more. They wanted everything handed to them on a platter.

Well said

Couldn’t say it better myself

Best forces in the world.

On either side, a lot of those guys never really returned home. It was supposed to be a tactical war, an expression of Nationhood, the whole thing turned into a mess. They never really got back home, did they?

@@gabbermensch I've met, worked with, and served with more than a few Falkland's veterans, and every one of them are still on those islands.

What a true gentleman you are. I feel exactly the same. Governments make wars and the people suffer at their hands. Good day to you, Sir.

Margret Thatcher was unpopular at the time and was going to lose the next election this got her reelected. We had a Polaris nuclear sub down there at the time of the invasion she could have just told you to withdraw or forced a withdrawal with a nuclear strike on Buenos Aires.

Maradona and his mates would never show the same sentiment

Governments divide people and create war. I remember and respect the dead on both sides of the war.

@@myaphextwin807Very true, the Argentinian player’s behaviour after a penalty shoot win against England in the 1998 WC in France whilst on a team bus outside the stadium was disgusting & pathetic. I say that as a Scot & it’s known when it comes to football & rugby we don’t support England too well. However, when it comes to conflict with adversaries we are always there with England.

Dito - former RMP TA.

I was 24 & had already been medically retired from the army due to an injury but I followed every minute of this event. Despite some tragic losses it showed we still had the british bull dog spirit to see it through until the object was achieved in a short period of time as wars go. We now have good relations with Argentina.

I was ex regular RAF Armourer, now going through college as a mature student getting more qualified, financing myself partly by being a TA REME Craftsman attached to ACOY 4QLR Infantry, and we were on standby to go. However, I’d served as groundcrew on a Phantom squadron’s flight line in Germany for a couple of years, and I knew what our aircrew said about the Harrier squadrons when they went up against each other on exercise. Even though they were subsonic, the Harriers could get the better of the supersonic Phantoms by ‘VIFFing’ (vectoring in forward flight) ie they were much moreso manoeuvrable in comparison. Eg. Harrier spots Phantom catching up at great rate of knots, Harrier pilot, reduces speed and vectors out of the way sideways. Phantom can’t slow down, overshoots the Harrier, Harrier gives him a blast of 30mm Aden gun cannon shells up his arse or launches a heat seeking Sidewinder missile up his jet exhaust. I was confident that the Harriers would soon gain air superiority in dog fights and then be able to ground attack enemy positions to support the ground force. So it proved as no Harrier was lost in combat, whereas the Argentinian Air Force lost plenty.

Ditto. Sobering days in The Honourable Artillery Company.

Well said, military my whole life as child and wife, now 53 and crippled 😂 ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ This is an ending sig. That's added to all posts to inform you that I've got brain damage and a lot of other issues. It's not part of the post I'm making or replying to. It's a warning if you want to try and reply and chit chat, as I'm in bed 24/7 most days, ADHD & OCD are not fun when you can't get to the park with your granddaughter to burn off energy. I'm 53, nearly 54 female, who once lived an exciting life. WARNING ⚠️! (* gives direction, typo fixed and words missed/added. I have brain damage as I died in hospital in august 2016, and it gave me mild brain damage. Also got EDS x2, ADHD, PTSD, EUPD, HCM, OCD etc. with the rest of the alphabet Google medical acronyms, it will help, oh, and that was before I medically died (coughed my spleen up in Aberdeen royal infirmary and bled to death).

Thank you for your service and fighting for our people

all this war was a plan from usa and uk!! they fooled us into war so argentina lost all the right to claim over the islands! UPI ARCHIVES MAY 29, 1988 Lehman says U.S. aid enabled Britain to win Falklands LONDON -- Former Navy Secretary John Lehman disclosed that American military aid given London during the 1982 Falklands war was extensive and said Britain would have lost without it, the BBC-TV confirmed Sunday. 'Britain would have had to have withdrawn from the Falklands' if the United States had cut off the aid, said Lehman, Navy secretary from 1981 to 1987 usa and uk been training ukraine army since 2013!....same two countries wondering when usa and uk gonna stop foooking the world in the ass!.....im happy for putin and russia they didnt fell into the trap as argentina and ukraine

I had left the Army by the time this started, but one of my brothers was still in. Many of my old mates were still in and some of them went to the Falklands. My respect to you. A lot of boys from my brothers Regiment The Welsh Guards were killed on the Galahad, without stepping foot on the Island. Respect to any British military that gave their lives anywhere in the world, pity the Government don't give the same respect.

