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Weapons of the Falklands War facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

These are some of the key weapons of the Falklands War used by both sides.

Aircraft and weapons

Argentina

See also: Argentine air forces in the Falklands War

Combat

  • A-4B/C/Q Skyhawk (Argentine Air Force, Argentine Naval Aviation)
  • Aermacchi MB-326 (Argentine Naval Aviation)
  • Aermacchi MB-339 (Argentine Naval Aviation)
  • Dassault Mirage III (Argentine Air Force)
  • Dassault Super Étendard (Argentine Naval Aviation)
  • FMA IA 58A Pucará (Argentine Air Force)
  • IAI Dagger (Argentine Air Force)

Bomber

Maritime Patrol

  • S-2E Tracker (Argentine Naval Aviation)
  • SP-2H Neptune (Argentine Naval Aviation)

Reconnaissance

  • Cessna Citation I (Phoenix Squadron)
  • Cessna Citation II (Phoenix Squadron)
  • Hawker Siddeley HS.125 (Phoenix Squadron)
  • Learjet 24 (Phoenix Squadron)
  • Learjet 35 (Argentine Air Force, Phoenix Squadron)
  • Learjet 36 (Phoenix Squadron)
  • Lockheed L-188PF Electra (Argentine Naval Aviation)
  • P-95 Bandeirulha (Argentine Naval Aviation)
  • T-34C Turbo Mentor (Argentine Naval Aviation)
  • Boeing 707-320C (Argentine Air Force)

Tanker

  • KC-130H Hercules (Argentine Air Force)

Transport

  • Aero Commander 500B/500S/680FL/690A/690B/690C (Phoenix Squadron)
  • BAC 1-11 (Austral Líneas Aéreas)
  • Boeing 737-200 (Aerolíneas Argentinas)
  • Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander (Argentine Naval Aviation)
  • C-47 Skytrain (Phoenix Squadron)
  • C-130H Hercules (Argentine Air Force)
  • de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter (Argentine Air Force)
  • Douglas DC-3 (Phoenix Squadron)
  • FMA IA 50 Guaraní II (Phoenix Squadron)
  • Fokker F-27-400M (Argentine Air Force)
  • Fokker F-28-1000C/3000C (Argentine Air Force, Argentine Naval Aviation)
  • Mitsubishi MU-2 (Phoenix Squadron)
  • Piper Aerostar (Phoenix Squadron)
  • Swearingen Merlin (Phoenix Squadron)

Helicopters

  • Agusta A109A (Argentine Army Aviation, Phoenix Squadron)
  • Aérospatiale Alouette III (Argentine Naval Aviation)
  • Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma (Argentine Army Aviation, Argentine Naval Prefecture)
  • Bell 205 (Phoenix Squadron)
  • Bell 206 (Phoenix Squadron)
  • Bell 212 (Argentine Air Force, Phoenix Squadron)
  • CH-47C Chinook (Argentine Army Aviation)
  • H-34 Choctaw (Phoenix Squadron)
  • McDonnell Douglas MD500 (Phoenix Squadron)
  • Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm Bo 105 (Phoenix Squadron)
  • SH-3 Sea King (Argentine Naval Aviation, Phoenix Squadron)
  • Short SC.7 Skyvan (Argentine Naval Prefecture)
  • UH-1H Iroquois (Argentine Army Aviation)
  • Westland Lynx Mk.23 (Argentine Naval Aviation)

Armament

Machine guns and cannons

  • 7.62×51mm NATO FN Browning machine gun (FMA IA 58A Pucará)
  • 20×110mm USN Hispano-Suiza HS.804 cannon (FMA IA 58A Pucará)
  • 20×110mm USN Colt Mk 12 cannon (A-4B/C/Q Skyhawk)
  • 30×113mm DEFA cannon (Dassault Mirage III, IAI Dagger)

Rockets

Air-to-air missiles

Air-to-surface missiles

  • Aérospatiale AM.39 Exocet - The Exocet is probably the most famous weapon of the war, sinking two British ships and damaging a third. Operated by both sides the missile was used by the Argentine Navy either air launched from Dassault Super Étendard jets and from an improvised land launcher.

