Falklands War. 33 years military speaking.

For me, Britan has all the right to Falklands, like Portugal was to Goa, Damão e Diu, and also Cabo Verde e S.Tome e Principe. But the proposed article is about what change after the war with Argentina, in the islands and surrounded area. And it change a lot, especially for the military and of course for Argentines. 

In 1982 the UK had 70 troops and 20 security forces (more 120 islands defende force man), up une polar patrol ship in the islands (HMS Endurance). Today 1200 troops, 20 security forces, 3 ships (includes one frigate and one patrol ship), rapier AA missiles, 4 Typhoon fighters, 1 C-130 and one Vc-10 for re-fueling (and 202 man from island defende force). So, it's clear that one pacefull area before the war is today, becouse of the 1982 invasion, militarised not only in the islands but also in all South Atlantic. Major error Argentina.  

War Cemetery in Falkland

In total 907 people were kill. Argentina lost 649 men and Britan 255. The rest were civilians. In 2011 were 113 uncleared minefield, and are still today places like Port William on East Falkland that is an example of the danger of the mines in the islands. No casualties but six military personal were injuried in 1982 and 1983. The war left on the islands abou 5 000 anti-tank mines and 20 000 anti-personnel. Under the Mine Ban Treaty all them have to be clean by the end of 2019.

The wrecks of the war area everywere. More from Argentina in land, and in the sea most of them are british. In the islands, remains of A4, Pucára, T-34, Uh-1, AML amoured car, etc, and also Harrier and others british stuff, are only some exmples what today we can see in the fields. Falkland Museum have one section about the war and some pieces are preserved in there and in Heritage Museum and Historic Dockyard Museum also in Falklands. http://www.falklands-museum.com/index.php/collections/1982-the-falklands-war  

Other material are display in Imperial War Museum, Marines Museum and Army Museum, in the UK. 

Marino Velasco´s crashed A4 in the Falklands

After the war the Falklands Islands Defence Force (FIDF) was reformed in 1983 (on first April of 1982 of 120 only 23 man turned out). Today are a force with 202 man (2 are permanent the rest are in reserve), with 400 000 Pounds annual budget, from Falklands Islands Governement.

The man meet once a week for training, with british soldiers, Royal Navy and do also civil operations like rescue and fisheries protection. Equipment are from Land Rover to Grenade Launchers, and includes also L7 machine guns and Styer AUG Rifles.    

Wreck of an Argentina Pucara

Military presence was heavily invested by the UK after 1982. Mount Pleasant, the new RAF Airfield, 27 miles from Stanley is the major prove of that, fuly operacional since 1986, and with is own port facility call Mare Harbour. After the war planes like the F4 and the Tornado made the defence of the island, but today the fighter are the four Eurofighter Typhoon. Sar was been made by Sea King helicopters but the AAR Corps is what make the missions today with AW189 type. 

Remains of a T-34 aircraft from Argentina Navy

Royal Navy was a Frigate Type 23 or a Destroyer Type 45, a Patrol (permanently until 2018), an Ice Patrol Ship and a RFA Tanker near the islands. Other units like Trafalgar and Astute class nuclear submarines are deployed in area in classified deployments, and they carry torpedos and Tomahawk missiles.

   

Army maintains a garrison on the island in Mount Pleasant, about 1200 personnel made up a infantry company, an engineer squadron, a signals unit, a logistic group and supporting services. There also a Rapier Missile battery deployed. The UK maintains a Joint Rapid Reaction Force with the 3 services, that in 48/72 hours could be deployed to the islands in the event of receiving intelligence of a specific threath to the territory.   

It is clear that the Argentina invasion of the Falklands was a major fiasco for the country. The British significant presence in South Atlantic was increase and diplomatic solution is today denied by UK becouse of the invasion. The Argentina Military Junta was disband and military argentina forces are a shadow of what were in 1982, with the crisis reduce de navy and the airforce to minimal, made by old equipment like Hercules class destroyers (one sink alone in port) or A4 fighters. Today they are no match to British Forces, also with less ships, man and fighters.

