Falklands War Commander Admiral Sandy Woodward RN

One of the last admirals to command a fleet under fire -Adm Sandy Woodward who commanded the British carrier task group in the Falklands.
For those of you too young to remember 1982- this was a truly "close run thing", which the British pulled off under truly daunting conditions and with a bare minimum of forces. Little aircover, little airborne early warning and little maneuvering space while the Navy supported the landings- 4 destroyers were sunk in the battle.
In spite of their 8000 mile logistics train, lack of air superiority and numerical inferiority on the ground, the British won because of the awesome discipline,training and leadership of the Royal Navy, The Royal Marines, the SAS, SBS and the troopers of the British Army- and of course the steadfast political will of the PM Margaret Thatcher who refused to accept anything less than victory. RIP Adm Woodward.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCBTCtnMiyM

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obi...10223158/Admiral-Sir-John-Sandy-Woodward.html


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voeo0Oiox-c

Exocet did horrible damage on British Destroyers. Aluminum is not the best for a warship. I think we gave them some satellite intel and were criticized for it. SAS and Royal Marines did a hell of a job. Thatcher gets a real thumbs up for not backing down.

Bruno, thank you for the reminding us of the political and military courage it took for the down-sized Brits to project force 8,000 miles from home.

AF6872 said:

Exocet did horrible damage on British Destroyers.

I remember well the impact of the Exocets... The sinking of a British destroyer and container ship. Welding machine guns to deck railing for a make-shift ciws. Two harriers leaving the British carrier in heavy weather for combat air patrol and not returning.

We have a small local connection to the War through the Avro Vulcans that bombed Port Stanley. The Vulcan on display at the Castle AFB museum was cannibalized for air-to-air refueling parts that were needed for these missions.

Click to expand...

I attended a briefing given by the RAF commander that flew the Vulcan strikes. I think he was a Group Captain (Colonel) when he gave us the briefing.

He said they didn't seek permission from the USA to take the refueling probes from the static display Vulcan's for fear word would get out that they were going to be used.

So they basically "stole" them in the middle of the night.

And after the war, returned them!

Very efficient.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83