Aircraft Used in Falklands War

Except for the Pucara, all the aircraft used in the Falklands War were developed and manufactured by NATO countries during the Cold War years. They were fighters, interceptors, ground-attack, and transport aircraft as well as bombers. All of them were subsonic, except for the Argentinean-operated Mirage III and Super Etendard. No attack helicopter gunships were employed in this armed conflict. Most of Argentinean combat aircraft, flew blind, without advanced radar system and high-tech sensors.

British Aircraft

Sea Harrier. They were the Royal Navy's carrier-based combat aircraft, which could perform short take-off and vertical landing. The Sea Harrier FRS.1 and GR.3 versions were used in the Falklands War and both of them could carry out dog-fighting and ground attack missions. For the fighter/interception role, they were armed with AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and two 30-mm guns. To attack objectives on the ground, it carried conventional free-falling bombs. Maximum speed: 665 miles per hour (1,075 km/h).

Below, two Sea Harriers about to land on a British carrier in the Atlantic.

Vulcan. This was a delta-winged jet bomber manufactured by Avro. Since it could not take off from an aircraft-carrier, it took off from the Ascension Island and it had to be refueled in flight in order to carry out its high-altitude bombing mission. Only blind conventional bombs were employed; thus, the problem was lack of accuracy.

Hercules C-130. This was the only transport plane utilized by the Royal Air Force and, like the Vulcan, it had to be refueled in mid air.

Sea King. It was transport helicopter, but the Sea King HAS.2 version was employed in the anti-submarine warfare role as it was fitted with a Thorn-EMI search water AEW radar.

Lynx. Built by Westland, this helicopter was also carrier-borne. It was used as an anti-ship and anti-submarine aircraft as it was armed with powerful Sea Skua missiles.

Argentinean Aircraft

A-4 Skyhawk. Designed in the mid 1950s by Douglas and employed in the Vietnam War, it was the main combat aircraft used by the Argentineans in this armed conflict. Both the Air Force and Navy employed it to attack both transport ships and ground troops. This delta-winged aircraft was very maneuverable and its performance flying at low levels was excellent. Flying blind, without adequate radar systems, the Skyhawks sank the HMS Coventry, HMS Antelope, and Sir Galahad, a destroyer, frigate and transport ship respectively, using conventional bombs. It also inflicted serious damage on the Glasgow and Argonaut frigates.

Below, the historical A-4 Skyhawk aircraft in service with the Argentinean Air Force and Navy.

Super Etendard. Made in France by Dassault, it was a very effective fighter-bomber, especially when it was armed with AM-39 Exocet missiles, which sank the British destroyer HMS Sheffield and the merchant ship Atlantic Conveyor.

Five Super Etendards flying over Patagonia

 

Mirage III. Also developed in France by Dassault and exported to several nations, it saw combat action in the Falklands War only once, with one Mirage being shot down by an AIM-9 Sidewinders missile fired by a Sea Harrier.

Below, the French-made Mirage III, which had been acquired by many Third World countries during the Cold War.

FMA IA 58 Pucara. Entirely designed and made in Argentina, it was an excellent fire support and ground attack aircraft, even though it was rather slow. However, the six Pucara aircraft stationed on the islands were destroyed by SAS troops during a night incursion with demolition explosives. They could have been a nightmare for the Royal Marines.

Hercules C-130. It was the only transport plane employed by the Argentinean Army and Air Force during this armed strife.

UH-1 Huey. Massively used in Vietnam, it was a utility helicopter used by both the Army and Air Force. Almost all of the Hueys employed on the islands were destroyed by the Royal Navy's Harriers.

CH-47 Chinook. A troop transport helicopter employed by the Argentinean Army and Gerdarmeria Argentina.

Condor Legion

The Condor Legion was a large German military unit, which was created by the Third Reich in 1936 to fight in Spain during the Spanish Civil War. Their mission was to provide combat and fire support to General Francisco Franco's forces fighting against the Stalin-backed socialist government. Although it was essentially a military aircraft unit of the Luftwaffe, it also included ground troops and armored vehicles, using the Wehrmacht's field weapons. Some of the armament had newly been designed and manufactured as this armed conflict would be an opportunity to test them.

