Attack on HMS Invincible: Difference between revisions
→Outcome: rm - statement is untrue, no one claims this is a fictional attack Tag: Reverted |
7&6=thirteen (talk | contribs) Undid revision 1017948988 by Wee Curry Monster (talk) take it to the talk page. |
||
| Line 48: | Line 48: | ||
''Invincible'' returned to Britain without damage, disproving the Argentine claim of a successful attack.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/hms-invincible-falklands-1982/#:~:text=The%20Argentine%20Navy%20used%20their%20last%20AM39%20Exocet,war%2C%20she%20showed%20no%20signs%20of%20missile%20damage. |title=HMS Invincible returns home following the Falklands War, 1982 |accessdate=April 14, 2021}}</ref> |
''Invincible'' returned to Britain without damage, disproving the Argentine claim of a successful attack.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/hms-invincible-falklands-1982/#:~:text=The%20Argentine%20Navy%20used%20their%20last%20AM39%20Exocet,war%2C%20she%20showed%20no%20signs%20of%20missile%20damage. |title=HMS Invincible returns home following the Falklands War, 1982 |accessdate=April 14, 2021}}</ref> |
||
Although there are many who consider the attack or the claimed damage to the carrier to be fictional, the Argentine sources are replete with the claim.{{sfn|Carballo|2017}}{{sfn|Carballo|2016}}{{sfn|Landaburu|1989}}{{sfn|Benedetto|2002}}{{sfn|Quellet|Martini|1992}}<ref>{{cite book |title=Historia de la Fuerza Aérea Argentina Tomo VI |volume=II «La Fuerza Aérea en Malvinas»|url=http://www.radarmalvinas.com.ar/airt/ia_faa_vol2_t.pdf|language=Spanish|publisher=Dirección de Estudios Históricos|year=1998|isbn=987-96654-3-0|ref=FAA2}}</ref> |
|||
The results of the attack were further confused by a deliberate [[propoganda]] [[misinformation]] campaign by the Argentine junta, including photoshopped pictures of the Invincible and other ships in flames.<ref>{{cite web|title=Was HMS Invincible (RO5) sunk in the Falklands War? – Here’s the truth… |date=October 4, 2016 |first1=Ricky D. |last1=Phillips}}</ref> |
The results of the attack were further confused by a deliberate [[propoganda]] [[misinformation]] campaign by the Argentine junta, including photoshopped pictures of the Invincible and other ships in flames.<ref>{{cite web|title=Was HMS Invincible (RO5) sunk in the Falklands War? – Here’s the truth… |date=October 4, 2016 |first1=Ricky D. |last1=Phillips}}</ref> |
||
Revision as of 14:04, 15 April 2021
An editor has nominated this article for deletion. You are welcome to participate in the deletion discussion, which will decide whether or not to retain it. |
A thwarted attack on HMS Invincible was conducted by Argentine Naval Aviation in late May 1982, within the last two weeks of the Falklands War (Spanish: Guerra de las Malvinas). Although HMS Invincible returned home unharmed in September 1988, the Argentine Air Force continues to claim that their missile hit the carrier and two A-4 hit the carrier with four 500 lb bombs.
Overview
During the 1982 Falklands War, Argentina deployed 48 Skyhawk warplanes (26 A-4B, 12 A-4C and 10 A-4Q aircraft).[1] Armed with unguided bombs and lacking any electronic or missile self-defense, Argentine Air Force Skyhawks sank the Type 42 destroyer Coventry and inflicted a variety of damage on several others: Type 21 frigate Antelope (subsequently sunk during attempted disposal of unexploded bombs), RFA Sir Galahad (subsequently scuttled as a war grave), Type 42 Glasgow, Template:Sclass- Argonaut, Type 22 frigate Broadsword, and RFA Sir Tristram.[citation needed]
Argentine Navy A-4Qs, flying from Río Grande, Tierra del Fuego naval air station, also played a role in the bombing attacks against British ships, destroying the Type 21 Ardent.[2]
Due to a dearth of equipment and lack of refueling capability, the role of the Argentine Air Force was limited to attacks on ships, and they were able to engage British aircraft while punishing the fleet.[A]
Background
The Argentines had one operational Exocet missile left[B], that could be deployed from their Super Etendard aircraft.