I was demobbed from the army in 1978, and I know that my old Battery was sent down there in '82 to do the business. Just the thought that all those lads I served with, drank with, laughed, cried and froze with on Brecon Beacons (other uninhabitable God-forsaken shitholes are available) and who I know would have given me their blood should I need it, went there and faced what we have since been shown in the media, makes my heart sink. Some, I believe, never came back. To them all, still with us or long gone, I salute you all with a pint ......... I believe it's my round lads

Their reasoning was that they were already in Argentine soil.

They would not even repatriate any of their living soldiers, the British transported their prisoners to Argentina on the SS Canberra.

It is disgusting 😢

@@Rickkennett143 The Islands never belonged to Argentina, nor were they of any value to them except for Propaganda purposes

Repatriation is a fairly modern concept, though. Witness the thousands of fallen soldiers from the US and Germany and Australia (etc) buried in France. You were buried where you fell, and it doesn't reflect well on us Brits that we wanted those poor boys to be buried elsewhere.

Many people think the Argentine troops were all conscripts. They weren't. I saw a TV programme where a British officer was talking about the battle for Mount Tumbledown. He was a fairly junior officer at the time but he said he saw very senior officers engaged in hand to hand combat which really bears witness to how bad it was. I also know someone who was the 1st Gulf War and somebody else also Scots Guards Officer (just missed Falklands) and both suffer from PTSD. Its better treated now but its still not great. Both suffered marriage breakdowns and you clearly know only too well how that affects families.

@@brianthesnail3815 Many conscripts from Argentina were brought in BUT also Argentinian Special Forces were there at the end. That just created more casualties on both sides. Bosnia, Gulf and Sierra Leone are just many times that British Forces have protected the UK from afar and saved many foreigners lives without a thank you!

It is said that the UK gave the technology of the Harrier jump jet vertical take off planes to the USA in exchange for support and weapons,

He will be reporting for duty and waiting orders from God, he is and will always be a hero just like all the guys who went to war for our country Great Britain and I am Scottish, and was a member of the RCT, or as he would no dought point out Rickshaws Carts and Taxies.

@@brianthesnail3815 I was at Mount Tumbledown in 1990. In 1982 the Argentines had their 5th Marine Battalion stationed there. I saw their equipment scattered around the place.

Bravo November

@@jamesadams8558 That's the one!

standard squadie humor 👍🏼

@@TheGingerBrickMan tbo The Gurkhas probably thought it was bloody hilarias too

Fake story

@@fc6738 were you there?

@@fc6738 fake user

Why did Britain get involved in two wars in Europe WW1 nothing to do with Britain Europe loved WW1 so much they sat back & watched Germany mass arms for WW2 all europe send the UK is illegals migrant criminals & free loaders why people want to holiday in countries that hate them beggars believe 13,000 ex serviceman homeless in Britain google it while the UK house illegals in hotels migrant criminals free loaders & terrorist

Interesting story. I believe there is also another story of an islander leading British soldiers under direct fire over unfamiliar ground to within 20 metres of the Argentine positions. An example of extraordinary bravery.

Who was she helping?

how sad for your father, to have fought children with plastic weapons

@@jdjsjffjdkxyfd622 What a very sad comment Maybe you should just sit down and wind your neck in

@@jdjsjffjdkxyfd622 fn fal and L1A1 are great weapons, fool

Buy him a pint from me please!

@@jdjsjffjdkxyfd622 It would have been criminal to send our troops armed with plastic weapons. However, I think you’ll find his weapons were only partially plastic. The bits of them that mattered were high tensile steel.

I’ve read a book by an ex-SAS soldier who was with the Paras that the Argentines were retreating from the Scots Guards until they encountered the forward positions of the Gurkhas. Their reputation is so FIERCE even to Argentines that they turned around and headed back towards the Scots Guards ! The reputation of the Gurkhas prevented them from getting to physically prove it to the cautiously reluctant Argentine soldiers. That says a lot.

Ayo Gorkali!

I heard somewhere that the Argentines were told by their officers, that if the Gurkhas captured them they would kill & eat them (obviously not true) but it put the fear of God into them. Not sure how accurate this is, but you don't mess with the men from Nepal.

Gurkhas definitely have a well deserved reputation. To be honest, I’d run. They’re just badass

@@davidmorgan5312 There's a documentary on what it takes to even get selected to join the Ghurkas, it's fecking brutal!

Respect 🇬🇧👍🏼

Per Mare Per Terram

Well said, Glen, and thank you for your service.

Thank you for your service.

thank you, sir!

From what I was told and I don't have reason to disbelieve then there were a great number of 2para that didn't hold that guy in any high regard.

I wouldn't know, but I do not think it is good manners to talk so negatively about someone who gave his life for his country regardless of whether he was liked or not. Learn some manners.@@drew2324

What a pompous flippant lighthearted race through the basic facts, disgusting!, where was the telling of the gruelling march across the island or the 8000 mile flights of the vulcan bombers from England requiring multiple in flight refuels. Perhaps he had a tight schedule to get through his monologue eh?