The first military unit of the Condor Legion was the Luftwaffe Sonderstab 'Wildberg', which carried out their first mission from July 28 to August 10, 1936. They conducted Unternehmen Feurzauber (Operation Magic Fire) from July 28 to August 10, 1936. This was a troop transport operation as they had to air ferry General Francisco Franco's army from North Africa (Spanish Morocco) to Spain, where they would join the other Spanish rebels. To transport the Spanish troops, the Germans employed the Junkers Ju 52. This reliable three-engine cargo plane had been in service since 1931. Meanwhile, the first fighter aircraft employed by the Germans in Spain was the Heinkel He 51, which was a very maneuverable biplane. By mid 1937, the most effective bomber of the Condor Legion would be introduced; it was the Junkers Ju 87, which was a dive bomber, an important fire support weapon of the Franco's Nationalist Army. At the beginning of 1938, the Messerschmitt Bf 109 arrived in Spain, a fast monoplane used in the fighter role.

The German Army's component of the Condor Legion was the armored unit called "Imker", whose men were equipped with Panzer I, II, and III as well as with anti-tank guns and other infantry weapons. This unit was called sometimes Panzergruppe 88. A large group of German military instructors went to Spain alongside this unit to give the Franco's soldier combat instructions and German armament operation lessons. There was also a small German naval component deployed with this German unit in Spain; it was the Gruppe Nordsee.

Commanders

All the Condor Legion's commanders were Luftwaffe's officers. The first commander was General Major Hugo Sperrle, who was replaced in late 1937 by Helmuth Volkmann. While the first chief of staff was Alexander Volle, who was replaced by Wolfram von Richthofen. Hermann Plocher was the last chief of staff until 1939.

Uniforms

Before the Condor Legion was formally and adequately organized and established, German volunteers in Spain wore only civilian clothing. At the beginning, the air crews wore the Lufthansa summer uniform, while the tank crews wore workers overalls. By the end of October 1936, however, the uniforms and rank badges of the Condor Legion had been standardized. They had been designed to allow the Germans to pass unnoticed and blend in with the Nationalist Army's troops. Their pilots wore leather jacket, short cloth jacket, and boots. Tank crews wore uniforms similar to the pilots' but they put on a black cap.

Condor Legion Aircraft

Junkers Ju 52 transport plane

Junkers Ju 87 'Stuka' dive bomber

Heinkel He 51 biplane fighter

Heinkel He 111 bomber

Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter

Below, the Junkers Ju 87s, Stuka, in Spain

 

 

 Below, a very maneuverable biplane fighter: the Heinkel He 51, which was useful in the Spanish Civil War

Condor Legion's ground troops wearing the Nationalist Army's uniform in late 1936.

WW2 Italian Aircraft

Contrary to what most people think, the WW2 Italian aircraft were advanced monoplanes built with reliable engines and fitted with the best armament of the time. Fast and maneuverable, the Italian fighters were superior to the French, Russian, and even to the Japanese fighters, including the Zero. However, they were produced in limited numbers as Italy lacked enough industrial infrastructure to massively produce them, like the Russians, Germans, and Americans did. The Italian Royal Air Force also had excellent bombers, which carried out bombing raids over Greece, in the Mediterranean theater, and North Africa.

List of WW2 Italian Aircraft

Fighters

- Macchi C.205 Veltro. Max speed: 650 km/h (400 mph). Armament: two Mauser MG151 20mm cannons, two Breda SAFAT 12.7mm machine guns. Number built: 262.

- Ambrosini SAI.207. Max speed: 642 km/h (399 mph). Armament: two 20mm cannons, two 12.7mm machine guns. Number built: 14.

- Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario. Max speed: 630 km/h (390 mph). Armament: three Mauser MG151 20mm cannons, two Breda SAFAT 12.7mm machine guns, 160-kg of bombs. Number manufactured: 50.

- Fiat G.55 Centauro. Max speed: 623 km/h (387 mph). Armament: one Mauser MG151 20mm cannon, four Breda SAFAT 12.7mm machine guns. Number produced: 350.

- Macchi C.202 Folgore. Max speed: 600 km (372 mph). Armament: four machine guns (two 12.7mm and two 7.7mm).

- Reggiane Re.2001 Falco II. Max speed:542 km/h (337 mph). Armament: two 12.7mm and two 7.7mm machine guns. Number built: 252.

