Yet Another Falklands Flare Up
- Thread starter imperialman
- Start date
Phrossack
Armored Fish and Armored Men
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2008
- Messages
- 6,045
Beat me to it. Some South African mercs actually tried that in '04 but failed. What's interesting is that it had huge reserves of gold, a booming oil business, and virtually no defenses; there was only a small bodyguard that wasn't issued with ammunition for fear of coups.
Also, a Frenchman by the name of Bob Denard apparently took over the Seychelles once or twice. He was apparently fairly popular for overthrowing the previous tyrant, and converted to Islam and married a few local women as well before being forced out by French forces.
History_Buff
Deity
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2001
- Messages
- 6,529
Yeah, I was about to bring up the whole Equatorial Guinea coup attempt. While it failed, it failed in spite of how unprepared EG was to defeat it; instead the countries in between snapped them up.
If anyone is looking for a good read, I highly recommend My Friend The Mercenary. About a British journalist who traveled illegally into Liberia with rebel forces during it's civil war, escorted by a guy named Nick du Toit, who was a fairly big name in Apartheid South Africa, and deeply involved in the coup attempt in EG.
If anyone is looking for a good read, I highly recommend My Friend The Mercenary. About a British journalist who traveled illegally into Liberia with rebel forces during it's civil war, escorted by a guy named Nick du Toit, who was a fairly big name in Apartheid South Africa, and deeply involved in the coup attempt in EG.
NedimNapoleon
Weird Little Human
I've recently read the dictator of EG wants to move the capital inland. The capital is on an island now, any sane person would realize its an easier place to defend against mercs and coups, but he wants to move it deep into the mainland part of EG into the jungle yet really close to the border of Gabon and Cameroon. So hes making it easier for mercs and arms to get smuggled in.
Phrossack
Armored Fish and Armored Men
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2008
- Messages
- 6,045
I'll have to read that. I read Al J. Ventner's War Dogs: Fighting Other People's Wars: The Modern Mercenary in Combat. Interesting account of a journalist following a variety of mercs, often into combat.
imperialman
Admiral
From http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...are-new-plans-to-defend-Falkland-Islands.html
"A series of military options are being actively considered as the war of words over the islands intensifies.
It is understood that additional troops, another warship and extra RAF Typhoon combat aircraft could be dispatched to the region ahead of the March referendum on the Falkland Islands’ future.
The options being proposed by planners at the Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood, north-west London are also said to include a “show of force” such as conducting naval exercises in the South Atlantic."
"A series of military options are being actively considered as the war of words over the islands intensifies.
It is understood that additional troops, another warship and extra RAF Typhoon combat aircraft could be dispatched to the region ahead of the March referendum on the Falkland Islands’ future.
The options being proposed by planners at the Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood, north-west London are also said to include a “show of force” such as conducting naval exercises in the South Atlantic."
Gen.Mannerheim
Grand Moff
Wow, looking at the article's comparison of the British military then and now, while I knew the army had shrunk by about 1/3, I had no idea that they had cheapened out on their navy soooooooo bad. Britain whats to still be considered a world power and a major NATO partner, not with 9 subs your not lol!
Thorgalaeg
Deity
But having in mind that Argentinian planes are literally the same ones since 1982 the difference between both powers is in fact larger. Probably a single Typhoon could keep the whole Argentinian air force at bay.
I do hope the Argentines have replaced their Pucarás - we shot those down with our rifles last time!
They gave us considerable logistical support last time - not least the use of Ascension Island, which was leased to them at the time - and offered to let us use a carrier, which was politely declined as being impossible to integrate into the British Task Force, as well as rather embarassing.
They gave us considerable logistical support last time - not least the use of Ascension Island, which was leased to them at the time - and offered to let us use a carrier, which was politely declined as being impossible to integrate into the British Task Force, as well as rather embarassing.
hobbsyoyo
Deity
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2012
- Messages
- 26,575
Am I the only one who thinks that if Argentina were to start another war* the US would be willing to go to war with the UK?
Not that the UK would need or even accept an open declaration of war by the US, but I would seriously expect for them to be offered and to accept logistical support from the US at the very least. After Iraq and Afghanistan, I think we'd be obligated to help. Plus, Obama has this warmonger reputation from the far-left to earn.
*I do not think a war is remotely likely.
Not that the UK would need or even accept an open declaration of war by the US, but I would seriously expect for them to be offered and to accept logistical support from the US at the very least. After Iraq and Afghanistan, I think we'd be obligated to help. Plus, Obama has this warmonger reputation from the far-left to earn.
*I do not think a war is remotely likely.
Gen.Mannerheim
Grand Moff
Regan did all but officially support your claim in the 80's. While Obama had carried on the Bush tradition of close cooperation with the British (which was kinda lacking with Clinton), I don't know if he would risk U.S. standing in Latin America by obviously supporting the British with logistics and intel. Britain should try and get NATO coverage to extend over the entire globe, not just the Northern Hemisphere. The Falklands Question would magically disappear if Argentina had to face 705 of the worlds military spending.
Personally I think we should play hardball with Latin America, because their anti-American socialists government (except for Columbia) are economically held up by U.S. capitol and really lax lending oversight. Without the U.S., the Latin economies would be worth Bananas (
see what I did there).
Borachio
Way past lunacy
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2012
- Messages
- 26,698
Now, Sark I like. Not a motor car on the entire island. There's civilization for you.
Quackers
The Frog
I'm inclined to agree with you Mr B. I saw some pictures of my old village I used to live in circa 1900. The difference without the motor car is stark, you can see what the original builders sought to create; it made so much more sense in terms of aesthetics and functionality. Nowadays, with the inclusion of the motor car everything is uglier, noisier, smellier - it's very unpleasant. Especially my old High Street, it had cars zooming down it every minute, every single day.
Obviously there are some massive drawbacks of a car less society. And I imagine some people think a more pleasing enviroment is a poor excuse for "more civilised".
Obviously there are some massive drawbacks of a car less society. And I imagine some people think a more pleasing enviroment is a poor excuse for "more civilised".
imperialman
Admiral
The figures are all near enough wrong. Here are more accurate figures.
Armed Forces personnel:220,350
Ships: 1 Carrier, 14 Nuclear Submarines, 6 Destroyers, 13 Frigates, 1 Helicopter Carriers, 2 Assault/Command Ships, 9 RFA Landing Ships, 4 Survey ships, 2 Ice Patrol Ships, 22 Patrol vessels, 15 Minehunters, 10 Royal Fleet Auxiliary support ships.
Naval Fighter Aircraft: 0
Total Fighter Aircraft: 210
Defence reporting in this country is truly awful.
Keep in mind the two Queen Elizabeth class large carriers being constructed which will fly a maximum of 40-60 F-35B's per ship.
Bear in mind, also, that each one of the Type 45s has the same capability as an entire squadron of the destroyers that we took to the Falklands.
imperialman
Admiral
That's true, it's got missiles than the Argentines do deployable combat aircraft.
imperialman
Admiral
Indeed and this time around our SSN's have the ability to launch cruise missiles, rendering Argentine air bases open to attack.