My comment about your lack of respect was removed?@@drew2324

@drew2324 (Comment from about a month ago). Maybe some of 2 Para didn't have a high regard of their Colonel but at least this was one Rupert who didn't command from a long way behind his Troops.

mate was SCOTS GUARD he came home but he never left

Gosh that's awful. Assuming he's still around I'd like to thank him for his service. There aren't enough good men in this country, he's definitely one of them.

Thank you for your service ♥️🫡

Yep a lot of ppl don't realise that👍thank you for your service

If you think so... it seems you know much about argentine history... you should write a book about it... an encyclopaedia, just for not leaving a single word outside. Funnny people the british... always "liberating" the world... i don't know how did you people become an empire by doing such acts of kindness with other peoples... kinda contradictory... isn't? It would be very interesting to know how many other "gifts" you people gave to Argentina... just to know how grateful the whole country should feel about UK's soldiers... nobody should not to pay the gratitude owed to others... right? Give me your bank account to send you your share. Greetings

@@bfc3057 Total bollocks.

@@bfc3057 The British victory kicked the last of the support for the Junta from under them. Furthermore, all the other military dictatorships in Latin America fell shortly after.

I'm from the UK and was out in Dublin last year, I started talking to an Argentinian, he said the defeat was the best thing that happened to Argentina, as it led to their democracy. One person's perspective, of course. 👍

glad you said this. nice one thanks :)

1806: First British invasion of Buenos Aires Criolla Victory !!! 1807: Second British invasion of Buenos Aires Criolla Victory !!! 1845 - 1850: War of Parana Criolla Victory !!! ........ ...... ......... ................

I can’t find any trace of this ‘War of Parana’ but it appears you have to go back to 1845 to find a Creole victory. As it’s clearly so significant to you I have to wonder why you don’t make a video about it to enlighten those of us who remain in ignorance.

@@liberalhyena9760 Basically Britain made small fairly insignificant attempts to see if south American ex colonies of Spain were vulnerable to taking. It was a side project, but the area was stable and well protected so it wasn't worth pursuing.

Can you share a link of the vid you watched? Thanks.

Exactly why I stopped my two sons following me into the army. The way we left Afghanistan was a kick in the teeth to the muckers. One mucker lost his lower leg after taking a round, for what. It was all political chess. Time we only deployed to protect our own shoreline

Thankyou both for your service.

@@sharky09000 🙏, most of us don't want thanked. Thank you for the sentiment

your a amazing man

I served with the British army in the Green Howards, Yorkshire’s finest! And given the chance I’d do it all over again. But I totally agree with your comments about the guards and that many twits think they are just ceremonial soldiers and not a fighting force. As in this video says they were deployed to the Falklands and they like other regiments fought like lions to bring this war to an end. I always remember when I went to the recruiting office as a young man and and 6 ft 3 and the recruiting officer told me that there was no vacancies for the Green Howards so I got up and said that you have my number and to let me know when they are recruiting as it’s the Green Howards or nothing as I knew some friends who were in the regiment and I wanted to follow them. He was bluffing as I thought but still tried to push me for the Guards but I didn’t want all that pomp and ceremony and all that polishing! But I did my time with the regiment then joined the reserves afterwards until I seriously damaged my spine in an accident on exercise and that was my military service finished. But I was proud to serve my country and my Queen and to serve alongside some of the best soldiers in the world and been part of one massive family.

Rather a long video but it does help 'feel out' the Chilean help to Britian during this war. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/baqGrJZ1l8vLnHk.html

Any country in North or South America could not become involved in this war because of various treaties. Otherwise Canada would have be involved

Lindybeige video

People should never forget what the people of Chile did for us. Unfortunately many seem to have.

@@RonP51 USA helped with tanker aircraft on loan as Brits didn't have enough tankers to stage out from Ascension Island but other than that and Chilean help pretty much everyone else stayed out and none joined in direct fighting.

I was lucky enough to meet Rick Jolly when I was in the Royal Navy. Big fella, big personality. He was still serving as a doctor at the time, and he treated me for a minor injury during my basic training. Told me that if he could complete his 30-miler on a broken ankle, I could continue with my injury. Typical Royal Marine!

A solid bloke, his promise was if you made it to his field hospital breathing, you'd leave it breathing, whether British or Argentinian. He pretty much lived up to that in the Falklands.

I have a signed copy of his book "The Red and Green Life Machine - the dairy of the Falklands field hospital" Red and grèn referring to the Airborne and Royal Navy/Marine medics.

