Air War in the Falklands 1982 (Osprey Combat Aircraft 28)

The Falklands War (1982), fought between the United Kingdom and Argentina for the possession of the Falkland Islands, was probably the last 'colonial' war that will ever be undertaken by the British. This book shows how the key to British success was the speed with which the British gained and then maintained air superiority over the islands and the waters around them with their small force of Sea Harrier STOVL warplanes, which operated from two aircraft carriers. Though subsonic, the Sea Harrier and its Sidewinder AAM were a combination altogether superior to Argentina's mix of supersonic and subsonic warplanes with older weapons, and this advantage was emphasised by the significantly greater tactical acuity of the British pilots. The Argentine pilots fought with considerable piloting skill and enormous courage, and scored a number of stunning successes against British warships, but ultimately they could not prevent the British landing and the following land campaign that resulted in complete Argentine defeat. The war fought between the United Kingdom and Argentina in 1982, for the possession of the Falkland Islands was probably the last'colonial'war that will ever be undertaken by the British. This book shows how the key to British success was the speed with which the British gained and then maintained air superiority over the islands and the waters around then with their small force of Sea Harrier STOVL warplanes, which operated from two aircraft carriers. Though subsonic, the Sea Harrier and its Sidewinder AAM were a combination altogether superior to Argentina's mix of supersonic and subsonic warplanes with older weapons, and this advantage was emphasised by the significantly greater tactical acuity of the British pilots. The Argentine pilots fought with considerable piloting skill and enormous courage, and scored a number of stunning successes against British warships, but ultimately they could not prevent the British landing and the following land campaign that resulted in complete Argentine defeat. Argentina's continuing claim to sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, against Britain, was still in the hands of the United Nations when in 1982, Argentine troops seized the islands in a lightning raid. This title gives first hand accounts from combat veteran pilots of the battles that transpired, and tells the tale of commanders who relive their death-defying wartime missions. It details a conflit whose global repercussions and after effects can still be felt in the world, focusing on the long-range logistics of the conflict for the RAF, the difficult conditions in the South Atlantic, and the successes and failures of British tactics "Between April and June 1982, a small campaign was fought between British and Argentine air, sea and land forces for control of the Falkland Island, a small group of islands lying many thousands of miles from the United Kingdom in the South Atlantic only a "