Bombs

  • Mk. 82 General Purpose Bomb (A-4Q Skyhawk)
  • 1,000 lb General-Purpose Bomb (A-4B/C Skyhawk, IAI Dagger, Canberra B.62)
  • 250kg Expal BR/BRP General-Purpose Bomb (A-4B/C Skyhawk, IAI Dagger)
  • 125kg PG (FMA IA 58A Pucará)
  • Napalm (FMA IA 58A Pucará)

United Kingdom

See also: British air services in the Falklands War
  • 100 years of the RAF MOD 45163716

    Harriers, Sea Harriers and a Sea King helicopter on the deck of the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes.

  • Vulcan bomber 18 May 1982

    Vulcan bomber making an approach to land at Ascension Island.

  • Scout with SS.11s

    Westland Scout fitted with Nord SS.11 missiles.

  • HMS Invincible 1980 - 2000 SFPU-N-1084A-6

    A Sea King helicopter lands a payload on the deck of HMS Invincible.

  • Bristol at Ascension 2

    A Chinook helicopter delivers supplies to HMS Bristol near Ascension Island.

  • Wessex 1982

    A Westland Wessex helicopter delivering supplies at Ascension Island.

  • Sea King Helicopter- Photographs by Official Photographers. FKD2595

    A Westland Sea King HAS.4 helicopter with the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes in the background.

  • 100 years of the RAF MOD 45163707

    Harrier GR.3 undergoing an engine change in the hangar deck on HMS Hermes. A Fleet Air Arm Lynx is visible at the rear of the hangar.

  • HMS Exeter, seen from the HMS Cardiff (June 1982, after the Falklands War)

    View of HMS Exeter from HMS Cardiff approaching Ascension Island, returning from the Falklands. Two Westland Lynx and a Westland Wasp are visible.

  • GADA-Sea Harrier-2

    Wreckage of Sea Harrier XZ450, piloted by Lt. Nick Taylor, destroyed by AA fire. XZ450 made the Sea Harrier's maiden flight on 20 August 1978.

Combat

Bomber

Maritime Patrol

Reconnaissance

Tanker

Transport

Helicopters

Armament

Guns and cannons

  • L44A1 GPMG (Scout, Lynx, Sea King, Wasp)
  • M60 machine gun (Chinook)
  • 30×111mm ADEN cannon (Harrier, Sea Harrier)
  • M134 Minigun (Chinook)

Rockets

  • SNEB (Harrier, Sea Harrier, Gazelle)

Air-to-air missiles

Air-to-surface missiles

  • AGM-45 Shrike (Vulcan)
  • BAe Sea Skua (Lynx) - A light anti-ship missile, fired from Lynx helicopters, its warhead is only 20 kg compared with the Exocet's 165 kg. However, hits from three Sea Skua missiles badly damaged the Argentine tug ARA Alferez Sobral.
  • Nord SS.11 (Scout)
  • Nord AS.12 (Wasp, Wessex) - A French light anti-ship missile, fired from Westland Wasp helicopters. Like the Sea Skua, its small 28 kg warhead meant that it could not destroy ships outright; however, it could disable smaller vessels. On 25 April 1982 it contributed towards damaging and disabling the Argentine Submarine the ARA Santa Fe. A total of nine missiles were fired at the submarine trapped on the surface by anti-submarine torpedoes circling just under the hull. Of the missiles fired four hit, four missed and one failed to launch. Two of the missiles that hit the target failed to detonate on impact, instead punching a hole through the slender conning tower and exploding on the far side.

Bombs

  • GBU-48 Enhanced Paveway II (Harrier)
  • BL755 (Sea Harrier, Nimrod)
  • 1,000 lb General-Purpose Bomb (Vulcan, Harrier, Sea Harrier)

Torpedoes and Depth Charges

  • Mk. 46 torpedo (Nimrod, Sea King, Wasp)
  • Mk. 11 depth charge (Nimrod, Sea King)

Ships

Argentina

See also: Argentine naval forces in the Falklands War

Argentine Navy

Submarines
  • Balao-class submarine (ARA Santa Fe)
  • Type 209 submarine (ARA San Luis)
Aircraft carriers
  • 1942 Design Royal Navy Light Fleet Carrier [Colossus-class] (ARA Veinticinco de Mayo)
Amphibious warfare ships
  • ARA Cabo San Antonio
Cruisers
Destroyers
  • Gearing-class destroyer (ARA Comodoro Py)
  • Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer (ARA Comodoro Seguí, ARA Hipólito Bouchard, ARA Piedrabuena)
  • Type 42 destroyer (ARA Santísima Trinidad, ARA Hércules)
Corvettes
  • Drummond-class corvette (ARA Drummond, ARA Guerrico, ARA Granville)
Tugboats
  • Sotoyomo-class tugboat (ARA Alferez Sobral, ARA Comodoro Somellera)
  • Abnaki-class tugboat (ARA Francisco de Gurruchaga)
Auxiliary ships