With major oil fields discover on the sea in Falklands Maritime Zone and President Cristina election in Argentina, the pression to the UK in diplomacy and propaganda by the south american country is much more intense that since the 90s. But referendo in 2013 at Falklands give 99,8% of the people voted in favour of remaining a british territory ouverseas, economically self - sufficient, and that trust in more than 180 years of British administration. And that is democracy, not "colonial tradition" like Daniel Filmus said and other members of Cristina's executive repeat to exaustion. They made a mistake, now they had to live with it. That's life.        

Armada Argentina today capital ships

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_the_Falkland_Islands

Remains of an Argentina Army UH1 helicopter

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falkland_Islands_Defence_Force

Remains of an Harrier in Goose Green

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/uknews/9331911/Inside-the-1980s-time-capsule-that-is-the-Falklands-War-frigate-HMS-Plymouth.html

Aml armoured car

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/falklandislands/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falkland_Islands

Mount Pleasant Base

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/falklands-changed-invasion-one-thing-1798571

Mount Pleasant land facilities

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/worldnews/9169829/The-Falkland-Islands-30-years-after-the-war-with-Argentina.html

Typhoon Fighter

http://www.falklandswar.org.uk/

FIDF operacional with a Styer Rifle and a Rover in back

http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/battleswars1900s/p/falklands.htm

Type 23 Frigate

http://www.falklandislands.com/product.php/39/58/museums

HMS Clyde Patrol Boat in Falklands


http://www.yaodynasty.com/Contents/SA/SA-Falkland.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aftermath_of_the_Falklands_War

A C130 at Mount Pleasent base

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falklands_War

Why we Love the A-10? See for yourself

Words for what? USAF and Defense Secretary dont't now nothing about war, CAS, FAC or other mission when they want to retired the A-10. See for yourself and see why F-35 canot do what this plane does.

http://www.sofmag.com/pilot-saves-six-marines-with-strafing-runs-in-2008-with-a-10-thunderbolt-ii-the-iraqi-tank-killer/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairchild_Republic_A-10_Thunderbolt_II

http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2014-10-01/a-10-warthogs-final

http://www.military.com/equipment/a-10-thunderbolt-ii

DFS 194

DFS it was one of the first german rocket planes, designd by Alexander Lippisch, in 1938. In 1939 Lippish was transferred to Messerchmitt and project X accept a Walter rocket power engine RI-203, tested in 1940 at Peenemunde with 550km speed. It was that suceed flight the way to more powerfull ME-163 Komet.

  

First i chose the kit. PM was avaible and i made this one. It is not a good kit but was the only one that i can buy, so i forget the detailed problem and went to work. First the document reserch, dificult one, becouse theres not much information about the plane itself. One or two books and some internet information was what i could find. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DFS_194

https://books.google.pt/books?id=4M9i-FXVKckC&pg=PA71&lpg=PA71&dq=DFS+194+Rocket+Plane&source=bl&ots=6ykdcQzy6I&sig=CGJugJfr9yRT_VqO8zpZE-IUBnw&hl=pt-PT&sa=X&ei=Ysi7VJDREsurUfuOgLAF&ved=0CEYQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=DFS%20194%20Rocket%20Plane&f=false

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rocket_aircraft

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_Me_163_Komet

 After the reserch, back to the model. It was an easy and "back from the box" kit with one fine end. The most of the work was with oil and pastel, doing the flight test result in the fuselage, timber wings and metal tail.  The canopy was hand paint becouse was also metal, but the rest was with an airbrush. 

I chose for the first time paint from Modelcolor, and was very good. I mixed water and in the Aztec it was very easy. In the canopy i used Revell yelow, to make him diferent from the rest of the Kit.The wheels were one mixed revell flat black and a litle 30% white.  

After painting i used first oil to make the flying result. Black from Pebeo and Burt Umber from Winton. The wood efect was Burt Siena also from Pebeo. Then i used Koh-i-Noor charcoal blocks, black and brown, after english red from Sechmincke. A litle gray from Faber Castel give the final touch.  

The Heller pilot was a work with Revell paints. After Pebeo oil tho give the final shadow in the uniform and burt siena from also Pebeu to give the final touch on the face. 

Heller figures are not easy to work but they are cheap and easy to find in any modeling store. I prefer Preiser figures but at this time i didn't have it.  