He saved many argentineans soldiers too,he was a hero for both sides, he wad awarded by argentina too.

@@iangregory3719 Excellent book! But it has changed title to "Doctor For Friend and Foe". I liked the old title better.

Tell that to any Costa Rican or Columbian you meet.

@@usernamesreprise4068 Silly Billy!

Yeah, the drugs cartels in those countries also had a rather large say in what happened & still happens today.

@@usernamesreprise4068 Costa Rica is in Central and not south America

@@edpzz OHHH WELL thats alright then .......PHEW lets say Venezuela then or maybe some "other" democracy eh

I think it was termed as self defence under some UN charter or other so it wasn't legally a war

Compare with Russia and Ukraine.

Same with the war in Afghanistan, which is why anytime someone was killed it was official seen as a murder and the military police had to investigate it.

Do you need to declare a war if you’re the one being invaded? I would have thought Argentina were the ones to ’declare’ anything as they were the aggressor.

Not a clue; I’m not particularly well versed in the etiquette of when you should or shouldn’t declare war! I was just shy of 14 years old at the time and, like many young lads of the time, was glued to the news and it was something that was very carefully stressed by all the politicians of the time that it was a conflict. The international community was spending a lot of time trying to get a peaceful solution but Maggie was having none of it but I suspect that, as the world looked on, we were trying to demonstrate that we were not overly escalating a territorial dispute.

I remember the day well: I was 15 and bunked off school, got the train from London to Portsmouth to see Hermes and Herald arrive back. Years later, I joined up, and actually served in Herald in 1997. When I deployed to the Falklands in 1994, and there were many uncleared landmine areas still fenced off - hats off to your brother, I would never have had the nerve for mine clearance!

@@dominicbuckley8309 thank you for your lovely comment Dominic 😊

Further to my comment elsewhere on this post. I was a friend of the brother of Major Steve Hambrook who lost part of his leg when he went into an area that was reported to be clear of mines. Major Hambrook was a very well respected and decorated sapper. I knew and worked with his son (also Steve). I was with Major Hambrook's brother, Frank watching television when it was announced that he had been blown up by a mine. Frank rushed off immediately to go and comfort his mother. The late Major Hambrook's military career is well worth reading. He served for many years after his amputation.

My brother was in the Royal Engineer's in the eighties, he joined the army straight from school.

My brother was RN but couldn't go as the Navy had him on a course and refused to let him go. His friends were there, boys I'd known since they were knee high to a grasshopper,. They all came back but suffered ptsd and one of them was still suffering badly many years later. His ship was hit but not sunk and he had to put out there fires on his friends who had been injured and were alight. I can't imagine the hell it was and I thank everyone who served (and those who still serve)

There were two Harrier variants - the Sea Harrier and the GR3. Sea Harriers (operated by the Royal Navy - although with some RAF contingent) tended to undertake CAP (Combat Air Patrols) whilst the GR3s were operated by the RAF and undertook the Ground Attack role. The Argentine Air Defences were very modern for the time with their radar capabilities, thus resulting in a number of ground attack aircraft being downed. The RAF also flew the well known, Vulcan but also operated other aircraft types in supporting roles, which we rarely get to know about.

And the British used the very efficient US Sidewinder missiles on their Harriers, because the plane itself wasn't much of a thing.

@@lennon28280 The sidewinder was one of the best anti-air missiles of the day certainly but the harrier was certainly a thing and could do many things no aircraft could do that's why the US Marines used them until 2006.

@@Flintlockon The Argentine pilots were not afraid of the harries but of the excellent American missiles that were useless in Vietnam but in the cold of the South Atlantic they did the job and very well, it is for this reason that the Argentine Mirages, much better planes than the harries, but without counting air-to-air missiles they used to fly high while the harries flew low, there was almost no air combat, but I assure you that an Argentine mirage armed with air-to-air missiles destroyed those heavy and unmaneuverable harriers, I don't care how long they used it in the United States, they were always mediocre planes, they are not like the F35.