On 28 May 1982 the Argentine Navy decided to attack HMS Invincible, with the AM39 Exocet missile, to be delivered by the Argentine Navy aircraft.[4]
Argentine intelligence tried to locate the position of the British carriers by the transits of British aircraft, but these had been ordered to transit from the carriers at low-level, making the carrier positions difficult to work out. This policy would also allow the approaching Argentine aircraft to be easily (and lethally) identified.
Thwarted attack
.jpg)
On 30 May, two Super Étendards, one carrying Argentina's last remaining air-launcheed Exocet, escorted by four A-4C Skyhawks each with two 500 lb (230 kg) bombs, took off to attack Invincible.[5] Argentine intelligence had sought to determine the position of the carriers from analysis of aircraft flight routes from the task force to the islands.[5] However, the British had a standing order that all aircraft conduct a low level transit when leaving or returning to the carriers to disguise their position.[6] This tactic compromised the Argentine attack, which focused on a group of escorts 40 miles south of the main body of ships.[7] Two of the attacking Skyhawks were shot down by Sea Darts fired by HMS Exeter,[5][7][8] with HMS Avenger claiming to have shot down the missile with her 4.5" gun (although this claim is disputed).[9] No damage was caused to any British vessels.[5] During the war Argentina claimed to have damaged the ship, although no evidence of any such damage has been produced or uncovered.[10][11]
The Argentines launched air attack OF.1268 against HMS Invincible on Sunday 30 May 1982. Two Super Etendard aircraft, 3-A-202 and 3-A-205, of the Naval Air Fighter Attack Squadron were launched at 12.30pm, which were refuelled twice. The Super Etendards dropped to 100 feet above the sea, and launched an Exocet at 14.30, (allegedly) around 20 miles from their target. The Super Etendards returned to their base at 15.30. This attack from the South was unexpected. The Argentine pilots claimed to have hit the Invincible[12][13][14]
The Invincible was aware of the attack, and fired chaff. Two of the attackers were shot down. The carrier warned the rest of the fleet about the attack.[8]
Outcome
On Monday 31 May 1982, several Argentine newspapers claimed that Invincible had been hit.[citation needed] The conflicting claims were due to incomplete or misinformation, attributable to the fog of war.[8] The attack was duly noted in log books by the British, and a report was sent to the Cabinet, even though the whys, hows and wherefores were muddled. The fleet's commander said they were taken "completely by surprise." He continued:
“As an attack mission, it was not badly thought out, even though it did require a very long round trip.” (78). The commander of HMS Invincible (J.J. Black) considered that the Argentines:
“Tried an ingenious plan, that was very nearly successful” (79)
According to the CO of HMS Exeter, Hugh Balfour:<br< “They carried out a remarkable mission, flying miles and miles from Argentina, refuelling those single seat aircraft several times.... truly an exceptional, efficient and exciting mission. I have a great respect for the Argentines that carried out this mission which was equal to any other. It was very brave (80).
For the British Task Force, from the initial detection of the voices on HF radio, until the egress of the Skyhawks, had lasted for only six scant minutes. The success in repelling the attack, they considered, was due to the timely deployment of chaff, the rapid manoeuvring of the ships in showing the bow or stern to the missile in order to minimise the target area. (81)
As a lesson, it was understood that the firing of chaff should be carried out as soon as possible following a detection of an Agave radar. Within just a few hours, it was clear (to the British Forces) that the attack on the fleet had involved the frigate HMS Avenger and the destroyer HMS Exeter as the protagonists. For this reason, the Officer On Watch had written in the part of the ships log reserved for the day's summary "Attacked by Super Etendards - no damage" (82); and Exeter's wrote "Defence Watches in the TEZ. Group attacked by Super Etendards" (83); and Avenger's recorded only "Defence watches - Operation Corporate". (84) Almost immediately the submarines in the theatre received the transmission "Four aircraft attacked and missed the Invincible, of which two were shot down.” (85).
