WI: "BLACK BUCKS" using Rockwell B1B's

WILDGEESE

Gone Fishin'
What if, disregarding finances, procurement etc, the R.A.F used Rockwell B1B's in the Falklands campaign?

How would it improve the "Black Buck" missions?

Would they be able after UK Govt, backing allow the R.A.F to attack Argentine airbases etc?

Regards filers
 
The B-1B wasn't in service yet in 1982 in the USAF, but ignoring that....

Much would depend on what they are armed with. Just using Shrike anti-radar missiles and dumb bombs are OTL doesn't change the outcome of the raids that much, just a lot more explosions from bomb hits on the airfields. The Black Buck raids didn't do all that much damage, but if the RAF bombers are equipped with penetrating bombs or thermobaric weapons that could change dramatically.

Attacking the Argentine mainland could have been done by the Vulcans, but they chose not to, even though it could have been useful. The B-1 would be much the same, if anything hitting any Argentine bases aside from the ones in Patagonia would be easier than the Falklands due to lower distances, but stronger fighter protection could be a problem.
 
I don't know about B-1s, but a B-52 could have done BLACK BUCK without any refuelling whatsoever. In the context of the British experience of the Falklands, that's a huge improvement.

Attacking the Argentinian mainland was off the cards politically - trying to keep the war restricted to the islands only. Heavier weapons were also off the cards. As it was, thousand-pounders caused concern about the risk of killing Falkland Islanders.
 
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