Argentine Coast Guard

Patrol vessels
  • Z-28 naval patrol craft (GC Islas Malvinas, GC Río Iguazú)

Merchant vessels

  • Formosa
  • Río Carcarañá
  • Yehuín
  • Río Cincel
  • Mar del Norte
  • Lago Argentino
  • Puerto Rosales
  • Narwal
  • María Alejandra
  • Constanza
  • Invierno
  • Capitán Canepa
  • María Luisa
  • Usurbil
  • Mar Azul
  • Río de la Plata II

Falkland Islands Company ships seized by the Argentine Navy

  • Forrest
  • Monsunen
  • Penelope

United Kingdom

  • HMS Broadsword and Hermes, 1982 (IWM)

    HMS Broadsword alongside HMS Hermes on the 1st of April 1982.

  • HMS Invincible Returns From Falklands War

    HMS Invincible returns to Portsmouth following the end of hostilities. Lined up on deck are Sea King helicopters from 820 Naval Air Squadron and Sea Harrier aircraft from 800 Naval Air Squadron.

  • HMS Fearless, San Carlos, 1982

    HMS Fearless in San Carlos Water.

  • HMS Bristol storing at Ascension Island 1982

    HMS Bristol taking on supplies at Ascension Island.

  • HMS Glamorgan (11533801865)

    The damage to the aft superstructure and hangar of HMS Glamorgan was caused by a direct hit from an Exocet missile.

  • Lt Gavazzi's F4 attacking HMS Glasgow - Argentinean A4 SkyHawk Attack on HMS Brilliant and HMS Glasgow 12 May 1982

    Argentinean A-4 Skyhawk on an attack run towards HMS Glasgow, taken from the flight deck of HMS Brilliant.

  • HMS Avenger, Bristol group 1982

    HMS Avenger as part of the Bristol Group.

  • SS Canberra & HMS Andromeda Falklands 1982

    SS Canberra and HMS Andromeda in the vicinity of Port Stanley.

  • HMS Yarmouth F101

    HMS Yarmouth underway on the 5th of June 1982. Her unofficial nickname was "The Crazy Y".

  • HMS-Endurance-MDQ-1982

    HMS Endurance at Mar Del Plata Naval Base in Argentina, just weeks prior to the start of hostilities.

  • HMS Hecla 1982 Gibraltar

    HMS Hecla in Gibraltar after conversion to an ambulance ship.

  • RFA Olna (A123) refueling frigates 1982

    RFA Olna refueling frigates.

  • RFA Sir Lancelot.San Carlos Water.1982

    RFA Sir Lancelot in San Carlos Water.

  • Galahad82

    RFA Sir Galahad heading south.

  • RFA Pearleaf (41327350552)

    RFA Pearleaf in Portsmouth following the end of hostilities.

  • RFA Tidepool in Total Exclusion Zone, May 1982

    RFA Tidepool in the Total Exclusion Zone.

  • RFA Sir Tristram & MV Dan Lifter late 1982

    The damaged RFA Sir Tristram being transported home by the heavy-lift ship MV Dan Lifter.

  • RMAS Typhoon

    RMAS Typhoon in Port Stanley.

  • QE2colour

    MV Queen Elizabeth 2 shortly after her return from service in the Falklands.

  • "Canberra" - San Carlos, 1982

    SS Canberra in San Carlos Water.

  • MV Norland Falkland Islands

    MV Norland repatriating troops at the end of hostilities.

  • Atlantic Conveyor (colorized)

    SS Atlantic Conveyor approaching the Falkland Islands. A Wessex helicopter can be seen on her bow landing pad.

  • MV Stena Seaspread (11653272595)

    MV Stena Seaspread in Portsmouth at the end of hostilities.

  • Landing craft (26762912787)

    Landing craft from HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid.

  • HMS Cardiff Sea Dart Launcher

    Spent Sea Dart launcher on HMS Cardiff.

  • Aftermath Cardiff NGS

    The 4.5-inch Mark 8 naval gun on HMS Cardiff, along with spent shell casings after a nighttime naval gunfire support mission.