@@lennon28280 They were used because they could do things no other planes could do and one thing they could do was land on an aircraft carrier or an open field or a school playground the mirage was an airstrip only craft so they had different capabilities. It was used by the US Marines because it was the best in the world for there purposes which is why they used it and it is because of the harriers innovation which was unique in the world that no other nations had an equivelent too that the F-35 exists thats why the UK was a partner in the F-35 program from the start. A VTOL fighter jet was an engineering marvel at the time and it's performance in air to air combat was a blueprint for modern air combat as the most advanced jets in the world are worse dogfighters than jets of the past and the joint technology of the payload makes the air platform. The F-35 is the most modern plane in service and it is a successor to the harrier not the mirage which was outclassed by the missile technology. The harrier was far more versatile in it's operations thats why the mirages were blown out of the sky 3-1. The US military is the most powerful and advanced in the world and they used the harrier because of what it could do that other planes could not and any shortcomings were overcome with missile technology which was the point. The harrier could destroy the mirage easily with sidewinders and also do things the mirage was completely incapable of. It was the start of a new type of air combat doctrine even having a gun on a modern fighter jet in most cases is a waste of weight and space. The mirage was a relic of outdated doctrine the harrier was the inspiration for the most modern fighter jet that currently exists. The harrier was always intended to operate with the new missile technology thats why they had them and the mirages fell out of the sky. Even though the US military had jets far better than the mirage in every single way they still used the harrier and that is for a reason. thats all there is to it.

Rambo (First Blood) wasn't released until October of 1982, and had limited release outside of the US until 1985 until Rambo - First Blood Part 2 was released making both films a huge worldwide success (Helped along by positive reviews from the US president - I think it was Ronald Reagan). I get your point though. Some of the UK forces were my mates from school who were fully trained signed up volunteers, but still bloody terrified.

The Ship was so old that for the British it was as easy a target as hitting a sitting duck. Yet over 300 Argentinians died when the Belgrano was sunk and this were the first to die. The task force it must be said was very gallant and professional and treated the Argentines with respect and I believe more so because they recognized as military that the Argentine soldiers, the navy and the airforce fought bravely and with patriotism for a cause they really believed in. The well known British colonialism has its history in Argentina and South America and around the world as we all know. Yet me personally and many Argentines have no hatred of the British. During the conflict it must be said that 17.000 British people lived in Argentina. The British community in Argentina is still very important. We should have never gone to war . However the claim to islands still exists for Argentina.

Yes, well said. It's not well-known how tough the trek was. Total admiration for our well-trained troops and their determination and courage.

@@bobbower2011 Ive been there myself so know exactly first hand how hard it is to travel over the terrain. At times the landscape and rock formations look like a different planet on a movie set. Every time I go back I am humbled at what was accomplished, by all the regiments, land air and sea. This is why it is important for everyone who has the opportunity to visit Falklands to try and visit all the war memorials lest we forget the sacrifices of that conflict.

A bit less when the L1A1 magazine mysteriously ejects itself after the barest tap

really ok what was is name by uncle dave abols was in 2 para at goose green

Jim Ferguson, aka Fergy👍

@@paulmcdonough1093 Jim Ferguson, aka Fergy.

My respect and thanks to him.

@@forthfarean thankyou, that means a lot🙂

Indeed. Never been tried before. The logistics were astounding.

It is no longer the longest bombing mission in history. It was superceded by missions over Iraq.

@ The point being it WAS

Beaten to it. Operation Black Buck and the Vulcan bombers. It was an awesome swansong for an awesome plane with a unique howl.

kzfaq.info/get/bejne/oMl1m71j1ZrXaaM.html

A Scottish MP wasted great effort and much time attempting to get the captain of the submarine tried for war crimes. His efforts came to naught since the head of the Argentine Navy agreed that the Belgrano was positioning itself for an attack on the Task Force.

Ironically as the USS Phoenix she was known as the luckiest ship in the navy.

@@pureholyit was until it met The Royal Navy.

Sweet!! We get insulted A LOT! 😆

You missed out the tick tocks, guards

@@1Selous 1st Battalion Welsh Guards and the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards (1WG & 2SG). Great bunch of guys.

The paras also call the Gurkhas tree frogs. I don’t know why.

Thankyou for your service! Your efforts are not forgotten.....

2 friends from 3 Para, survived the attack of Mount Longdon. They were 17 and 18. Three of their friends, did not survive, all aged 17 when deploying to the Falklands, with Neil Grose having his birthday on the first day of the battle, but losing his life, then next day. Always remembering, Neil, Jason Burt and Ian Scrivens

My best m8's dad was a Sgt in 3 para and fought in the Falklands. We were stationed in Tidworth at the time.

Aren't marines just men that are too fat for a parachute?

@@idlehands1238 Go ask one and see what the response is.

There was a Big difference at the armies. The argentine army was formed mainly by conscripts. Of course, is important the numbers but the British sent the best of the best. Marines and special forces. Air Force: The argentinan Air force used a jet of the 50s only the French missiles were considered a danger but were a dozens. While the British used the new Harrier. The difference at navies was amazing. So was a Matter of time that the British Will win. At the end, the argentinian military junta make a suicide move.

@@raidensergi2378 very much concur with your comments sergi

He did see it coming and raised it as a danger that by removing the patrol ship down there as part of cost cutting would send the wrong message. He took responsibility for not fighting harder to retain the patrol. He was a decent man.

