Argie Bargy?: Falklands Ships Excluded From South American Ports

[Philtaz]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16280613

Not that anyone expects matters to escalate......

But hypothetically, if they did (as a result of current deployments and cuts) I'd seriously doubt the UK's capability to react in the way it did in 1982, should another ground invasion occur.

[jake-the-peg]

Perhaps but given there are now 1300 troops stationed in the Falklands whereas Margaret Thatcher had about 3 marines and an elderly Labrador they're less likely to be able to just walk in as they did n 1982

[Philtaz]

But due to their proximity and superior numbers a single infantry battalion would be no match for a brigade or two of Argentine armed forces.

When the conflict occurred in 1982 the only real deployment for UK Forces was Northern Ireland. Due to current overstretch and deployments in warmer climes we'd be hard pressed to mount a similar operation now.

[jake-the-peg]

Not sure about that - "a brigade or two" even if they could be readied without acting attention would still have to land and there's doubtlessly missile systems on the islands now.

But it's a silly game really - you can invent any size of fictional force up to the scale of the D-day landings.

Nobody in Argentina is going to want to start a full scale war - I can easilly see economic sanctions and diplomatic pressure.

Even a naval blockade if I really try but a full scale invasion is a tabloid fantasy

[New Judge]

Jake is quite correct.

The Falklands is a different place to the one so easily invaded by Argentineans in 1982. Yes, we are stretched and I doubt we have the capability to get large numbers of troops there quickly as we did earlier. But apart from the 1,300 troops there are other things in place to ensure a repetition does not take place.

It would be a foolish government (of any persuasion) who would ignore serious threats to the islands and although I cannot be sure, I imagine even our current regime is not so reckless.

[Philtaz]

No one is 'inventing' any size force jake, the fact is Argentina have over 104,000 armed service personnel, the vast majority of which are somewhat closer to the Falklands than UK Forces.

No one is expecting a full scale land invasion, but then nor were they in 1982.

I'm just highlighting the fact that should matters escalate to the same height as in 1982 we'd be pushed way beyond our capability, in respect to ground forces. As things stand I'm not sure we even have a Spearhead battalion anymore.

[jake-the-peg]

This increasingly sounds like one of those silly games where a hypothetical is stretched until you have to agree with the premise.

You start by saying "Not that anyone expects matters to escalate......" but it rather sounds as if you do - or at least would like to use the supposed possibility to justify spending a lot of money on the armed forces.

[Philtaz]

No, I don't expect matters to escalate.

I'm pointing out that due to present deployments of our Armed Forces and instability in other areas throughout the world we'd have difficulty responding to a similar problem we had to in 1982.

We expect our troops to defend our interests wherever necessary yet want them to do so on an ever decreasing budget and shorter manpower.

http://www.guardian.c...-forces-overstretched

[New Judge]

Strangely I agree with you both !!!

Yes, we certainly would have difficulty responding in the same way as we had to in 1982. If for no other reason we have no operational aircraft carriers which would almost certainly be essential for such a task.

However, like jake, I also do not believe that the Argentineans will launch a similar offensive to the one they embarked upon thirty years ago.

[craft1948]

Ban them from the Olypics I say.............aren't the Argies all wearing Malvinas armbands at the opening ceremony?

[craft1948]

Olympics^

[Philtaz]

Just an update to the thread I started a month ago.

As I said then,(hypothetically) should another incident occur we'd be seriously pushed to mount the same response we did 30 years ago.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16617666

[Philtaz]

Just a further update. Not gonna say 'I told you so' but it could be time to get the landing craft un-mothballed! Problem is we'd have no one to put in them.........

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17205918

[Philtaz]

Bump!

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