  

Making the base for the model was also easy. I used plaster and then i paint with acrylique black from Campus. Then grass from Heki  glue with humbrol and was made. I think the set look great to an apresentation in a exibition or competition.   

http://modelingmadness.com/review/axis/luft/culpitt194.htm

https://books.google.pt/books?id=hdQBTcscxyQC&pg=PA243&lpg=PA243&dq=DFS+194+Rocket+Plane&source=bl&ots=7RLxT7rhGE&sig=8TNdThfrZWVHNhjvTCTwFeW6Ss4&hl=pt-PT&sa=X&ei=wdW7VKi9LsGzUaWYhPgK&ved=0CF8Q6AEwCw#v=onepage&q=DFS%20194%20Rocket%20Plane&f=false

And the Other Wall's ? 1st Chapter.

Yes, there was a wall in Berlim, and is true that many people were dead becouse of him. Was made by the Russians, but the Germans had lost one war that they started, and the city like Germany was divided becouse of that. True, the wall was made for all the east germans don't run to west were the live conditions and the regime was better.

The Berlin Wall in the 80's

Of course the wall was only a mark of the Iron Curtin.we are talking one city not the hundread of miles from Russian border to the Black Sea. Yes, it last from 1961 to 1989, had much fame that some presidents, singers or religious man. True, a cult object and a mistic propaganda site, from both sides.

Conrad-Schumann, a RDA trop, run for west.

Of course the fall of the Berlin Wall was a big thing. Was the biggining of Germany reunification, was the end of the cold war (for many, not for me), and the colapse of USSR and Warsaw Pact . Yes, when was the 10, 20, 25 years wall fall birthday, there were one big party, with many people and lots of speach.

The Berlin Wall fall in 1989

Oh yes, Putin and Ukraine, Crimeia and sanctions had a lot to do with 25 years celebration. True, the Cold War is again in wold lives (it was a litle warm war, but it never ended). More weapons and the defence budget for 2015 will be high. Of course the politicians were bad, when since the wall were finish, conflits like Georgia, Balcãns, Iraq, Libia, etc, the defense budget were cut of every single year.

True, there are so many walls in the world that most of the people don´t care, doesn't now that exist. Yes, we will talk about them becouse it is terrible that we only talk about Berlin Wall and forget all the other wall's in the world, the people that live behind those concrete wall, and of course all the man, women and children that ware without see wich other

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Wall

The Nicosia Wall. Made in 1974 after Turkish invasion, is still on, with UN forces in the midle. Some sides of the wall were ended and replace by gates, but not all of them. Cypruis is in Europe, is a country of European Union and Grece and Turkey are in NATO. The wall this year will "celebrate" is 40 anivesarie.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6434919.stm

The Israel-Gaza wall. one of the most new wall's was made in 2005 from Erez (Israel) to Rafa (Gaza). The violence betwen jews and palestinians since the Hamas win the elections in 2006 was only one of many reasons to the extendent wall. Another war that all the members don´t want to ended. All the civilians are the main victims.  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel%E2%80%93Gaza_barrier

Belfast, Northern Ireland, Europe. They call "Peace Line", but in fact is a Wall like the others that we are talking. If there was not this wall radical Protestants and radical Catholics , probably kill each other's t'ill  death.  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_lines

  

The Forgoten Guns of Setúbal City - Portugal

Setúbal, it is a very nice city, military speaking. Not because of any war, battle (in memory i just remember one battle against  Spanish in 1580 war) or confrontation, but by a rich group of  army strutures, since 10th century (an arab castle near by), to 20th Coastal Defense (3 artillery regiments and 2 headquarters named "Brancanes" and "Onze"), passing by the 14th "Outão" Fort (in Roman times was a temple to Zeus)  and a 16th century Fortress build by the Spanish Filipe's. All (at the exeption of the Castle and Fortress), are abandoned, but that is normal in Portugal with a crapp of politicians and defense ministers since 25 April 1974.   

Casalinho Battery weapons location. There were probably six long range 280mm german guns in this Coastal Defense Artillery.

With a very important Port and Bay, Setúbal coastal waters were defended (such as i know t'ill last week) by "7th Bataria - Arrabida" and "8th Bataria - Abarquel", since after WWI t'ill the final of 20th century (very well explain in "regimento de artilharia de costa.blogspot.pt, by Fernando Limão"). 