Royal Navy

Submarines
  • Swiftsure-class submarine (HMS Spartan, HMS Splendid)
  • Churchill-class submarine (HMS Conqueror, HMS Courageous)
  • Valiant-class submarine (HMS Valiant)
  • Oberon-class submarine (HMS Onyx')
Aircraft carriers
  • Centaur-class aircraft carrier (HMS Hermes)
  • Invincible-class aircraft carrier (HMS Invincible')
Amphibious warfare ships
  • Fearless-class landing platform dock (HMS Fearless, HMS Intrepid)
Destroyers
Frigates
  • Type 22 frigate (HMS Brilliant, HMS Broadsword)
  • Type 21 frigate (HMS Active, HMS Alacrity, HMS Antelope, HMS Ardent, HMS Ambuscade, HMS Avenger, HMS Arrow)
  • Leander-class frigate (HMS Andromeda, HMS Argonaut, HMS Minerva, HMS Penelope)
  • Rothesay-class frigate (HMS Yarmouth, HMS Plymouth')
Offshore patrol vessels
  • Castle-class patrol vessel (HMS Leeds Castle, HMS Dumbarton Castle)
Ice patrol vessels
Ambulance ships
  • Hecla-class survey vessel (HMS Hecla, HMS Herald, HMS Hydra)
Mine countermeasures vessels
  • HMS Cordella
  • HMS Farnella
  • HMS Junella
  • HMS Northella
  • HMS Pict
Patrol vessels
  • HMS Tiger Bay (Captured GC Islas Malvinas)

Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Tankers
  • Rover-class replenishment tanker (RFA Blue Rover)
  • Ol-class replenishment tanker (RFA Olna, RFA Olmeda)
  • Leaf-class replenishment tanker (RFA Appleleaf, RFA Brambleleaf, RFA Bayleaf, RFA Plumleaf, RFA Pearleaf)
  • Tide-class replenishment tanker (RFA Tidespring, RFA Tidepool)
Amphibious warfare ships
  • Round Table-class landing ship logistics (RFA Sir Bedivere, RFA Sir Galahad, RFA Sir Geraint, , RFA Sir Lancelot, , RFA Sir Percivale, RFA Sir Tristram')
Supply ships
  • Regent-class supply ship (RFA Regent, RFA Resource)
  • Fort-class replenishment ship (RFA Fort Rosalie, RFA Fort Austin)
  • Ness-class combat stores ship (RFA Stromness)
Naval aviation support ships
  • RFA Engadine

Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service

Tugboats
  • RMAS Typhoon
  • RMAS Goosander

British Merchant Navy

Ocean liners and cruise ships
Roll-on-roll-off ferries
  • Elk
  • Baltic Ferry
  • Europic Ferry
  • Nordic Ferry
  • Norland
  • Rangatira
  • St Edmund
  • Tor Caledonia
Container ships
Freighters
  • Avelona Star
  • Geestport
  • Laertes
  • Lycaon
  • Saxonia
  • Strathewe
  • St Helena
Tankers
  • Alvega
  • Anco Charger
  • Balder London
  • British Avon
  • British Dart
  • British Esk
  • British Tamar
  • British Tay
  • British Test
  • British Trent
  • British Wye
  • Eburna
  • Fort Toronto
  • G.A.Walker
  • Scottish Eagle
Tugboats, repair and support ships
  • British Enterprise III
  • Dan Lifter
  • Iris
  • Irishman
  • Salvageman
  • Stena Inspector
  • Stena Seaspread
  • Wimpey Seahorse
  • Yorkshireman

Royal Marines

  • Landing Craft Utility Mk.9
  • Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel Mk.2
  • Rigid Raider

British Army

  • Mexeflote
  • Gemini boat

Falkland Islands Company

  • Forrest
  • Monsunen
  • Penelope
  • John Biscoe

Anti-air

Argentina

Anti-aircraft guns

Argentine forces deployed a substantial number of anti-aircraft guns around Stanley and Goose Green airfields.

