Falklands Conflict -- The Helicopters

Following the Argentine occupation of the Falkland Islands, on 2nd April 1982, the United Kingdom swiftly despatched a task force to recover the islands. British helicopters played an important part in the ensuing conflict with their anti-submarine warfare (ASW) equipment and their ability to attack surface ships, while other helicopters could provide close support to land forces. Probably the most important role, played by the British helicopters, was the provision of ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore transport, for troops and their supplies. This included the evacuation of casualties. The Argentine forces also used helicopters extensively, some being fitted with rocket launchers or machine guns, but their operations, in the Falklands area, were limited to transport and liaison missions. On 3rd April a SA330L Puma and an Aerospatiale Alouette III were used to land Argentine troops at Grytviken on the British Dependency of South Georgia, administered from the Falkland Islands but 1300km to the south-east. A unit from the British garrison of 22 Royal Marines brought down the Puma and damaged the Alouette, with small-arms fire. The British Marines, eventually forced to surrender, were evacuated to an Argentine ship and were soon repatriated to the UK. Two weeks later, on 21st April, a force of British ships, including HMS Antrim and RFA Tidepool, joined HMS Endurance off South Georgia. An unwise decision to land SAS troops on the Fortuna Glacier, using two Westland Wessex HU.5s, XT464 and XT473, from RFA Tidepool, led by Antrim's Wessex HAS.3, XP142, was followed by a call, on the following day, for their premature evacuation by the three helicopters, in the face of treacherous weather.
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(RG) I will never forget the bravery of the helicopter pilots who flew into pitch black smoke to rescue survivors from the Sir Galahad.


© Mack (RG) The thoughts of a Falklands War Veteran.