The "Bataria de Casalinho e Moinho da Desgraça" that was deactivaded since the 1960 (3) was not part of CAR (Coastal Artillery Regiment), so was forgoten by me and for many more people. But if the information is correct, this was the regiment with the more powerfull guns in all Portuguese modern coastal defense, besides being one of the most small ones (some informations talk also about the bigger range in Portuguese CAR, but 50 km, like we will see is not a correct range).

The only photograph now of "Casalinho Battery" (probably from the 40's, with the Sado River an Troia peninsula in front) with the main guns. We can see the 280mm weapons had no side rotation and that they were assembled in raks to absorved the kick when they shoot.

Like we can see, "Casalinho" it was only the guns, guns implacement, munitions stores and some acomodations. The correct model of artillary used, i think was the 280mm Krupp in 1891-1906 models (since the information know only speak in a supposed 280 mm guns) with blindage protective structure. But by the shape it is possible that was the 210 mm from Armstrong (with a range of only 16 km that gives to "Casalinho" only close support to 7th and 8th battery) (2).
Since Portuguese Coastal Defense used only artillary made by Germany and United Kingdom,  and that the cal. was between 150mm Krupp and 234mm from Vickers (we are not considered "Casalinho" and the suposed 280mm guns), it is normal that this last model were one possibility. But the Portuguese system in Coastal Defence was made with short-med. and longe range, so with the introduction of most modern Vickers 234 mm in 6th "Bataria - Fonte da Telha" in the 40's with a 40 km range, it  explain why the 280 mm was probably the right model and the reason of their retirement in 1950-1960 since was a much older gun (1). 

A 280mm M-1891 Krupp model from the "Oscarsborg  fortress" in Norway.  Probably the main guns of "Casalinho" were "relatives" from this one (1).

If the information about the gun is correct the range will be between 14-40 km (the germans had at least 7 models of 280mm guns), and not the 5km or 50 km that are normal reference in blogs or internet sides (i don't see any books or write information about "Casalinho Battery"), with the 234 mm Vickers 40 km range beeing probably the maximum in Coastal Portuguese Artillery. 

"Casalinho"guns were the only ones retired from their place (all the others are still there) in all the country. Is destiny is incertain but probably was scrapped in the 60s.

Armstrong 210mm gun also from Norway. This was another possibility for "Casalinho", since Portugal only had German and British guns in Coastal Defense,  but it seams much short in rear that in the original photo (2). 

"Moinho da Desgraça" was a near by observation post for "Abarquel" and "Casalinho" battery's. Is still visible the place for sighting equipment inside the bunker, very dificult to see from the sea, because of the shape and forest. Was abandoned when the main battery ("8th Bataria - Abarquel") was out of service in the final years of 20th century.

                                                                    Casalinho in the midle 60's after the guns removed.

http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNGER_Main.htm

Main acomodations in the battery after their disactivation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/28_cm_SK_L/40_gun

Still with the iron doors, the storehouse for amunitions. Probably the space were occupied or had someone paid by Salazar governement to do some maintenance. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coastal_artillery

Casalinho Battery in 2008.

http://hem.fyristorg.com/robertm/norge/Weapons_reference.html

Gun implacement.

http://www.monumentos.pt/Site/APP_PagesUser/SIPA.aspx?id=25038

Munition Storehouse at left and iron stuctures in front for kick racks.

http://manuelc2005.blogspot.pt/2014/03/13276-bateria-costera-do-casalinho-e.html

Another photo of several guns implacement.

http://www.lugaresesquecidos.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=877

From the river Sado, "Casalinho" and "Moinho da Desgraça" are very difficult to see (the first is down the white construction and the second is on the right).

http://www.operacional.pt/os-ultimos-disparos-do-%E2%80%9Cmuro-do-atlantico%E2%80%9D-portugues/

"Moinho da Desgraça" observation post entrance.

http://portugalpontoporponto.blogspot.pt/2012/04/bateria-do-casalinho.html

Another photo of main entrance.

http://www.monumentos.pt/Site/APP_PagesUser/SIPA.aspx?id=25037 and http://www.monumentos.pt/Site/APP_PagesUser/SIPA.aspx?id=25038

                 The interior of observation post "Moinho da Desgraça".

http://regimentodeartilhariadecosta.blogspot.pt/2011/10/baterias-do-casalinho-e-moinho-da.html and http://regimentodeartilhariadecosta.blogspot.pt/

Trafaria "5th Bataria" observation post. It is very similar to "Moinho da Desgraça" bunker. 

