What if the Falkland Islands were an American possession, and not British? Would Argentina dare challenge the U.S. for possession of the islands in 1982? Would there have been U.S. Marines and not Royal Marines charging ashore at Cape Pembroke? Who has any ideas?
The (American) Falkland Islands War of 1982
- Thread starter Paul Robison
- Start date
Shadow Master
Banned
Easily enough, when we went in and hanged the fellow for trying to charge US fishermen for doing their thing back in the day, after first checking with the new government in Argentina as to whether he was a legit presence, or a pirate, we arrested him and, IIRC, swooped up all the Argentinians on the islands, and left them vacant, before the UK moved in and re-established their claim. So here, the USA claims the islands instead of leaving them vacant, and presto, a US Falkland islands war.
Japhy
Banned
If there was some basis for the US to have the islands (Doable actually considering their long contested and disputed history) but to somehow have EVERYTHING else be the same, for the sake of a wargame, no not a shot in hell the war happens.
(1) The Argentine Junta was always going to be aware of their relations with the US because their existence was basically at US acquiescence if not outright support and (2) The logic behind striking when they did was that the Royal Navy was downsizing and turning itself into an ASW hunting rather than power projection platform and was in the process of winding down the small force of ships they kept in their Southern Ocean Islands so the Argentines convinced themselves there would be no fight. Not really a line of logic you can develop with a two ocean navy Superpower under Reagan. Or Carter. You probably couldn't even develop that logic with a President Eugene McCarthy.
(1) The Argentine Junta was always going to be aware of their relations with the US because their existence was basically at US acquiescence if not outright support and (2) The logic behind striking when they did was that the Royal Navy was downsizing and turning itself into an ASW hunting rather than power projection platform and was in the process of winding down the small force of ships they kept in their Southern Ocean Islands so the Argentines convinced themselves there would be no fight. Not really a line of logic you can develop with a two ocean navy Superpower under Reagan. Or Carter. You probably couldn't even develop that logic with a President Eugene McCarthy.
Barry Bull
Donor
The Argentina would not dare to militarily challenge the U.S. for possession of the islands in 1982.
The disparity of force is just too great. 2 to 3 CBGs and one MAF can overwhelm the Argentinan forces easily.
Also, the distance between US and Argentina is much closer and it would much easier to deploy US Force to the South Atlantic.
Given the strong US influence im Argentina, the ruling Junta or at least the members suggesting such action would be replaced by their own people on their own initatives or on directions from CIA.
The disparity of force is just too great. 2 to 3 CBGs and one MAF can overwhelm the Argentinan forces easily.
Also, the distance between US and Argentina is much closer and it would much easier to deploy US Force to the South Atlantic.
Given the strong US influence im Argentina, the ruling Junta or at least the members suggesting such action would be replaced by their own people on their own initatives or on directions from CIA.
Admiral Beez
Banned
What? No one is going to be attacking anything American in the 1980s, especially with Reagan in the White House, Lebanon-cut and run notwithstanding.
Is Argentina now in the Soviet sphere? How did this come about?
Deleted member 94680
Argentina becomes the 51st - 65th state of the USA in short order.
Or at best, a puppet.
Or at best, a puppet.
How about the Island is 'Sold' to the US as part of a Lend lease deal in 1941?
The US keep the Islands due to their strategic location in the south Atlantic
However while the Argentine Junta might have gone down the Rabbit hole they are going to have to go through the looking glass at the same time to be mental enough pick on the US
While the US might not have been able to put together a package as fast as the British
the one that they would eventually put together would make the British task force look like a coastal fishing fleet
If the Argentines did not like the British 105mm Field guns and 114mm NGS blowing the crap out of them then they are definitely not going to like 16" shells!
And while the F14 tomcat/E2 Hawkeye would Guarantee air Dominance the ability to strike at targets on the mainland would probably make their job very dull
The USMC would very likely suffer more casualties in training than in the final invasion
The US keep the Islands due to their strategic location in the south Atlantic
However while the Argentine Junta might have gone down the Rabbit hole they are going to have to go through the looking glass at the same time to be mental enough pick on the US
While the US might not have been able to put together a package as fast as the British
If the Argentines did not like the British 105mm Field guns and 114mm NGS blowing the crap out of them then they are definitely not going to like 16" shells!
And while the F14 tomcat/E2 Hawkeye would Guarantee air Dominance the ability to strike at targets on the mainland would probably make their job very dull
The USMC would very likely suffer more casualties in training than in the final invasion
That fellow was Cdr Silas Duncan USN O/C USS lexington 1831. OTl intervened to stop due to the then Argentine Governor from preventing US fishing boats and sealers from operating in the area.
Shadow Master
Banned
IIRC, the whole episode was tainted by the fact that the Argentine official was from their government, whereas the folks our man checked with were from the rebels, so when they disavowed the official, the US forces took their word that he was not THEIRS, and the rest is history.
Ah you're right, for some reason I thought the first were recomissioned early in 82.
They were.
U.S.S. Iowa and U.S.S. New Jersey were both brought back into active service in 1982, when the historic Falklands War took place, as part of the Six Hundred Ship Navy initiative.
Depending on the specific dates, one or both could be sent in the event of open conflict.
In truth, if we own the Falklands the Argentine government makes a peaceful offer to purchase them, and if we say no, waits ten years and tries again. Challenging the U.S. openly would be suicide.
Yes, there was. It was called "United Provinces of the South" (still an official name btw) and while it lacked a central government, the provincial governments agreed to the governor of the province of Buenos Aires the right to represent the country internationally
Argentina's hope and plan was that the Americans would tacitly support them and the British would be unwilling or unable to respond. No way Argentina even attempts this since there's a good possibility it might lead to an actual declaration of war by the United States.
Agreed. The local junta were essentially Washington's guys in the region, and they hoped to broker that relationship into active support, or at least tacit approval and inaction. They felt the British would be incapable of any large-scale effort at taking the islands back without our assistance.