http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17858361
Really? Can Argentina afford another bloody nose? Why are they poking the bee hive?
Quote from: Barthheart on April 27, 2012, 10:03:26 AM
Really? Can Argentina afford another bloody nose? Why are they poking the bee hive?
Same reason as '82 as an answer for their own domestic political problems. Cristina Fernandez seems like something of a loose cannon in the Chavez mold. They just nationalized the largest oil company in Argentina out from under Spain.
^I saw that story about Spain yesterday. Does Spain have any force projection capability at all? My guess is no.
Spain has a couple of baby carriers that can carry Harriers (don't know if they do these days). I think they have some decent, modern frigates as well as a couple of amphibious landing ships. They may able to better project force right now than the Brits. Not that I think for a second that they will over the oil company. They'll handle that in the international courts. Argentina is likely to get hit with major fines and sanctions.
It would be awesome if, out of nowhere, Spain just went bat shit and took over the Falklands.
Quote from: Gusington on April 27, 2012, 11:14:58 AM
It would be awesome if, out of nowhere, Spain just went bat shit and took over the Falklands.
Better yet Argentina!
First the Falklands, then Argentina and slowly and steadily the rest of their old empire in the New World. Spain on the Warpath.
Lol! I wonder if Herman Hum has created Harpoon scenarios for that!
This is the Spanish version of an Aegis ship. Nice looking design
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fthumb%2F6%2F64%2FSPS_Alvaro_de_Baz%25C3%25A1n_%2528F101%2529.jpg%2F800px-SPS_Alvaro_de_Baz%25C3%25A1n_%2528F101%2529.jpg&hash=f88fa9d3761c5420ed26c9c729aec45fe617fce3)
^Hmm then I guess I shouldn't be so quick to laugh then. Would have been slightly more realistic under Franco, though. Still...Spain seems to have a respectable naval and force projection capability. I can't believe how the Brits' capability has been gutted...wonder what their plans are if things really go south again...
Send in the Chavs on a bucket holiday? They've pretty much rendered the coasts of Spain and Greece as uninhabitable.
.....ask the French if we can borrow an aircraft carrier and India if they have a couple of Harriers to spare....
There are 4 Typhoons based there, and land forces, and you would expect that subs are the main defence against shipping. Other than that, who knows. Its really difficult to see what sort of response would be made if it all goes tits-up.
Very worrying :(
Thing is that the Argentine military has detoriated even more than the Brits in the last 30 years. A destroyer, 4 Typhoons and a sub might well be enough to hold the Falklands.
^ A we have observed before, lets hope it does not come to that, the thought of more bloodshed there is horrfic.
True enough.
I suspect any campaign there would be settled much quicker now given the lethality and accuracy of current weapon systems. Oh...and the fact the Brit forces on the island are already aware of the tensions.
Quote from: bob48 on April 27, 2012, 12:28:18 PM
^ A we have observed before, lets hope it does not come to that, the thought of more bloodshed there is horrfic.
Agreed.
That said, the Armada ain't what it used to be, but all things considered it could do some serious damage:
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fthumb%2Fd%2Fdd%2FSpanish_aircraft_carrier_Principe_de_Asturias.jpg%2F759px-Spanish_aircraft_carrier_Principe_de_Asturias.jpg&hash=d23bbc5b5f4d6a49565dcd205155b7628db83b1d)
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fthumb%2F5%2F5c%2F08.05.11_Las_Palmas_001.JPG%2F800px-08.05.11_Las_Palmas_001.JPG&hash=0cd79847bced455de5207a745cab74fc33a84f96)
Organization
The Fleet (Headquarter located at Rota)
Projection Group located at Rota
1 Aircraft Carrier R-11 Principe de Asturias class. 17,188 Tons.
1 LHD / multi-purpose warship and aircraft L-61 Juan Carlos I class. 27,079 Tons.
2 LPD L-50 Galicia class landing platform dock class. 13,818 Tons.
1 LST L-42 Pizarro, Newport class. 8,500 Tons.
1 Replenishment ship A-14 Patiño class (located at Ferrol). 17,045 Tons.
1 Replenishment ship A-15 Cantabria class (located at Ferrol). 19,500 Tons.
41st Escort Squadron located at Rota
6 Frigates F-80 Santa María class. 4,017 Tons.
31st Escort Squadron located at Ferrol
5 AEGIS Destroyers F-100 Alvaro de Bazán class. 6,250 Tons.
Submarine flotilla located at Cartagena.
