ARmy Rumour SErvice

**chocolate_frog** · 01-06-2009, 20:45

Originally Posted by doc80905

Edited to add - Wiki mentions the wind being the cause of the problems.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARA_Veinticinco_de_Mayo_(V-2)#Falklands_War

The wind was because they'd asked for the receipe for Chips and Gravy :D

**bullet_catcher** · 01-06-2009, 21:25

Originally Posted by chocolate_frog

Had the carrier Mayo de 25th, stayed on the open sea....

I have no doubt HMS Conqueror would have been tasked to turn her in to a submarine Aircraft carrier....

And we woul dhave had to listen to yet more bitching from the Argies aobut "war crimes".

I seem to remember hearing at the time that the steam catapult for that carrier had been sent here for refurbishment, and spent the war lying on the dockside in Leith awaiting collection. I don't know if it's true, but it's a nice story anyway.

**chocolate_frog** · 02-06-2009, 17:03

Originally Posted by bullet_catcher

Originally Posted by chocolate_frog

Had the carrier Mayo de 25th, stayed on the open sea....

I have no doubt HMS Conqueror would have been tasked to turn her in to a submarine Aircraft carrier....

And we woul dhave had to listen to yet more bitching from the Argies aobut "war crimes".

I seem to remember hearing at the time that the steam catapult for that carrier had been sent here for refurbishment, and spent the war lying on the dockside in Leith awaiting collection. I don't know if it's true, but it's a nice story anyway.

I always like the story where the Mercede G wagons that were left on the Islands after the war (when the Argies left) weren't paid for.... so the Argies asked for them back.

Apparently by this point most of hte islanders were cutting about in them, and a fair few had found their way to UK.

Not sure of the accuracy of this tale mind.

**Yokel** · 04-06-2009, 13:00

I seem to remember hearing at the time that the steam catapult for that carrier had been sent here for refurbishment, and spent the war lying on the dockside in Leith awaiting collection. I don't know if it's true, but it's a nice story anyway.

Don't think so, as they had been flying and launching aircraft. Having said that, the steam catapault probably was made by a UK company as we invented them!

The wind was because they'd asked for the receipe for Chips and Gravy

25 de Mayo was an old carrier, orginally built for the RN during WW2. She would have had old catapaults with less power than modern ones. Her problem would have been lack of wind, although presumably she would have gone to full speed which would have helped generate that bit of extra lift. Perhaps it just wasn't enough to launch Skyhawks with a full bombload?

Landing would have been another drama. The USN did a study of pilots during the Vietnamese War, and discovered that a nightime carrier land is more stressful than a dogfight or a low level bombing run! Many have argued that V/STOL type aircraft that stop before landing were in some ways better suited to the harsh weather in the South Atlantic.

**Rodney2q** · 04-06-2009, 13:15

Originally Posted by Yokel

Landing would have been another drama. The USN did a study of pilots during the Vietnamese War, and discovered that a nightime carrier land is more stressful than a dogfight or a low level bombing run! Many have argued that V/STOL type aircraft that stop before landing were in some ways better suited to the harsh weather in the South Atlantic.

I read a book where a navy pilot said that a night carrier landing was the only time you could experience an orgasm, have a near death experience and sh*t yourself all at the same time.

Rodney2q

**Rodney2q** · 04-06-2009, 13:16

Originally Posted by chocolate_frog

I always like the story where the Mercede G wagons that were left on the Islands after the war (when the Argies left) weren't paid for.... so the Argies asked for them back.

Apparently by this point most of hte islanders were cutting about in them, and a fair few had found their way to UK.

Not sure of the accuracy of this tale mind.

1/7th Gurhka Rifles had at least one taken back to Church Crookham - I regularly saw it in the Aldershot area.

:D

Rodney2q

**Yokel** · 04-06-2009, 18:32

Also, the RAF acquired a radar the Argentines left behind. Getting spares was as an issue as Westinghouse, the manufacturer, refused to supply the UK was we hadn't bought the radar. However, the USAF had, and supplied a few spares parts.

**chocolate_frog** · 04-06-2009, 19:27

Didn't an RAF Regt AD Sqn get a load of 40mm or similar AA guns.... from a certain South American country foolish enough to take what didn't belong to them... and get their arrses handed to them on a plate.