Falklands

codprawn · 02 April 2007, 04:47

Well today is the 25th anniversary of the Falklands "conflict".

I was so proud of what Britain achieved and the way the people of the Falklands stuck up for themselves. Having Mr Luxton on this forum makes it even more worthwhile - I can just picture him shooting at the Argies with his airgun!!!

Also it is a time to remember the people who were killed.

I think the person who sticks in my mind the most was Captain Ian North of the Atlantic Conveyor - a massive cargo ship which was carrying helicopters and stores. The ship was mistaken for an aircraft carrier and sunk by 2 excocet missiles. In total 12 men died including the Captain. The reason he sticks in my mind so much is because he was just the CLASSIC old sea captain. Like Captain Birdseye or Captain Haddock!!! It was the 1st British Merchant ship sunk since WWII.

BogMonster · 02 April 2007, 11:26

25th anniversary of the invasion - celebrations/commemorations at this end delayed to 14 June

I did point my airgun at a Pucara ground attack aircraft but got yelled at by mother and hastily dragged indoors, not sure a .177 air rifle versus 2 30mm cannons is a fair contest!

The SAMA 82 website www.sama82.org

may they rest in peace...

and www.falklandislands.com for more general info.

Daniel TD5 · 02 April 2007, 13:52

i was reading the new land rover mag a story about the falklands and land rovers they kept refering to a guyl calledBogMonster i know that name

got a humber that falling apart

is it you

dan

GuyP · 02 April 2007, 16:26

Check out www.youtube.com for old news footage of the conflict.

The taskforce really did face unbelievable odds operating that far from base / resupply and against superior Argentinian air power (in terms of numbers), who'd been supplied Exocets by the French

. It was a fantastic British victory and helped bring down the Argentinian dictatorship (not that the average Argie will thank us for that).

I was annoyed to see that the BBCs documentary (Brian Hanrahan) on the 25th anniversary of the war is titled 'was it worth it?'. Of course it bloody was.

BogMonster · 02 April 2007, 18:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel TD5

i was reading the new land rover mag a story about the falklands and land rovers they kept refering to a guyl called BogMonster i know that name

got a humber that falling apart

is it you

dan

Hi

The very same

What magazine is that in out of interest? There was a big item about the new Freelander 2 in the Falklands in Autocar last November but a few mags have been in touch with us to get photos and stuff in the last couple of months, however I have seen a lot of time-wasting journos in the last ten years so never sure if they are going to use the info or (as most do) bin it without a word of thanks!

cheers

Stephen

Daniel TD5 · 02 April 2007, 19:38

hi stephen

don't post much any more as no boat search for sub 5 and you will find the story
of lord davies rat and me

the sub five club

any way its the posh one land rover owners international and they printed your name which is cool and will piss cod prawn off

dan

codprawn · 02 April 2007, 22:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel TD5

hi stephen

don't post much any more as no boat search for sub 5 and you will find the story
of lord davies rat and me

the sub five club

any way its the posh one land rover owners international and they printed your name which is cool and will piss cod prawn off

dan

Why should it piss me off??? Anyone who tries to shoot down Argie aircraft is definitely in my good books!!!

mdt · 03 April 2007, 06:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by BogMonster

I did point my airgun at a Pucara ground attack aircraft but got yelled at by mother and hastily dragged indoors, not sure a .177 air rifle

would of loved to have seen the look on your face if it had bust into flames and crashed.

BogMonster · 03 April 2007, 11:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdt

would of loved to have seen the look on your face if it had bust into flames and crashed.

I think "Yeeeeeeeeeeha" would have covered it nicely

prairie tuber · 04 April 2007, 05:59

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6517705.stm

BogMonster · 04 April 2007, 11:39

No they haven't - still as obnoxious and unpleasant as ever.

Worth trying to persuade Dubya that there is a major terrorist centre in B A and then he might go and bomb it off the map

pathalla · 07 April 2007, 01:14

Hey! Watch what you say, he might notice or his old man might, he's a boater (senior) you know..

eupa · 09 April 2007, 11:38

B A and then he might go and bomb it off the map

.... probably miss it

jonathan

BogMonster · 09 April 2007, 20:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by eupa

B A and then he might go and bomb it off the map

.... probably miss it

jonathan

That's OK.....

......anything within 800 miles is acceptable collateral damage

More than that and it starts to rattle the windows round these parts

donutsina911 · 10 April 2007, 08:34

Just finished reading an excellent book on the falklands war by Hugh McManners and lo and behold, every fifth page there's a quote from rib.net's own Mr Luxton...fascinating book, would recommend to anyone with a vague interest in military/politics..

BogMonster · 10 April 2007, 11:39

Cool, I must get that. Met Hugh when he was down a year and a bit ago, fascinating bloke to chat to, ex SAS and very involved in the goings on here. If the book is half as riveting as talking to him in person then it will be 110% worth reading.

Off to Amazon....

donutsina911 · 10 April 2007, 12:50

ex SBS i think... the fact that the book is simply a collection of personal recollections from islanders, argies and the military makes it much more interesting than just one person's own take on things...def recommended

codprawn · 10 April 2007, 13:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by donutsina911

ex SBS i think... the fact that the book is simply a collection of personal recollections from islanders, argies and the military makes it much more interesting than just one person's own take on things...def recommended

Great stuff - just finished reading Vulcan 607. Excellent book - never realised the logistical nightmare it took to get 1 Vulcan 8,000 miles away with a full bomb load. Longest bombing run in history - what a plane.

Whilst on the subject saw a great prog about all the lost super planes Britain developed that were dropped for various political reasons - Labour governments have a lot to answer for. TSR2 is the most famous but there were others that were just as amazing. A fighter faster than the SR71 for example. Britain would have lead the World but for the short sighted politicians who only live for the day!!!

donutsina911 · 10 April 2007, 13:43

what a plane....maybe. What a waste of resource for neglible impact and getting the RAF involved in the conflict...definitely.

codprawn · 10 April 2007, 13:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by donutsina911

what a plane....maybe. What a waste of resource for neglible impact and getting the RAF involved in the conflict...definitely.

But that's the whole point - it wasn't such a waste.

The best thing it did was scare the Argies - they were genuinely scared we would bomb the Argie mainland.

It also put the runway out of action for fast jets - which was a massive benefit.

The value of propoganda should never be underestimated!!!