4 Submarines S-70 Galerna Agosta class submarine. 1,740 Tons.
4 AIP Submarines S-80 S-80 class submarine. (Under construction.) 2,426 Tons.
MCM flotilla located at Cartagena
1 MCM support ship M-10 Descubierta class corvette Modified class. 1,233 Tons.
6 Minehunters M-30 Segura class. 585 Tons.
Patrol craft flotilla
5 Corvettes Descubierta class corvette. 1,666 Tons.
7 Corvettes Meteoro class, Buque de Acción Marítima. (4 under construction.) 2,500 Tons.
TOTAL Tons Main Vessels: 224,158Tons
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Navy
Wow. The Spanish Navy seems quite...capable. Mea culpa.
They need to bulk-up 'cause they love to steal fish off the coast of other countries !
Quote from: MIGMaster on April 27, 2012, 02:27:14 PM
They need to bulk-up 'cause they love to steal fish off the coast of other countries !
No that's why
WE need to bulk-up!!
Maybe we could sell them some gently used submarines and Sea Kings. That ought to put a stop to their navy pretty quickly.
The UK will land 3 divisions of yobs on the Argentine coast. Then throw a soccer ball at the capital.
Quote from: Gusington on April 27, 2012, 01:50:09 PM
Wow. The Spanish Navy seems quite...capable. Mea culpa.
Yeah they have a fairly credible Fleet. Funny thing is that if they did fight it out with Argentian, they could embark more Harriers than the Brits did in 82.
Thinking about it maybe they should take another crack at England. The Armada might succeed this time!
AS long as the buggers leave Newcastle alone...................
You know, during the eighties war, there were all kinds of rumors about what the SAS and Royal Marine commandoes, were doing in Argentina.
I think this all proved to be british misdirection. Anyone know for sure?
I think there might have been reconnaissance done on the mainland of Argentine air bases. And there was some plan kicked around to attack a base and then escape into one of the neighboring countries. Dont think that went anywhere though.
I have a great book by Max Hastings on the Falklands War. I'll dig it out tonight and see if it has anything about the Brits on the mainland.
Quote from: bob48 on April 27, 2012, 05:42:09 PM
AS long as the buggers leave Newcastle alone...................
Not sure anyone would have the balls to screw with Newcastle.
It'll be interesting to see what Spains Navy is like in a few years with their economy in the crapper.
Quote from: OJsDad on April 27, 2012, 06:35:45 PM
It'll be interesting to see what Spains Navy is like in a few years with their economy in the crapper.
Maybe they'll sell the UK and Canada a couple of carriers on the cheap.
Quote from: mirth on April 27, 2012, 06:19:24 PM
Quote from: bob48 on April 27, 2012, 05:42:09 PM
AS long as the buggers leave Newcastle alone...................
Not sure anyone would have the balls to screw with Newcastle.
Someone might face a crowd of Wee Cheeky Neds! Oops, sorry- that's Glasgow!!
I'm beginning to wonder about the Brit sub force:
http://twocircles.net/2012apr24/commander_was_bathing_british_nsubmarine_hit_sandbank.html (http://twocircles.net/2012apr24/commander_was_bathing_british_nsubmarine_hit_sandbank.html)
QuoteIt adds that the 330ft flagship vessel, which had surfaced, ran aground on shingle off the Isle of Skye because the officer on the bridge was not using the correct radar, did not have a chart and was not used to navigating in the dark.
Ah mirthie, you just broke the Mark of the Beast benchmark!
Quote from: Centurion40 on April 27, 2012, 08:21:18 PM
Ah mirthie, you just broke the Mark of the Beast benchmark!
I know. I was sorely tempted to never post again after I saw the 666.
Whoah - I thought Mirth was the beast ;)
Quote from: mirth on April 27, 2012, 08:24:47 PM
Quote from: Centurion40 on April 27, 2012, 08:21:18 PM
Ah mirthie, you just broke the Mark of the Beast benchmark!
I know. I was sorely tempted to never post again after I saw the 666.
Well, I
could change your post count. But I'm not going to change it
every time you post.
Quote from: LongBlade on April 27, 2012, 08:32:01 PM
Quote from: mirth on April 27, 2012, 08:24:47 PM
Quote from: Centurion40 on April 27, 2012, 08:21:18 PM
Ah mirthie, you just broke the Mark of the Beast benchmark!
I know. I was sorely tempted to never post again after I saw the 666.
Well, I could change your post count. But I'm not going to change it every time you post.
If you had been on top of it you would have banned me at the 666 post mark. OTOH if I had been on top of it I would have made post 666 a bannable post. Live and learn <sigh>
Quote from: MIGMaster on April 27, 2012, 02:27:14 PM
They need to bulk-up 'cause they love to steal fish off the coast of other countries !
lol, aint that the truth... pirates under a national flag need protection too