"Battles of the Falkland Islands War 1982"

AIRCRAFT and SHIPPING LOSSES INFLICTED AND SUSTAINED

ARGENTINE AIRCRAFT and their SUCCESSES AGAINST BRITISH SHIPS

Aside from the land battles, most of the war is fought between Argentine aircraft and the British ships and carrier-borne Harriers. Argentine losses are heavy, but so is the Royal Navy's, and only the hit on "Glamorgan" by a land-based Exocet at the end of the war is not due to aircraft. Just before the San Carlos landings, this is a useful point to summarise the main Argentine aircraft involved and the losses they sustain, as well as inflict.

below - FAA Skyhawk

NAVAL AVIATION COMMAND (CANA)

1st Attack Sqdn (1 Esc)	6 Aermacchi MB-339A's to Falklands, 2 lost and 3 captured	Minor damage to "Argonaut" by cannon (21st May)
2nd Fighter and Attack Sqdn (2 Esc)	Super Etendard flying from Rio Grande with no losses	Destroyer "SHEFFIELD" (4th May) and Support ship "ATLANTIC CONVEYOR" (25th May) hit by Exocet and both sunk
3rd Fighter and Attack Sqdn (3 Esc)	Skyhawk A-4Q's flying from Rio Grande, 3 lost	Frigate "ARDENT" sunk by bombs (21st May)
4th Attack Sqdn (4 Esc)	4 Mentor T-34C's to Falklands, all lost	-

ARGENTINE AIR FORCE (FAA)

1st Air Transport Group (Grupo 1)	Hercules (1 lost), Boeing 707's. Also photo-reconnaissance Learjets (1 lost)	-
2nd Light Bomber Group (Grupo 2)	Canberras flying from Trelew and Rio Gallegos, 2 lost	-
3rd Attack Group (Grupo 3)	24 Pucaras to Falklands, 13 lost and 11 captured, plus one mainland-based aircraft lost	Only British aircraft casualty directly due to Argentine aircraft is Royal Marine Scout [b28] shot down by a Grupo 3 Pucara on the 28th May
4th Fighter Bomber Group (Grupo 4)	Skyhawk A-4C's flying from San Julian and Rio Grande, 9 lost	Believed to have damaged LSL's "Sir Bedivere", "Sir Galahad" and "Sir Lancelot" with UXB's (all 24th May)
5th Fighter Bomber Group (Grupo 5)	Skyhawk A-4B's from Rio Gallegos, 10 lost	Destroyer "Glasgow" damaged by UXB (12th May) Frigate "Argonaut" damaged by UXB (21st May) Frigate "ANTELOPE" sunk by bomb (23rd May) Destroyer "COVENTRY" sunk by bombs and frigate "Broadsword" damaged by UXB (both 25th May) LSL's "SIR GALAHAD" (later scuttled) and "Sir Tristram" damaged; "Fearless" LCU F4 sunk by bombs (all 8th June)
6th Fighter Bomber Group (Grupo 6)	Daggers from Rio Grande and San Julian, 11 lost	Destroyer "Glamorgan", frigates "Alacrity" and "Arrow", minor damage by cannon fire and near misses (all 1st May) Destroyer "Antrim" damaged by UXB, frigate "Ardent" damaged by bomb, frigates "Brilliant" and "Broadsword" minor damage by cannon fire (all 21st May) Frigate "Plymouth" damaged by UXB and cannon (8th June)
7th Group, Helicopter Sqdn	including Bell 212's and Chinook. Two Bells to Falklands, both lost	-
8th Fighter Group (Grupo 8)	Mirage IIIE's from Comodoro Rivadavia and Rio Callegos, 2 lost	-

 

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Adding the aircraft of the Argentine Coastguard (PNA) and Army Combat Aviation Battalion 601 transferred to the Falklands, all of which are destroyed or captured, plus two Navy helicopters lost at sea brings total losses from all causes to a round one hundred.

 

Below a Super Etendart of the Argentine Navy.

The Argentine Naval Aviators flew number of daring missions against the British ships and prooved their skill and courage.