Falklands nuclear admission

[Khephra]

British warships during the Falklands War in 1982 carried nuclear depth charges, it has emerged.

But the weapons never entered the territorial waters of any Latin American nation,according to the Ministry of Defence.

A spokesman said: "The weapons were type WE177 nuclear depth charges. They were on the task force when it sailed south but never entered the territorial waters of the Falkland Islands or any South American country.

"The decision was taken to transfer them to other ships heading back home."

more..........

http://www.itv.com/news/1025568.html

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

1. I can't help wondering if this is what Hilda Murrell found out ...? nt

[akitamata]

2. "The decision was taken to transfer them to other ships heading back home.

I imagine Exocet missiles would likely have caused a major maritime tragedy for Britannia had one hit a nuclear mine laden warship. War remains the fool's choice in a world of small minded leaders.

[colorado_ufo]

4. Well said, akitamata!

[donsu]

3. I didn't know there were 'nuclear depth charges'

jeez

[Swede]

5. There's also nuclear artillery shells, nuclear mines

and so-called backpack nukes. Yep,they got just about anything a warmonger could want.

[donsu]

6. these I knew about but not the depth charges

nt

[mobuto]

9. My favorite were the nuclear surface-to-air missiles

to take out entire Soviet bomber fleets over Alaska at once.

I think in the fifties and early sixties, somebody would have put a nuke in a pistol round if only they could have made it small enough.

[Flightful]

22. Canada had them

The Bomarc was nuclear-tipped because it couldn't hit the proverbial barn door. They were rendered obsolete by more accurate missiles.

[NickB79]

15. Don't forget the nuclear bazooka

http://www.3ad.us/history/cold.war/nukes.pages/davy.crockett.htm

Is it just me, or was the past generation crazy about nukes?

[Muddleoftheroad]

16. LOL

OK, who wants to be the guy who gets to FIRE the nuclear bazooka?

I mean, what range can that sucker have?

[LibLabUK]

20. Hmm

"I mean, what range can that sucker have?"

Hehe...

Although, if you read some of the tales of the Victoria Cross winners (and I'm sure the Medal of Honour winners) you'd find men willing to undertake such tasks if necessary.

[Muddleoftheroad]

21. Of course, in the heat of battle

But it can't be too popular.

[Flightful]

23. Yep

During one battle in Korea, a Canadian unit called down artillery on their own position when they were over-run by the Chinese.

[DemoTex]

7. UK and Argentina fighting over the Falkland Islands ...

Some wag observed that it was like two bald men fighting over a comb.

[LibLabUK]

8. Hmmm

Not to the Falkland Islanders who didn't appreciate having their home invaded by a military dictatorship.

[mobuto]

11. Falkland Islanders?

They don't exist. The islands didn't have any permanent residents, only farmers paid by the Falkland Islands company to go down and work there in shifts.

The Falklands/Malvinas war was so incredibly stupid, precisely because the islands are so worthless. Both the Argentines and Maggie decided to fight to boost their respective political standings at home, and both sides thought the other would quickly back down.

And if it hadn't been for a few strokes of incredible luck on the part of the Brits, thousands of English sailors would have died.

[LibLabUK]

12. Hmm

The islands didn't have any permanent residents, only farmers paid by the Falkland Islands company to go down and work there in shifts.

Are you certain about that?

According to the Falkland Islands tourist board they have a permanent population with roots back to the 19th Century. http://www.tourism.org.fk/people.htm

[Muddleoftheroad]

13. An important point

That is lost on many is the right to not just the islands but the territory around them as well. In an area where ocean mining, ocean drilling, etc. are important, that area is a major UK resource.

[tinnypriv]

14. They invaded, we kicked them out

Damn fucking right I say.

[LibLabUK]

17. Hmm

No, no.

When a foriegn military invades your territory you're supposed to shrug and say "C'est la vie"...

Someone should tell the Iraqis.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

29. There were / are around 1800 Falkland Islanders, I believe

mostly of Welsh descent. What they were doing there in the first place is the real question. The Falklands were of strategic importance in the days of empire as a refuelling station for the fleet. One theory as to why the British keep them now is that they happen to sit on substantial oil reserves, which would explain Argentina's strategic interest. Of course, to the Argentines it's a romantic nationalist dream that's very useful to a junta in trouble domestically.
The war should of course never have been fought, but the British believed that to show weakness over the Falklands was to pretty much invite Spain to take Gibraltar, and as with the Argentinian Junta it was a convenient distraction from domestic troubles. Men like Simon Weston paid dearly for this fool's game.

[tinnypriv]

30. Now now, no need to bring the French into this

:D :thumbsup:

[Flightful]

24. One positive from it

Losing the war pretty much trashed that dictator's career.

[mobuto]

26. What do you mean? Maggie served for a whole bunch more years

Oh, you mean that dictator...

Galtieri.

;-)

[Media_Lies_Daily]

10. Not any different from one of the many types of nuclear weapons...

...carried aboard U.S. aircraft carriers at all times.

Nuclear depth charges are not new to the world of nuclear weaponry...we've had them for quite some time.

[oneighty]

25. Betty and Lulu

Fifties.

180

[LiberalTexan]

18. Wow

Britain playing dirty while invading and seizing an area that wasn't theirs to begin with.....I'm totally shocked!

I can barely take the news that Kissinger was involved in a right wing conspiracy and now THIS!

(sarcasm off)

[LibLabUK]

19. Hmm

"Britain playing dirty"

Where's the dirty play?

Having nuclear weapons onboard a ship is somehow an unfair advantage even if you don't use them and nobody knows about them?

I'm sure the Argentinians knew that Britain had its own nuclear deterrent, and yet they still decided to invade.

"seizing an area that wasn't theirs to begin with"

The Argentinians only want the FIs because there may be oil in the seas around them.

[TexasMexican]

27. I heard on the History Channel...

that the UK was seriously considering handing over the Falklands to Argentina in that time period, because there wasnt much of value there, but because of the war and the people who died over it that its unlikely that it would every happen now.

[muriel_volestrangler]

28. Today the Falklands economy is OK

Fishing licences (mainly squid) bring in $40 million a year, which for a population of about 3000 isn't bad. Excluding the cost of keeping the military there, it could be independent.

[rjbcar27]

31. So what? What a non-story.

Big hairy fucking deal. None was used so where's the harm?