- Reggiane Re.2000 Falco I. Max speed: 530 km/h (329 mph). Armament: two 12.7mm machine guns. Number produced: 180.

- Macchi C.200 Saetta. Max speed: 504 km/h (313 mph). Armament: two Breda SAFAT 12.7mm machine guns. Number built: 1,153.

- Fiat G.50 Freccia. Max speed: 470 km/ (300 mph). Armament: two 12.7-mm machine guns. Number built: 791. Service: 1938-1945.

- Breda Ba.27. Max speed: 380. Armament: two 12.7mm machine guns. Number built: 14.

- Fiat CR.42 Falco. Fastest biplane of WWII. Max speed: 441 km/h. Armament: four 12.7mm machine guns. Number built: 1,810.

Medium and Heavy Bombers

- IMAM Ro.57. Two engines. Max speed: 501 km/h (311 mph). Two 12.7mm machine guns. Bombload: 300 kg. Number built: 60.

- Piaggio P.108. Four engines. Max speed: 430 km/h. Range: 3,520 km. Bombload: 3,500 kg. Number built: 35.

- Savoia-Marchetti SM.79. Three engines. Max speed: 460 km/h (290 mph). Range: 2,600 km (1,620 miles). Armament: three machine guns. Bombload: 1,200 kg, two 450mm torpedoes. Number pruduced: 1,350.

- CANT Z.1007. Two engines. Max speed: 458 km/h (285 mph) Range: 1,800 km. Armament: four machine guns. Bomb payload: 1,200 kg, or two 800-kg torpedoes. Number built: 660.

- Savoia-Marchetti SM.81. Three engines. Max speed: 347 km/h. Range: 2,000 km (1,240 miles). Bombload: 2,000 kg. Number built: 535.

- Breda Ba.65. It was a single-engine ground-attack aircraft, capable of flying at 430 km/hour, which was fast for a bomber.

- Breda Ba.88. Two engines. Max speed: 490 km/h (304 mph). Range: 1,640 km (1,020 miles). Armament: seven 12.7mm machine guns. Bombload: 1,000 kg. Number built: 149.

- Caproni Ca.135. Two engines. Max speed: 275 km/h. Range: 1,200 km. Bombload: 1,500 kg. Number built: 140.

- Fiat BR.20 Cicogna. Two engines. Max speed: 440 km/h. Bomb payload: 1,600 kg. Number built: 560.

Below, an Italian fighter, the C.205 developed by Macchi. It was one of the fastest of the war.

 
Below, the Savoia Marchetti SM.79, a reliable and flexible medium-sized bomber. It carried out many sorties in the skies over North African and the Mediterranean Sea.

Luftwaffe

The Luftwaffe was the German Air Force during the Third Reich. Unlike the German Army (Heer) and Navy (Kriegsmarine), it was created exclusively by the Nazi government in the 1930s. Since the Treaty of Versailles forbade Germany to have an air force and combat aircraft, the Third Reich disguised the emerging air force under civil sport gliders competitions, which was an excuse to train the future pilots. They would also make use of the Lufthansa airliner aircraft to train military pilots.

This is how the Nationalsocialistische Fliegerkorps, a civil flight group, was created in early 1930s. When Adolf Hitler rose to power in 1933, he incorporated all existing aviation, ballooning and gliding clubs to the Flieggerkorps. Then he appointed Hermann Göring as chief of this organization. Next, he secretly signed contracts with big German aviation firms, such as Junkers, Messerschmitt, Heinkel, Henschel, and Arado. Many World War I ace pilots, such as Ernst Udet and Bruno Lörzer, also joined the Fliegerkorps.

By 1936, three combat aircraft were already part of the arsenal of the Third Reich, the Henschel Hs 123 and Hs 126, and the renowned Junkers Ju-87 Stuka. As they could no longer hide the new force, they officially called the Fliegerkorps "Luftwaffe", with Luft- meaning 'air', and -waffe, 'weapon'. In 1937, a new and more modern fighter would enter service, the Messerschmitt Bf 110, and the Bf 109, a fast and maneuverable fighter would immediately follow suit and become part of the Luftwaffe.

Luftwaffe in Action (Video)