6 ms·

You're not wrong, but you're somewhat off. Argentina did have an air to air refuelling capability, and its availability or not was crucial in a number of insta

You're not wrong, but you're somewhat off. Argentina did have an air to air refuelling capability, and its availability or not was crucial in a number of instances. Likewise, the Gurkhas went out at battalion strength near the end of the war. The exocets weren't so much sabotaged as much as all the French simply returning home leaving the kit unfitted and unconfigured. The stuff that had been set up already was used to great effect. You're right though that they did not set themselves up for success when they did not make the most of their first mover advantage and build up the island with supplies, equipment, and well trained soldiers rather than conscripts. At the time, they hoped that domestic events meant that the UK simply wouldn't care is all. They didn't come for a fight.

mytailorisrich 6y ago
Indeed, I think they just assumed that the UK hadn't the strength nor the will to start a war on the other side of the world just to fight over a barren island. Ironically, if they had not attacked the Falklands might be Argentinian or under joint sovereignty now because, indeed, no-one really cared about the Falklands. But their actions ended up guaranteeing that the UK would never even discuss the issue for at least a century...
- raphar 6y ago
  The argentinian public didn't care much about Malvinas before 1982 (as we call the falklands here). Was a desperate last move from the Military Junta to get some approval. The Argentinian attack worked fine for M. Thatcher popularity, but not so good for them.
C1sc0cat 6y ago
Argentina pulled out some of the trained troops before the end and left a lot of partially trained reservists.
rjsw 6y ago
> The stuff that had been set up already was used to great effect. The stuff that had not been set up still worked too. The exocet that hit HMS Glamorgan was fired from an improvised platform that had been built by the Argentinian Navy.
29athrowaway 6y ago
The Dassault Mirage IIIEAs (x17) and IAI Daggers (x30) operated by the Argentine air force were not equipped for aerial refueling. The Super Étendards operated by the Argentine Navy (x4) were. Super Étendards can also refuel each other. The aerial refueling was a significant problem for the Argentine air force. It shortened the amount of time they could spend near the islands.

mytailorisrich 6y ago

Indeed, I think they just assumed that the UK hadn't the strength nor the will to start a war on the other side of the world just to fight over a barren island. Ironically, if they had not attacked the Falklands might be Argentinian or under joint sovereignty now because, indeed, no-one really cared about the Falklands. But their actions ended up guaranteeing that the UK would never even discuss the issue for at least a century...

raphar 6y ago
The argentinian public didn't care much about Malvinas before 1982 (as we call the falklands here). Was a desperate last move from the Military Junta to get some approval. The Argentinian attack worked fine for M. Thatcher popularity, but not so good for them.

C1sc0cat 6y ago

Argentina pulled out some of the trained troops before the end and left a lot of partially trained reservists.

rjsw 6y ago

> The stuff that had been set up already was used to great effect. The stuff that had not been set up still worked too. The exocet that hit HMS Glamorgan was fired from an improvised platform that had been built by the Argentinian Navy.

29athrowaway 6y ago

The Dassault Mirage IIIEAs (x17) and IAI Daggers (x30) operated by the Argentine air force were not equipped for aerial refueling. The Super Étendards operated by the Argentine Navy (x4) were. Super Étendards can also refuel each other. The aerial refueling was a significant problem for the Argentine air force. It shortened the amount of time they could spend near the islands.