Finally, a report was created and sent to the headquarters, which informed the Cabinet and this informed Parliament that "An unsuccessful attack on HMS Invincible on the 30th May by Argentine Super Etendard aircraft equipped Exocet" (86). Therefore, the only thing that is clear was that nobody was exactly clear about what happened during the attack on HMS Invincible. [Footnotes omitted.] [8]
Invincible returned to Britain without damage, disproving the Argentine claim of a successful attack.[15]
Although there are many who consider the attack or the claimed damage to the carrier to be fictional, the Argentine sources are replete with the claim.[16][17][18][19][20][21]
The results of the attack were further confused by a deliberate propoganda misinformation campaign by the Argentine junta, including photoshopped pictures of the Invincible and other ships in flames.[22]
As late as 2018, Argentine "National hero Gerardo Isaac, who flew for the Argentine junta during the conflict, claimed he was part of a fighter squadron which severely damaged the HMS Invincible in 1982." He said he was one of the four pilots who allegedly took part in the ‘successful’ attack on the carrier, and who received Argentina’s highest military decoration.[C] He appeared in public to repeat his story and claimed he sank the carrier. Reportedly, onlookers were openly derisive.[23]
See also
References
Notes
- ^ "According to British accounts, the Argentinian Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Argentina, FAA) was a capable and respected adversary during the conflict that unfolded in the South Atlantic in 1982. It inflicted heavy casualties upon the British task force and operated extremely well in difficult conditions. Despite that, it barely had a capability to engage British aircraft and suffered losses upon trying to do so. It was mostly due to the lack of aerial refueling capability of their Mirage III and Dagger (refurbished IAI Nesher) fighters, which limited them to an anti-ship role."[3]
- ^ The Aérospatiale AM.39 Exocet missile. The missile was named after the biological family Exocoetidae.
- ^ Presumably the Cross to the Heroic Valour in Combat.[23] That would make him one of seven (two posthumous) Argentine pilots honored after the Falklands war.[24]
Citations
- ^ Chant 2001, p. 76.
- ^ Smith, Gordon. "Argentine Aircraft and Successes against British Ships." Archived 6 February 2006 at the Wayback Machine naval-history.net. Retrieved: 12 August 2008.
- ^ Venckunas, Valius (November 11, 2020). "Curious case of Argentinian fighter jets". Aerotime. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
- ^ Exocet 1982
- ^ a b c d Freedman 2005, p. 545.
- ^ Pook 2008, p. 132.
- ^ a b Morgan 2007, p. 240.
- ^ a b c d Sciaroni, Mariano; Smith, Andy (translator). May 30th, 1982 Attack on HMS Invincible, A British View Address to the Argentine Air Force Congress, discussing British sources, and origins and confusion of conflicting claims due to The fog of war. Includes full sourcing notes.
- ^ Southby-Tailyour 2014, p. 238.
- ^ "Argentine Airpower in the Falklands War: An Operational View". Air and Space Power Journal. Federal Information and News Dispatch, Inc. 2002-08-20.
- ^ "Argentine Aircraft in the Falklands". Archived from the original on 23 February 2009. Retrieved 25 February 2009.
- ^ 30 May 1982 attack PDF HMS Exeter
- ^ Leone, Dario (April 5, 2020). "Former Argentine A-4 Pilots Remember the (Controversial) Strike They Undertook on Royal Navy Aircraft Carrier HMS Invincible During the Falklands War". Geeks at War, The Aviation Geek Club. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
- ^ Rivas 2019.
- ^ "HMS Invincible returns home following the Falklands War, 1982". Retrieved April 14, 2021.
- ^ Carballo 2017.
- ^ Carballo 2016.
- ^ Landaburu 1989.
