British Aircraft in the Falklands


Aerospatiale Gazelle
BAC Canberra PR9
BAC Nimrod
British Aerospace Harrier GR Mk 3
British Aerospace Sea Harrier FRS.1
Boeing-Vertol Chinook
Westland Lynx HAS
Westland Scout
Westland Sea King
Westland Wasp
Westland Wessex



 
 
 

Aerospatiale Gazelle

Three Gazelles were used as a scout during the Falklands War by 656 Squadron Army Air Corps, others were used by Marine commandos. Three were shot down.
Type
Light multirole helicopter
Powerplant
One Turbo Meca Astazou turboshaft
Speed (kmh)
264 clea at Sea level; Cruise 238
Range (km)
360 with a 1,102lb payload
Hovering Ceiling (m)
2,875
Rotor Diameter (m)
10.5
Length (m)
(Fuselage) 9.53m 
Payload (kg):
4000lb slung load, or pylons fitted for a range of ordnance
Bombs etc
See Upto 4000lb, missiles, rockets or guns can be mounted on pylons.
Crew
3

BAC Canberra PR9

A few Canberras operated from Chile in the Falklands Campaign
Type
Photo-reconnaissance aircarft
Powerplant
Two Rolls-Royce Avon 206 turbojets of 11,250lb st
Speed (kmh)
917 at 12192m
Range (km)
4274
Service Ceiling (m)
14630
Wingspan ((m)
19.49
Length (m)
19.96
Crew
3

BAC Nimrod

The R.1 Version of the Nimrod served in the Falklands Campaign, keeping an eye out for Enemy ships in the Total Exclusion Zone
Type
Maritime reconnaissance and strike aircraft
Powerplant
4 12140lb dry thrust Rolls-Royce Spey Mk 250 turbofans
Speed (kmh)
925; Patrol speed 370 on two engines
Range (km)
9662 ferry range on internal fuel only
Service Ceiling (m)
12800
Wingspan ((m)
35 excluding ESM wingtip pods
Wing Area (m2)
197.04
Length (m)
39.34
Bombs etc
Provision for 13500lb of dropped stores in internal bay,including nine torpedoes and undderwing pylons can be fitted with Harpoon Anti-Ship missiles or pairs of Sidewinder AAMs
Crew
11

Boeing-Vertol Chinook

The Chinook would have played a major role in the Falklands if the Argentine forces had not sunk the Atlantic Conveyor which was carrying teh helicopters, only one survived the disaster.
Type
Medium Transport Helicopter
Powerplant
Two Avco Lycoming T55 free-turbine turboshafts
Speed (kmh)
306
Range (km)
185 with 7262lb payload
Hovering Ceiling (m)
14,750ft
Rotor Diameter ((m)
18.29
Main Disc Area (m2)
 
Length (m)
30.18 with Rotors turning. Fuslage 15.54
Guns
Can be fitted to doors, also sponson carried wepaons are avilabel but rarely used.
Payload
44 troops, or 24 stretcher casualties plus two attendants or 16,00lb external slung load and a 4,000lb internal payload
Crew
2+





Lockheed C-130 Hercules

RAF Hercules Aircraft were used as Transports byy the Royal Air Force to and frpm,Ascension Island
 
Type Transport
Powerplant Four Allison T56-A-7 turboprops, 4050 hp each
Speed (kmh) 603 at 6100m
Range (km) 5470
Service Ceiling (m) 9145
Wingspan ((m) 40.41
Length (m) 29.79
Crew 5
Payload 92 passengers or 35700lb payload

Vickers-Armstrong (BAC) VC 10

RAF VC10 Aircraft were used as Refuelling aircraft by the Royal Air Force to and from Ascension Island. Especially in support of the Avro Vulcan in its Black Buck Missions
 
Type Transport and Tanker
Powerplant Four 22500lb dry thrust Rolls-Royce Conway Mk 301 turbofans
Speed (kmh) 684 at 9145, for long range. Cruise: C1K: 830km/h at 38,000ft, K2/K3/K4: 928km/h at 38,000ft
Range (km) 6276 with maximum payload
Service Ceiling (m) 1245
Wingspan ((m) 44.55
Length (m) C1K: 48.36 , K2: 48.36m; K3/K4 2.32m (excluding probe
Crew 2-3?
Payload Fuel or Passengers, sometimes a mixture. Depending on variant

 

Westland Lynx

A Lynx crippled an Argentine freightor with a Sea Skua missile during the Falklands War
Type
Multirole Anti-Submarine, Anti-Ship and Utilities Helicopter 
Powerplant
Two Rolls-Royce Gem turboshafts
Speed (kmh)
232, Cruise on one engine 225
Range (km)
592
Hoveirng Ceiling (m)
2575
Rotor Diameter ((m)
12.8
Length (m)
15.16 with rotors turning
Guns
Can be fiited on Sponsons and doors
Bombs etc
Wide range of torpdoes, guns, mines, sonar buoys, anti-ship and ASW torpedoes mounted on wheel sponson and forward fuselage mountings
Crew
3

Westland Sea King

Type
ASW and Air-sea rescue Helicopter
Powerplant
Two Rolls-Royce Gnome turboshafts
Speed (kmh)
230; Cruise 208
Range (km)
1230 with standard fuel
Service Ceiling (m)
975m
Rotor Diameter ((m)
18.9
Main Disc Area (m2)
 
Length (m)
22.15 with Rotors turning
Guns
Can be fitted to door
Bombs etc
Sponson mountings for a variety of ASW and Anti-ship weaponry
Crew
3

Westland Scout

Six Scouts were used during the Falklands war by 656 Squadron Army Air Corps.
Type
Multirole tactical helicopter
Powerplant
Nimbus 102 turboshaft
Speed (kmh)
211; Cruise 196
Range (km)
507 with four passengers and full allowances
Hovering Ceiling (m)
2682?
Rotor Diameter (m)
9.83
Length (m)
12.29m with rotors turning
Payload (kg):
Can be mounted on optional sponsons
Bombs etc
Can be mounted on optional sponsons, can carry torpedoes, missiles, rockets and guns
 
Crew
3

Westland Wasp

A Wasp from HMS Plymouth employed an AS12 in the Falklands against the Argentine Submarine Sante Fe, Crippling it.
Type
Shipboard ASW, SAR and Utility helicopter
Powerplant
One Nimbus 503 engine
Speed (kmh)
193; Cruise 177
Range (km)
435 with four passengers and full allowances
Hovering Ceiling (m)
2682
Rotor Diameter ((m)
9.83
Length (m)
12.29m with Rotors turning
Guns
Can be mounted on optional sponsons
Bombs etc
Can be mounted on optional sponsons, can carry torpedoes, missiles, rockets and guns
Crew
2

Westland Wessex HAS.3

Type
Multirole utility and assault helicopter with ASW capability
Powerplant
1,600shp Rolls-Rpoyce Gazelle 165 turboshaft
Speed (kmh)
212; cruise 195
Range (km)
486 on Standard Fuel
Hovering Ceiling (m)
945m
Rotor Diameter (m)
17.07
Length (m)
20.04
Payload (kg):
4,000lb payload
Bombs etc
Weapons can be mounted externally
Crew
3

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