Carl Von Clausewitz

BRITAIN

ARGENTINA

FALKLAND

BRITISH SEA HARRIER

NUCLEAR SUBMARINE

AM 39 Exocet

AIM 9 Sidewinder

Falklands War

Sequence
Historical Background
Geography
National Interest and
Politico Military Objectives
Preparation for War
Falkland Campaign
Analysis of Air Operations
Lessons
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Historical Background
1592 John Davis 1st discovery
1690 Captain John Strong Falkland
1764 French colonist from Saint Mailo Malvinas
1770 Spanish takeover
1816 Argentine independence
1820 Argentine claim over Falklands
1833 British takeover
1960 Negotiation began at United Nation
1982 Argentine invasion (02 April)
1982 British recapture (14 June)
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BRITAIN

Geography
4200 MILES
ASCENSION ISLAND
3800 MILES

8000 MILES

450 MILE

780 MILES

FALKLAND

SOUTH GEORGIA

FALKLAND ISLANDS
PEBBLE ISLAND

SAN CARLOS

WEST

EAST
GOOSE GREEN

About 200 Islands

4700 sq miles

PORT
STANLEY

National Interests and Politico Military

Objectives of the War
Argentine Claim
Embodiment of National pride
Sense of belonging

British Claim
Basing on discovery
Self determination of locals

10

We must concern ourselves with the future.

oil, gas, fish are all there. We need to
develop all the wealth we can.
- Argentine Foreign Minister
( In March 82 )

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FALKLANDS

General Leopoldo Galtieri

SOUTH GEORGIA

12

 UN Resolution passed in 1965

Islands Committee in the
House of Parliament in 1968
Lease back arrangement
13

Argentine Goal
The main goal of Argentina was to capture, hold and
control the Falkland and South Georgia Islands

Vision of General Galtieri

The armed forces should be the architects of
greater Argentina
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Belief of Argentine President

Accomplished fact
Lame protest by the USA
Victory over colonialism
Britain will swallow a temporary discomfort
No awry perception by Russia
Argentineans would forget long years of
dictatorial rule and economic mismanagement
16

British Goal
The main goal of Britain was to recapture, hold and
control of the Falkland and South Georgia Islands

Margaret Thatcher
17

Preparation for War

Port Stanley
Run way 4100 feet
140 tons per day
Total 10,000 troops

18

Argentine Maritime Forces

TEZ

Veinticinco de Mayo

19

Argentine Air Defence in Falkland

Roland Fire Unit
Tiger Cat
Blow Pipe
SA 7
40,30 and 20 mm

PEBBLE ISLAND

GOOSE GREEN

PORT
STANLEY

20

Argentine Aircraft Deployment

Argentina

PUERTO DESEADO

SANTA

JULIAN
CRUZ

GALLEGOS
RIO GRANDE

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British Initial Response

HMS
SPARTAN

MEZ-200NM

HMS
SUPERB

22

Operation Corporate

Total Exclusion Zone (TEZ) 30 April 1982

23

British Air Defence in South Atlantic

Free Fire Missile Engagement Zone

Area Air Defence
Close in Defence

CAP
Task Force

TEZ

24

ORBAT - Argentine Air Arm

Super Entendard 04
Mirage III
11
Dagger 31
Sky hawks
45
Pucara 25
KC/C-130
09
T-34C 15
Aeromacchi 10
Helicopters:
Chinook, Lynx,
30 +
Sea-king , Alouette

25

ORBAT RAF

Sea Harriers
Harrier GR3
Vulcan Bombers
Nimrod
VC-10
C-130
Victor Tanker
Helicopters:
Sea-King, Lynx,
Chinook, Wasps,
Wessex, Scout

28
10

11

100 +

26

 Coverage 7000 miles

South Georgia Recaptured on 25 April
Santa Fe attacked

Ascension Island

South Georgia

27

FALKLAND CAMPAIGN
Recapturing of South Georgia
Failure of Haig Diplomacy
Operation Black Buck

29

 7800 miles round trip

6 in-flight refuelling
Ascension Island
R
R

R
R
R
R
Falkland

South Georgia

30

Air Field Attack

FALKLAND ISLANDS
PEBBLE ISLAND

GOOSE GREEN

PORT
STANLEY

31

Centre of Gravity

British C O G A/C Carrier

Argentine C O G Air attack Capability
32

Argentine attack on British targets

Landing crafts under
attack

Ardent sinking

Ardent sinking

33

British Naval Operation

Capturing of South Georgia on 24th April
Bombardment of port Stanley on 1st May
Sinking of Argentine Cruiser, General Belgrano
on 2nd May
Amphibious landing over Falkland

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BATTLE OF SAN CARLOS

San Carlos

35

Land Battle

36

British March towards Port Stanley

37

ANALYSIS OF ARGENTINE AIR OPS

Concentration
Offensive Action

HMS Sheffield

Surprise

38

DCAO : ARGENTINE
Argentines could not employ:

Principle of Flexibility

Security

One Harrier shot by AAA

39

CLOSE AIR SUPPORT : ARGENTINE

Principle of Administration was not observed

40

Combat Support Operation : Argentine

Air Transport Ops

Air to Air Refuelling
Reconnaissance
SAR /CASEVAC

41

BRITISH OCA

Port Stanley Airfield after the conflict

Principle of Surprise and Flexibility
Characteristics of Reach & Firepower
Principle of Offensive Action
42
Principle of Maintenance of Morale

BRITISH DCAO
AIM 9-L

Killed 20+ FAA a/c

1100 CAP Sorties
Principle of Security
43

BRITISH CLOSE AIR SUPPORT

Principle of Economy of Force

44

British Combat Support Operation

45

Electronic Warfare

Blue Eric jammer

ALE - 40 decoy

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Analysis of the War

Training
Train the way you intend to fight and
fight the way you have trained

In RAF we train as hard as any Air Force I know.

We try to make things as realistic as possible.
We really go for it.
- Flt Lt Leeming
47

Analysis of the War

Training

International Support
Dependency on Airfield
Use of Advanced Technology / Smart Weapons
Importance of Engineering and Logistic Support
Preparation

48

Conclusion
Argentine Leadership lacked situational
awareness.
No understanding of modern military operations.
Performance of Argentine Air Force and Naval
assets.
Application of air power through out the
Campaign.

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