@@robertmortimer4837 Agree absolutely. It is a pity that Thatcher never shouldered her part of the blame..

@@terryreeves4290 like idiots like Trump and Johnsone do? Today's politicians are not for for purpose

​@@terryreeves4290exactly, they were told before it happened but Thatcher waited. She wanted glory, not giving a toss about the lives that would be lost

@@robertmortimer4837 Lord Carrington was not Secretary of State for Defence, John Nott was, and he took the decision to reduce the Navy, which included removing HMS Endurance. John Nott also wanted to resign, but Thatcher wouldn't let him, I suppose he contributed to the mess, and he would have to be around to take the sh## if the forces did not achieve the aim of returning the Islands to UK sovereignty.

Did you honestly expect them to return to Africa, honestly?

@@Salfordian Projecting a touch of Racism there bud...

@@unamedjoe830 Not sure why you had to bring the race card into this when I was just asking a simple question or perhaps you prefer censorship

I'm sure they will consider themselves as a Rhodesian community

​@@unamedjoe830 Not racism in any way shape or form. Zimbabwe is a cautionary tale of utterly corrupt government going from a country which was the breadbasket of Africa to a country which serves one man's greed eventually selling off everything to a foreign interests.

Not really. Capable flyers but after you pull a few crispy sailors out of the sea it's difficult to admire them..

Wow ! Hats off to you my friend ! My parents are friends of Simon Weston's parents who is probably the most high profile survivor of this conflict. My brother in law served in the RAF and he was sent there aged 19 ! He suffers still with PTSD to this day. He won't go into to detail but he basically went out with a stretcher recovering parts/bits or corpses. He's 61 and still on medication today. I was 18 and sitting watching things on the TV at home in Newcastle. My best mate went to school with the Navigator who was shot down and displayed on Argentinian TV. A very needless waste of lives

Thankyou for your service Jason. 👍👍

Former UDR soldier, turned RAF; absolutely right!-Argentinians were operating from afar.

@@Tankaroonies Not as far as us….

This is something you must watch girls. "Operations Black Buck Falklands' Most Daring Raid."

A great feat of flying, to be sure, but of little value to Operation Corporate, in truth.

@@lestermay5878 Not sure about that. It stopped the Argentine using the runway. If they had secured that the Harriers would have had no chance.

@@brianthesnail3815 - that's the whole point. The raids by the Vulcan never once stopped the Argentines from using the airfield as they wished. A senior British officer I know has had frequent contact with officers in Argentina, the former enemy of course, and they attest to this. Even the RAF's own photographs do not show the airfield out of action, although one published RAF photograph might have been doctored, its differing to the same photograph in the official record. Furthermore, it is now well-known that the Argentines cleverly made the airfield look (from aerial photographs) as if it had been damaged as that suited their counter-intelligence.

As she was assertive in ensuring that Jimmy Saville was given a knighthood, against the advice of civil servants who informed her of accusations against him - not an opinion, but fact from papers released under the 30!year rule. And had her Government's defence cuts not have reduced Falkland defences, and given the message to the Argentine junta that the UK was not serious about maintaining sovereignty in the Falklands, then the war possibly could have been avoided in the first place. She was no hero in this war.

@@georgelands2028 I was just expressing an opinion, I did not require a Party Political Broadcast. By the way, I know not everything she did was perfect, but the useless bunch we have now, ON BOTH SIDES, could take a leaf out of her book, and kick some a*s.

Well said. What a complete shower we have had since.

@@JH-ck1nr Oh I don't know. John Major is often overlooked, and he took some very hard-nosed behind the scenes decisions to (largely) bring an end to the troubles in Northern Ireland. He even managed shut up Iain Paisley, which was quite an accomplishment. He didn't totally trash the economy either. Another thing not widely known is his role post 1997 general election. Blair (who won it) was unique in British history as being the first PM to come to power, without ever having been a cabinet minister first or having any former cabinet ministers in his shadow cabinet. He, and the rest of the labour party government, were therefore complete amateurs. Apparently, Blair sought and received quite a lot of help from Major (behind the scenes, natch), to learn how to do this governmenting stuff.

@@georgelands2028 How the left hate Thatcher. Losers

British territory

@@wodens-hitman1552 yeah, not British mainland

Agreed. Chile's assistance to Britain is often overlooked. I believe their air force received some Canberra PR9 recon aircraft shortly after the war - perhaps as a thank you, maybe ?

Chile was grateful to Britain for helping gain its independence from Spain. So, helped Britain during the conflict.

