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The sinking of the General Belgrano by the British submarine HMS Conqueror proved to the Argentine government that the British Task Force would not allow the Argentine Navy to send their Aircraft Carrier into open water. Therefore their air power has to fly from the mainland. I think its as simple to say that if the British had lost a carrier, Hermes or Invincible, then we, the British, would have not regained the Falkland Islands. The loss of the Atlantic Conveyor, a merchant ship, was felt grieviously because it was transporting the Chinook Helicopters needed for heavy lifting of miliary stores in the upcoming invasion of the islands. The inability of the Argentines to use air power for sufficient time overflying the Islands allows Britain to make a successful landing, although this involved the losses of several more ships. The arming of British Harrier aircraft with the US Sidewinder Missile was crucial in the air defence of the British forces. Also it was noticeable that the British did not send the boy scouts: The British send the Parachute Regiment, the Guards & the Gurkhas & the Royal Marines (Not to mention the SAS & SBS, so I wont!). It was noticeable that the morale of the Argentine Conscript Forces was poor, in spite of the bravery & determination of other elements of the Argentine defence of Stanley. In sum the Argentines were defeated because they did not have sufficient determination or wherewithall to supply & sustain their Invasion Forces. This was denied them, at great cost, by the Royal Navy.

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17y ago

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