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Falklands Admiral Sir Sandy Woodward dies aged 81
Telegraph UK ^ | 11:50AM BST 05 Aug 2013 | By Ben Farmer, Defence Correspondent

Posted on 08/05/2013 6:13:30 AM PDT by Perdogg

He died at the age of 81 after a long illness, his family said.

Admiral Woodward was commander of the naval force sent by Margaret Thatcher to re-take the Falkland Islands in 1982. He later served as deputy chief of the defence staff and went on to be the Flag Aide-de Camp to the Queen.

(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 08/05/2013 6:13:30 AM PDT by Perdogg
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To: Perdogg
He also gave the controversial order to sink the Argentine cruiser, General Belgrano, killing 323.

Why would this be controversial? Were they wearing hoodies?

2 posted on 08/05/2013 6:23:03 AM PDT by Gamecock (Member: NAACAC)
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To: Perdogg; Gamecock

It’s my understanding that Thatcher herself gave the order to sink the Belgrano. The Brits had established an exclusion zone around the Falklands..the Belgrano had reversed course, and was heading towards it..the Argentines claimed after that the ship hadn’t quite just yet crossed the line, but after losing a cruiser, Thatcher wasn’t going to wait..


3 posted on 08/05/2013 6:33:21 AM PDT by ken5050 (My tagline is on summer break..)
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To: Gamecock

The was some question where the ship was located when it was sunk. I am not an expert on Maritime Law and when and where a ship can be sunk.


4 posted on 08/05/2013 6:33:52 AM PDT by Perdogg (Cruz-Paul 2016)
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To: Perdogg

It was war, the Argies started it, and Thatcher finished it.


5 posted on 08/05/2013 6:34:25 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Gamecock
Why would this be controversial? Were they wearing hoodies?

The Royal Navy should have stayed in their truck!

6 posted on 08/05/2013 6:37:53 AM PDT by Haiku Guy (Gun Control Haiku: Say "Registration" / And they call you paranoid / So say "Privacy")
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To: Perdogg

RIP.


7 posted on 08/05/2013 6:50:04 AM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (Resist We Much)
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To: Gamecock

I thought the media said it’s OK to kill White Hispanics ?


8 posted on 08/05/2013 6:50:34 AM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (Resist We Much)
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To: Haiku Guy

They had a duty to retreat.


9 posted on 08/05/2013 6:51:06 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: ken5050

After the Args hit the Brit cruiser with the exocet, the brits should have sunk the entire Arg. navy, levelled their bases and nuked Buenos Aires. If they did, the Falklands would not be an issue today...just sayin”.


10 posted on 08/05/2013 7:18:56 AM PDT by gr8eman (Ron Swanson for President!)
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To: fieldmarshaldj

LOL Good one.


11 posted on 08/05/2013 7:38:24 AM PDT by Perdogg (Cruz-Paul 2016)
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To: ken5050

Right, and the reason you establish such a zone is so that one doesn’t have to determine the intent of the vessel. Since the ship was a naval warship, c’est la guerre.


12 posted on 08/05/2013 7:46:15 AM PDT by Perdogg (Cruz-Paul 2016)
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To: Perdogg
I am not an expert on Maritime Law and when and where a ship can be sunk.

Under maritime law, the Belgrano could be sunk anywhere. Argentina had committed an act of war against the United Kingdom, and the UK had the right to sink an Argentinian warship anywhere under virtually any circumstances.

Whether or not Belgrano was in the exclusion zone was utterly irrelevant. What the exclusion zone did was set up an area where the United Kingdom said that it might sink any ship in that area, regardless of the flag it was flying - you can't always reliably identify the nationality of a ship. It was a warning to ships of neutral nations to avoid the area so they would remain safe. It had no relevance to a belligerent nation.

The Argentinian Navy, and its sailors, understand this - and have rarely made any fuss about what happened. They were at war, and would have sunk HMS Conqueror if they'd had the chance. It is a tragedy in a real sense - those Argentinian sailors were brave men serving their country, and had no part in their governments decision to invade the Falklands - but in war, brave, innocent men die on both sides. That's the way it works.

13 posted on 08/05/2013 1:48:27 PM PDT by naturalman1975 ("America was under attack. Australia was immediately there to help." - John Winston Howard)
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To: Gamecock
Why would this be controversial?

Slightly controversial in the under the task force organization and ROE, he wasn't actually in control of the submarines.

His view was that in the 12-18 hours changing the ROE through the formal process could see a 16 Exocets arriving from the south during an air stike from the Argentinian carrier in the north.

Issuing the order (which London had the opportunity to overule, as Conqueror wouldn't actually receive it until surfacing for the next signals update) sent one of two messages

(Also if they wanted to they could leave the signal standing and blame him for any fallout)
14 posted on 08/05/2013 5:25:49 PM PDT by Oztrich Boy (Rules are for the guidance of wise men and the blind obedience of fools - Solon, Lawmaker of Athens)
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