(1) - After one vacation mourning investigation the confirmation of the 6X 280mm M1892 model. It was declared by Portuguese Army in 1924. There was no more 28cm guns in Portugal what maches with the 6 guns of "Casalinho" http://www.network54.com/Forum/330333/thread/1184284120/gun+field+information

(2) - The same link said that Portugal was never had 210 mm guns. In 1931-32 Only 2 guns of 260 mm M/76 and 32 howitzer M/902 of 28cm. Another reference to 6X280mm are the Model 1875/02, but in 1929-1930. http://www.network54.com/Forum/330333/thread/1184284120/gun+field+information 

 (3) - The only reference to Casalinho's first service date is 1949, but by the type of guns and construction i don't think that this information is correct (another is the 28mm and not 28cm). Probably was in the late 20's or in the bigining of the 30's (since the guns were im Portugal since 1924). After the concluson of "Barron's plans" (no referênce to Casalinho)  for coastal artillary, the 152 mm guns from "7th Bataria - Outão" (i read   that before the modernization were used 147mm short range Krupp guns, one information that i have to see if is true since in some time i spend around this question i think that is a confusion with 150cm Krupp guns http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC1HHBH_7-bataria-rac-outao?guid=a7ab52d1-88dc-4303-8cc4-2b49f0203edb ) and the 150 mm Krupp for "8th Bataria - Abarquel", lead to  desactivation of Casalinho's, probably becaouse there were better, faster and more modern. http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=q8smr7dvt03r&lvl=18&dir=0&sty=b&cid=C17AEC02D9130CD6%21419

Alouette III by MF

There's not many models that i give to another person. This lovely and hard heligun was an of a very few exeption.

Portugal use 142 Aérospatiale Aloutte III in the African War sice 1963 to 1974. The most powerfull was this one none was "Bad Wolf" with a 20 mm gun.

 The 9303 was a gift for his gunner in their 60th birthday. For 2 years he flew several combat and assault missions in this machine, that is still in service of Portuguese Air Force.

  Heller model in 1/72 scale. The interior was scrach from Rocco Models and Verlinden acessories with a Italeri gun belt.

I paint with Revell colours and for the weather efects used Winton and Pebeo oils in a very dificult process that make by back hurt for several days.

http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%C3%A9rospatiale_Alouette_III

http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guerra_Colonial_Portuguesa

A Winter SD.KFZ 252

I have some Kits to recover that friends of mine give-me becouse of the scale i work. One of them was a conversion 1/72 ESCI Sd-Kfz.250/9 to a Sd- Kfz. 252 with a Sd.Anh - 32 trail, a part of a big diorama that i want keep for another project. So, i made one single apresentation using the down photo (Russia 1941) but with the half track in the french winter.   

The research give-me the Sd-Kfz.252 used since Poland Campaign so the history match. German had several ammunition carrier but from 1939-1942 was the main vehicle for the 75 mm shield. Armament was only a Mg. 34 but i don't saw any photos of them and the images were few and all in black and white. Some books had the Afrika Corps camuflage but all have on colour (dark gray or sand) making the task simple and easy.     

Kit was invery bad conditions and some parts were lost. I used pieces from other german tanks and also american and british vehicles like the Sherman and Matilda. The base was from an old matchbox kit (a Priest or a M-3 half track) and Roco Minitanks give me several acessories for the chassis and to Sd.Ah 32.  The problem was the glue in the bad esci tracks wich broke a few times the wheels and make me give up several times from the kit recovery. 

The option of presenting the model with lots of snow brings me the sollution to hide  some mistakes and i think it works very well. 

Again i went to the kitchen and bring several ingredients to make the snow. White glue, liquid paper fluid and dry pastel make the rest. Then hair spray to give resistance to the base. A stick from an ice cream and a print in old make me finish the apresentation base.

The model was old with oil: Raw Umber, Carvon Black and Burn Siena for the tracks. Two or four hours after i used white dry pastel an the ingredients in the wheels, most in bad parts to hide several problems of the recovery.

Final touch was with a brush n.º1 and  lots of white dry pastel in all the model. Done and in expositon box not to touch anymore.   

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=205107

http://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=366

http://www.achtungpanzer.com/leichte-gepanzerte-munitionskraftwagen-sdkfz252.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sd.Kfz._252