  • 40mm Bofors Automatic Gun L/60
  • 35mm Oerlikon GDF
  • 30mm Hispano Suiza
  • 20mm Rheinmetall Mk 20 Rh-202

Naval surface-to-air missiles

  • Sea Dart - British naval medium-range surface-to-air missile. It proved unable to engage low-altitude targets, such as Argentine A4 Skyhawk aircraft and Exocet missiles. However, it did achieve several long-range kills.
  • Sea Cat

Land-based surface-to-air missiles

  • Roland - Argentine forces deployed a single launcher to defend Stanley airport; it succeeded in shooting down one Sea Harrier (XZ456) on 1 June 1982 above 10,000 feet (3000 m). The presence of the launcher forced British aircraft to operate above its envelope – typically at 18,000 feet (5,500 m) which severely reduced the accuracy of bombs dropped on the airport. The single Roland unit was later shipped back to Britain for analysis and testing.
  • Tiger Cat - Argentine land forces had a total of 7 Tigercat missile launchers (Ex RAF); there were several near misses, and possibly one Sea Harrier had its engine damaged by shrapnel from one of the missiles.

United Kingdom

Naval surface-to-air missiles

  • Sea Dart - British naval medium-range surface-to-air missile. It proved unable to engage low-altitude targets, such as Argentine A4 Skyhawk aircraft and Exocet missiles. However, it did achieve several long-range kills.
  • Sea Wolf - British naval short-range low-altitude surface-to-air missile, used to complement the longer-range Sea Dart. It proved capable of engaging low-flying aircraft.
  • Sea Cat
  • Sea Slug - Long range, high altitude anti-aircraft missile system of the 1950s, was not used against aircraft but for bombardment of positions near Port Stanley by the Royal Navy ships equipped with it.

Land-based surface-to-air missiles

  • Rapier - British surface-to-air missile developed for the British Army to replace their towed Bofors 40/L70 anti-aircraft guns. Its presence acted as a deterrent, especially after the deployment of Blind Fire systems around Port San Carlos.
  • Tiger Cat

Anti-ship

Argentina

Land-based surface-to-surface missiles

  • Aérospatiale AM.39 Exocet (improvised)

Electronic warfare and communications

Argentina

  • AN/TPS-43
  • AN/TPS-44
  • Skyguard
  • Super Fledermaus
  • RASIT

United Kingdom

  • Blindfire
  • Clansman

Artillery and mortars

Argentina

Artillery

  • CITER 155 mm L33 gun
  • OTO Melara Mod 56

Mortars

  • FM 81mm mortar
  • FM 120mm mortar

United Kingdom

Artillery

Mortars

  • L16 81mm mortar

Vehicles

Argentina

United Kingdom

  • FV101 Scorpion
  • FV106 Samson
  • FV107 Scimitar
  • Centurion BARV
  • Bandvagn 202
  • Land Rover 101 Forward Control
  • Land Rover 101 Forward Control Ambulance
  • Land Rover Series IIA
  • Land Rover Series III ((88 and 109 inch)
  • Land Rover Series III Ambulance
  • Bedford MK
  • Eager Beaver Air Portable Fork Lift Truck
  • Can-Am Bombardier Motorcycle
  • Muir-Hill Loader
  • Leyland 4-tonne truck
  • Alvis Stalwart

Infantry weapons

Argentina

Pistols

  • Browning Hi-Power
  • M1911A1 pistol
  • Colt Argentine Model 1927
  • Ballester–Molina

Submachine guns

  • P.A.M. 1
  • P.A.M. 2
  • FMK-3
  • Halcón ML-63
  • Uzi
  • L34A1 Sterling (Suppressed)

Rifles

  • FN FAL 50.61
  • Beretta BM-59E
  • M14 rifle
  • M16A1 rifle
  • CAR-15
  • Mauser Modelo Argentino 1909

Machine guns

Anti-tank

Anti-air

  • 9K32 Strela-2 (SA-7 Grail)
  • Blowpipe

Grenades

  • FMK-2
Anti-personnel mines
  • FMK-1
  • SB-33
  • No. 4
  • P4B
Anti-tank mines
  • C3B
  • FMK-3
  • M1 mine
  • M1
  • No. 6
  • SB-81

United Kingdom

Pistols

  • L9A1 Browning
  • L47A1 Walther

Submachine guns

  • L34A1 Sterling (Suppressed)
  • L2A3 Sterling
  • L92A1 HK

Rifles

  • L1A1 SLR
  • M16A1 rifle
  • Colt CAR-15 Commando
  • L42A1 sniper rifle
  • Parker-Hale M82
  • L74A1 Remington

Machine guns

Grenade launchers

  • M203 grenade launcher
  • M79 grenade launcher

Anti-tank

Anti-air

  • FIM-92 Stinger
  • Blowpipe
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