- ^ Benedetto 2002.
- ^ Quellet & Martini 1992.
- ^ Historia de la Fuerza Aérea Argentina Tomo VI (PDF) (in Spanish). Vol. II «La Fuerza Aérea en Malvinas». Dirección de Estudios Históricos. 1998. ISBN 987-96654-3-0.
- ^ Phillips, Ricky D. (October 4, 2016). "Was HMS Invincible (RO5) sunk in the Falklands War? – Here's the truth…".
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ a b Gavin, Harvey (June 20, 2018). "Argentinian pilot MOCKED after claiming he 'SUNK' HMS Invincible during Falklands War". Daily Express. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
AN ARGENTINIAN pilot has regaled crowds with a story about how he crippled a flagship Royal Navy aircraft carrier during the Falklands War - despite British veterans insisting their ship was never hit.
- ^ "Condecoraciones - Ley 24.229" (in Spanish). Argentine Air Force. Archived from the original on 2009-04-25. Retrieved 2009-05-31.
Bibliography
- Benedetto, Fernando (2002). A-4B/C Skyhawk (in Spanish). Buenos Aires. ISBN 987-20375-0-7.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Carballo, Pablo Marcos Rafael (2017). Halcones de Malvinas: la experiencia de aquellos que lucharon con Dios en el alma y un halcón en el corazón (in Spanish). Argentinidad. ISBN 978-987-1942-87-9.
- Carballo, Pablo Marcos Rafael (2016). Los halcones no se lloran (in Spanish). Argentinidad. ISBN 978-987-1942-53-4.
- Chant, Chris (2001). Air War in the Falklands 1982 (Osprey Combat Aircraft #28). Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. p. 76. ISBN 978-1-84176-293-7.
- Freedman, Lawrence (2005). The Official History of the Falklands Campaign: War and diplomacy. Psychology Press. p. 545. ISBN 978-0-7146-5207-8.
- Morgan, David H. (2007). Hostile Skies. Phoenix. p. 240. ISBN 978-0-7538-2199-2.
- Landaburu, Carlos Augusto (1989). La guerra de las Malvinas. Círculo Militar. ISBN 978-950-9822-15-3.
- Quellet, Ricardo; Martini, Héctor A. (1992). Historia de la Aviación Naval Argentina Tomo III (PDF) (in Spanish). Buenos Aires: Departamento de Estudios Históricos Navales. ISBN 978-987-99459-0-2.
- Pook, Jerry (15 June 2008). RAF Harrier Ground Attack: Falklands. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Aviation. p. 132. ISBN 978-1-84884-556-5.
- Rivas, Santiago (2019). Skyhawks Over the South Atlantic - LATIN AMERICA @ WAR: The Argentine Skyhawks in the Malvinas/Falklands War 1982. Warwick: Helion & Company Limited. ISBN 9781912866397.
- Southby-Tailyour, Ewen (2 April 2014). Exocet Falklands: The Untold Story of Special Forces Operations. Pen and Sword. p. 238. ISBN 978-1-4738-3513-9.
Further reading
- Sciaroni, Mariano (February 15, 2019). A Carrier at Risk: Argentinean Aircraft Carrier and Anti-Submarine Operations Against Royal Navy's Attack Submarines During the Falklands/Malvinas War, 1982 (Paperback). Warwick, England:: Helion & Company Limited. ISBN 9781911628705. ISBN 1911628704.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
External links
- Sciaroni, Mariano; Smith, Andy (translator). May 30th, 1982 Attack on HMS Invincible, A British View Address to the Argentine Air Force Congress, discussing British sources, and origins and confusion of conflicting claims due to The fog of war. Includes full sourcing notes.
- HMS Invincible during the Falklands War 1982 December 5, 2008 via YouTube
- HMS Invincible (R05) / HMS Illustrious (R06) Handover Falklands Conflict 1982 February 24, 2021 via YouTube
- HMS Invincible TV programme 1992 November 14, 2020 BBC via YouTube