Chile has it's own dispute with Argentina over territory (seeing a pattern here), so they were more than happy to help. Also Regan gave "covert" support via satellite imagery etc, and opened NATO stores to the UK - the Sea harriers were using the very latest Sidewinders.

Not widely reported obviously was that many Exocet missiles actually hit their targets but failed to detonate. The French who made that system refused to help Argentina properly calibrate the targetting.

My Dad was a RAAF Mirage III pilot at the time and they apparently gave every bit of information over that they could to the RAF and RN. They even flew missions at specific profiles pretending that from RAAF Williamtown they were defending Norfold/Lord Howe Islands and sharing feedback with the RAF.

respect to your father.

I thank your Father for his service.

You must be very proud of him and quite rightly so. Bless him. )0(

My grandfather never spoke of his time during WW2. My father told me that after my grandfather had been injured he had been sent back to help repatriate the bodies of our fallen soldiers throughout Europe and Africa. Not until I'd been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan did it sink in why he refused to bring the topic up. It is so hard to explain to loved ones what we see or what we had to do. I'd point out what we had to do is why we were still here. I watch so many soldiers who talk about their service from those men of WW2 to modern service on posts on KZfaq. I personally don't want to relive the experience, hat off to your relative for finding the heart to discuss what he went through

Thank you for your service and efforts.

Thank you for your service. I say this on every post by a serviceman because I don't feel that in our era we properly appreciate what you do as members of the public. Thank you, and rest in peace to your friends who gave their lives for our country.

@@paulwatts5019 Please, I'm fed up of that line been thrown around on internet comments, it cheapens the sentiment. Also, someone claiming to have done this or that on a youtube comment can not be proven, they could be anyone. Not that I am saying what the OP is not true, some people are emotional reaction farmers.

Sorry for your losses ❤

​@@carlos30071I've heard exactly the same thing about him as well

@@carlos30071 psychological trauma.

Have you ever met Simon?

As this talk about Simon, his ears must be burning again

@@bfc3057 pot kettle black

I was there when the regimental part one orders displayed such that ALL personnel are to refrain calling the locals "Bennies". With the squaddie sense of humour as it is, "stills" was soon quickly replaced as their nickname. Have to admit the locals hated "stills" even more. lol

I can definitely believe that ..typical squaddie humour . I remember a guy who was just always called " Not So" ... his surname was Manley

@@colinraine8245 - children can be so cruel...

@@davemac1197 not children .. banter amongst squaddies

​@@benhall6665none of us care anymore it's become a joke between us.

When the Argentinian Marines realised that the British would retake the Islands the went back and swapped them with thousands of kids. There were still some Argentinian Special Services left but generally conscripts were treated as cannon fodder by Argentina. Ironically the only Junta leader who opposed the Invasion by Argentina was the Head of the Air Force whose Forces took the British on. The Navy ran away and the Army swapped its professionals for conscripts or cannon fodder.

The Vulcan campaign was an amazing feat for the RAF. Its an astonishing story.

Whilst the raid may have been a logistical success, it didn't really have any effect; the single hit on the runway was repaired in 24 hours. The operation was merely an attempt by the RAF to give themselves a role in the war

@@kerrinbywater5224 Indeed but there was more to it than that, if the Vulcans could reach the Falklands they could reach Argentina and Vulcans were fully Nuclear Capable. Showing someone you have a big stick is sometimes just as effective as hitting someone with it.

Argentina actually wanted to buy the RAF's "retired" Vulcans in the 1970s.

​@@robslide3466It was pure psychological warfare. The Argentine leadership (and no doubt some of the population) would have been slightly nervous at the prospect of being 'in range' of the RAF.

Love the Gurkhas, much respect to them

I was lucky to meet Simon on Cardiff railway station. A lovely guy.

And, allegedly, at a function in Washington, the Japanese ambassador congratulated the British ambassador on doing what his countrymen failed to do at Pearl Harbour. If it’s true I enjoyed the Japanese ambassadors humour.

Built at Lairds shipyard - Birken'ead 👍

Yeah torpedos made in the 2nd world war but designed in the 20s, crazy. They had guided modern torpedos but didnt trust them yet. The third torpedo launched hit one of the other argy boats right at the very end of its run just by chance, didnt explode but they knew due to later finding marks on its hull

@@jeztaylor6308 Just to be clear for everyone, HMS Conqueror was built in Birkenhead (Birken'ead as we say it) but the ARA General Belgrano, formely the USS Phoenix was built in Camden, New Jersey US.

It was sunk outside the exclusion zone that had been delineated by the Brits around the islands, which goes to prove that hollow words are one thing and war is something else.

