Falklands Island defence force

[jaffo4011]

Originally Posted by weasel1962

Uh, the earlier history is not exactly accurate either.

There were conflicting claims to the Falklands since Argentina became independent in 1816. Between 1816 to 1831, if I'm not wrong, the falklands was actually governed by an argentine. He was ejected by the Americans in 1831. The rest of the argentinians living on the island were ejected in 1833 by the British. So the argument that there was no government on the island whilst factually accurate is not entirely correct in its perspective either.

Both countries actually have good claims to the island. Though Britain tends to be able to support many of its claims with its military.

A good diplomatic solution which is available today is to refer the whole case to the Hague for arbitration. As a neutral observer I think both sides should consider this. Will help to eliminate the need to maintain a military on the island and at the same time provide Argentina with a fair and peaceful recourse in its attempts to clarify the ownership of the island.

oakey,dokey then and also in the same spirit can we please also apply to have america returned to our jurisdiction as i seem to recall that used to be ours and was taken by force! ...after all it only seems fair to put that to arbitration too............. thanking you in anticipation

[weasel1962]

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[Tasman]

Originally Posted by weasel1962

Applying to return 1/2 a continent as compared to a small island, however legitimate tends to be different.... :-p

Of course, if arbitration fails, Britain could always send a task force and take the USA back by force!

Cheers

[AGRA]

Claims to territory are provided by populations and this makes a mockery of every attempt by the Argentineans to claim the Falklands/Malvinas. The Brits have facts on the ground.

In answer to the original question the FIDF is a volunteer force of the local Colonial (Falklans Islans) Government. It isn’t really part of the British Ministry of Defence (MOD). So they buy their own equipment so when it came to replacing the SLR they sensibly rejected the SA 80 as a piece of crap and brought something better. The FIDF has sensibly adopted all British Army/Marines procedures and tactics and has attached Marine WOs for training support.

[jaffo4011]

Originally Posted by weasel1962

Applying to return 1/2 a continent as compared to a small island, however legitimate tends to be different.... :-p

hey,you cant just change the rules to suit you,you know...........: whats good for the goose...........

[weasel1962]

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[Theodor]

The reason for the choice of of STEYR over the SA80 may be that the SA80 was not in service with the brits at the time the choice was made.

Seems they purchased them in 1987-88.

Continued use may be nothing more than the STEYR is cheaper.

[Manfred]

It is? How much cheaper?

While we are on the subject... does anyone know how much the Austrians are charging for that 15.2mm AMG ?

[Theodor]

Have not found the cost per unit on the STEYR yet.

L85A2 - 1,715 pounds per unit (approx.)
L85A1 - 1,000 pounds per unit (approx.)

This is if you could buy one, the production ended in 1996(?). I guess this is yet another reason the FIDF doesn't use them, not possible to buy, and looking at that price tag not very cost effective.

[Pedro Monteiro]

This month, Air Forces Monthly also as a good article about the british forces.

All the best,
Pedro Monteiro

[KiwiRob]

Originally Posted by griffinoo

was the attack on Falklands island by UK justified?? i mean look at the geographical location of the two countries UK is way up nort and Argentina 10,000 km to the south!
can some body help me understand why would they do such thing??

The people who live on the Islands consider themselves British not Argentinian, it's a similar situation to the people of Gibraltar. The Falklands war was fully justifiable.

[KiwiRob]

Originally Posted by jaffo4011

oakey,dokey then and also in the same spirit can we please also apply to have america returned to our jurisdiction as i seem to recall that used to be ours and was taken by force! ...after all it only seems fair to put that to arbitration too............. thanking you in anticipation

Then I think the Palestinians have an even more justifiable case they were only booted out less than 60 years ago.

Might makes right we all know that don't we.

[jaffo4011]

Originally Posted by KiwiRob

Then I think the Palestinians have an even more justifiable case they were only booted out less than 60 years ago.

Might makes right we all know that don't we.

fine by me...give them back!

(might want to ask the israeli's first though as its not.technically,a british problem nowadays)

[JP1983]

So, is the Defence Force just a Light Infantry Company or has it Change since The Falkland Islands War? Because a Light Infantry Company Seems kinda Small to be the Island's Main Defense Force, I understand that UK has more Military Units there since the The War, but I thought the FIDF would of got an up graded to like a Detachment of Mechanized Infantry, Light Cavalry or an Air Assault Unit. But I just thought that they would get an Up Grade to at least to keep up with the Modern World

[RobWilliams]

The FIDF is part of the garrison but it's a civilian defence force recruited from the local population, there's also a regular British Army infantry company based on the islands 24/7/365.

Note: A very handy figure people toss around is "Oh there's like 1000 british infantry" on the island, which isn't correct. There are over 1000 military personnel but in terms of frontline infantry there is still one company, the rest is RAF personel (Operating + maintaining 4 Typhoons, one VC-10 tanker and a C-130 i think + a couple of SAR Sea Kings) and general logistics people, Rapier AA battery operators, HMS Clyde + HMS Edinburgh (T42 destoyer) is relieving HMS Dauntless in the region.

In February of this year the company was provided by 2nd Scots, it's probably changed by now though.

There's not much point in deploying something like the Paras or something highly specialised, the tasks the Army would be expected to do would be well within the capabilities of a regular British Army infantry company.

Most of the key land units are still stationed in Afghanistan, a regular light infantry company is perfectly acceptable now. Considering what there is ~300 miles away it'd be fine. Logistically it's easier to deploy a light infantry company abroad than a mechanised company and I expect most of the air assault units - rightly so - are tagged for 16 AAB as the current rapid reaction brigade.

BBC puts the numbers at a regular company ~100 men with ~200 reservists that make up the FIDF. Interesting to note that any images of the FIDF show them armed with the Steyr AUG, if it's rugged enough for the Aussies then it's rugged enough for the FIDF