From: Glen Closson (glen_closson@earthlink.net)
Date: Sat May 27 2006 - 20:12:46 PDT
I remember when this happened. There was considerable discussion about the design of the HMS Sheffield (one of the ships hit by the Exocets). As I recall, the Sheffield had a relativity thin aluminum hull and had their Phalanx Close-In Weapons System turned off.
Interestingly enough, in an unrelated conflict, the USS Stark was hit by a Exocet. The Stark also had its Phalanx turned off.
Glen
-----Original Message-----
>From: Jim Webster <james.webster@iomartdsl.com>
>Sent: May 27, 2006 2:54 AM
>To: Military Vehicles Mailing List <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
>Subject: Re: [MV] Flying military vehicles
>
>Steve & Jeanne Keith wrote:
>> The US made Skyhawks kicked the sheet out of the Brits. The
>> Brit commander stated that if 1/2 of the bombs that had hit his
>> ships had gone off, he would have had to withdraw his forces!
>
>I severely doubt the US Navy would have done any better with the
>resources that we had available. Anyway the Skyhawk losses were very
>high - they lost 22 of 46 aircraft. Incredibly brave pilots flying
>through the hail of fire between the ships. I remember watching them
>from the 'Great White Whale' trying to skip the bombs into the sides of
>the ships and all I could think was 'omigod' endlessly. Once a Seawolf
>locked onto them they had virtually had it though...
>
>You also have to remember that we sank/damaged a lot of Argentinian
>ships as well..
>
>> The Argentine pilots were atacking soo low that many of the bombs
>> failed to arm.
>
>You ain't kidding - seven ships hit by UXB's.
>
>> The Mirage's could launch the Exocet missiles at the max range
>> of the Harriers so that Harriers could not protect the ship adequately
>> because they could not stay on station to intercept the Mirages
>> before they launched the Exocets.
>
>They did launch them at maximum range - that is why they only got two
>hits. The third Exocet hit was from a land based launch.
>
>--
>TTFN
>Jim
>
>
>'Interdum feror cupidine partium magnarum Europae vicendarum!'
>
>
Regards,
Glen
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