So was the Queen song 'Las Palabras de Amor'. Queen had successfully toured Argentina in 1981

i remember the australians asking if we needed any support,

NZ sent a frigate to replace a British warship which was then sent to the Falklands. I think it was patrolling in the Indian ocean at the time.

tell me, why did you see it appropriate to take the side of the british here? those islands are right off Argentina and thousands of miles from britain. I support Argentina

@@phreshkandy478 Australia and New Zealand are part ot the Commonwealth, and both have the British Monarch as head of state. They also susbcribe to the doctrine that the islanders should decide for themselves who their rulers are.

@@phreshkandy478 So the islanders wishes have no bearing on the matter?

I couldn't agree more. During my long service in the Royal Navy, I had the privilege of completing two South Atlantic patrols, which included time alongside in East Falkland as well as anchoring off the stunning South Georgia island (I was also able to see the awesome icy volcanic South Sandwich islands). The wildlife and nature is incredible, and the local population are a real credit.

We're you ever on HMS Ajax? Edit:Robert?

Most of us in the UK had to check a map when we first heard of the Falkland Islands invasion....we all know where you are now ....

kzfaq.info/get/bejne/g7uoh9eAtp_Ff58.html

There is a video of a British Gurkha officer passing on word about Stanley being surrended. The RGR guys cried and the Officer said something along the line of "You'd think I'd told them their mothers were dead..."

The South Georgia story certainly is fascinating. My favourite bit was when they finally surrendered to the Argentinians, their captors were highly suspicious and wanted to know where the rest of them were. They couldn't believe so much havoc was caused by so few men. They were also then grateful that the British informed them that the quayside they'd just moored their ship to and on which the conversation was taking place was booby-trapped to the hilt, and would the Argentinians like it defused before it went off?

Exactly this. In the 60s-70s there was a _ton_ of trade between the islands and Argentina. Almost all the fuel on the islands, and decent fraction of other stuff came from the mainland. All that stopped and (understandably) never returned due to the lack of trust. But it is now basically impossible for the UK government to cede or otherwise fail to defend those islands, because if they did they would not be the government for much longer afterwards due to backlash they'd get from the public. Imo it's unlikley anyone alive today will ever see a resolution satisfactory to everyone regarding the Falklands. All thanks to Galtieri being a very silly boy.

@@MareSerenitis And forgetting that the Falkland Islands had been a Crown possesion for MANY long decades before Argentina was EVEN a Country, they were a part of the Spanish conquistedor invasion of South America, and largely unpopulated land until the Spanish developed the place and Northern, South American natives began to trickle down. Argentinas ONLY reason for claiming the Islands is - they are convinced the SPANISH owned the place (which they NEVER did ! at ANY point in time in history)........ AND they are "only" three hundred miles from Argentina.(about the length of the entire UK from top to bottom.) What exactly do you mean by "satisfactory result" there WAS one - THEY illegally invaded a Sovereign part of the UK simply to keep a despotic and murderous military regime in power...and they were rightly, summarily evicted. There is another point that the Junta had in mind that never gets discussed too....in that OUR closer proximity to Antarctica gives US a good sized chunk of the oil and mineral deposits of the land mass....and Galtieris lot wanted dibs.

You would have thought that charming the islanders was a far better idea than attacking them.

'By attacking, the Argentinians set this process back by decades.' Actually, for ever.

Margaret Thatcher " loved " !!???? Just saying...coming from South Wales....miners, steelworkers, ect. I wouldn't say she was loved.....hot here anyway. Great reaction, needs to be recognised & acknowledged....ar the time there was talk of thd Argentinians had children in their ranks...14 Yr old! That is barbarick. Love & light always 💜🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🌻

My dad served on HMS Canberra.

The book "Four Weeks in May" by David Hart Dyke (the comedienne Miranda Hart's father), who was the Captain of HMS Coventry is well worth reading too.

The sidewinder missiles were already in British hands but were supposed to held for NATO use. By the time that the US agrteed to their use in the South Atlantic, they were already aboard HERMES and INVINCIBLE.

It's an interesting read

The US also rented a couple of channels on their military satellite communications network which was necessary for The Admirality to communicate with the task force. They also agreed if it was requested for a US Navy carrier battle group to be seconded to the Royal Navy. This last one never happened.

@@jimcook1161 The Offer of an Aicraft Carrier, NOT a Carrier Group, was from ex General Alexander Haig (Foreign Secretary USA), given without permission or consultation. Sidewinders were seconded from the US Military deliveries, again by Haig who had a fight with Casper Weinberger who was the Secretary of Defence. Haig won that "discussion".

The special policeman held hostage was a great guy. Tough and resolute.

Fucking right it did!

Id say the Israeli raid on Entebbe trumped it

Stories

@@ratatat9790 there, their, they're no need to worry about it 😉👍🏼