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Portsmouth Bill
Post subject: Re: ARA General BelgranoPosted: February 3rd, 2012, 7:27 pm
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Probably the best description of the Falklands War I've ever read. It's sad that the Belgrano was sunk, since so many men were killed aboard it and there were plans to preserve it, but at the same time, nobody can blame the British government for ordering the sinking. Being an enemy warship, it doesn't make any difference where it was or where it was heading. The Argentinians started the war in violation of international law, and regardless of what you have to say about the outcome, it doesn't change the fact that the Belgrano was a warship doing its duty, just like the HMS Conqueror.

The fact that Thatcher was grilled so endlessly about the sinking seems really idiotic to me, but this is the age we live in...
That was the media, and elements of the left, which, funnily enough I belong to; but being a free thinking person, I give credit where its due; and in this case Thatcher was right to go to war, if going to war meant a good chance of winning the conflict. The one man (apart from Thatcher) who had the gut instinct to go to war was Adm Leach, and this link explains why:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituar ... Leach.html

Another aspect was that Argentina had conscription, were the devide between the officer class and the serving men was wider than in the British armed forces, were the the first duty of an officer (of whatever service) was to put his men first. This resulted in 'leading from the front', sharing the risks and being seen. When it came to the crunch, the thousands of conscripted soldiers and sailors on the Argentinian side were not motivated to risk their lives when they had no stake in the conflict. by comparison the British were motivated to the highest level, being volunteers and imbued with the fierce will to win back the islands. I'm not denegrating the Argentian character, for which I have a great admiration, and the bravery and skill of the 'flying goucho's' who flew their obsolete A4's and Mirage's against the British is highly commendable.

Probably the best outcome after the conflict (it was never a war) was the toppling of the Military Junta, a particularly nasty example of the type. personally, my solution now would be to sell the islands to Argentina, or have joint exploration rights.


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Portsmouth Bill
Post subject: Re: ARA General BelgranoPosted: February 3rd, 2012, 7:40 pm
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This is interesting. I've just reread the obituary, and fully realised that this is the Henry Leach, son of Captain John Leach, last seen walking down the side of HMS Prince of Wales with Adm Tom Philips after she was bombed and torpedoed; these men were carved from the oak.

For us Poms the book to get from your local library is 'Singapore Burning' by Colin Smith; it gives the best 'blow by blow' description of the POW and Repulse sinkings. Sorry, I'm going off topic, so I'll bow out.


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bezobrazov
Post subject: Re: ARA General BelgranoPosted: February 3rd, 2012, 7:43 pm
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PB, on that note, reading your erudite expose on the conflict and its nature, ending with your surprising suggestion to sell the islands to Argentina, like to ask you the following: what about the right of self determination for the islanders? You really think they'd accept that solution?

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Colosseum
Post subject: Re: ARA General BelgranoPosted: February 3rd, 2012, 7:55 pm
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I've always thought it should be up to the folks who live on the islands, but honestly it's none of my business.
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For us Poms the book to get from your local library is 'Singapore Burning' by Colin Smith; it gives the best 'blow by blow' description of the POW and Repulse sinkings. Sorry, I'm going off topic, so I'll bow out.
No, I've become very interested in the early part of the Second World War, especially the Southeast Asia campaigns and the fall of Singapore. I'm definitely going to look this book up, since I've just gotten a 1/350 scale model of HMS Prince of Wales and have become very interested in Force Z et al.

And thanks for all the positive words guys. :)

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bezobrazov
Post subject: Re: ARA General BelgranoPosted: February 3rd, 2012, 8:00 pm
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no problem, mate. It's us who need to thank you for bringing these ships to us!

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Thiel
Post subject: Re: ARA General BelgranoPosted: February 3rd, 2012, 10:11 pm
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Anyway, getting back on topic I can't identify the radar, but it seems to be rectangular, not oval.

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Colosseum
Post subject: Re: ARA General BelgranoPosted: February 3rd, 2012, 11:00 pm
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OK, I'll fix along with the next batch of updates. Turns out I had incorrectly placed the ranging radar on ALL my Mk.34 directors too far back, so I get to fix that on all my drawings! Joy!

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Bombhead
Post subject: Re: ARA General BelgranoPosted: February 3rd, 2012, 11:11 pm
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Magnificent drawing and welcome back to pixel bashing.I read in Mike Rossiters book that Splended found Veinticinco de Mayo's escort group on 26th April and was ordered by the Admiralty to move 3 times,the first two orders ignored.It seemed like a strange order for an ex sub skipper Fieldhouse to give,unless ordered to do by the war cabinet.It seems to me Thatcher wasn't the arch hawk everyone thought she was,possibly maybe ? If it had turned out slightly different it would have been the carrier that got sunk instead.


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Colosseum
Post subject: Re: ARA General BelgranoPosted: February 4th, 2012, 5:44 am
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Here's a revised edition, changed the helicopter color scheme to the proper one, fixed the ensign, and corrected a mistake with my Mk.34 director. I am no expert at helicopter paint schemes so if someone has a better one, please post it here so I can change it. Same with radars... as no consensus has been arrived at yet, the only thing I changed was the shape of the foremast nav radar.

Make sure to refresh!

[ img ]

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bezobrazov
Post subject: Re: ARA General BelgranoPosted: February 4th, 2012, 6:02 am
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It's a glittering gem in my eyes! Fab job, mate!

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