Comments by "Sar Jim" (@sarjim4381) on "SAS Raid - Pebble Island 1982" video.

  1. The Piukara was a singularly unsuccessful aircraft during the Falklands War. The Argentine Air Force (AAF) deployed at least 24 aircraft to the Falklands and at least another 20 from mainland bases. Since the aircraft were designed for close air support and interdiction of ground forces. the RAF viewed them as a real risk. Instead, at least 11 were destroyed on the ground by a combination of air attack, SAS radis, and naval gunfire. The AAF conscript ground crews apparently had no training in dispersing and camouflaging the craft on the ground, so they were found neatly lined up in rows on airfields. Only a few were dispersed to hastily prepared landing strips, something the Pukara was supposed to be able to handle. One of these craft shot down a Marine Scout helicopter, the only Argentine air ot air victory of the war. Another Pucara, flying from one of these outlying strips that was unknown to the British, attacked troops advancing toward Goose Green. It was promptly shot down by small arms fire. It was the only known attack by a Pukara on British troops. In the defense of Argentine pilots, they were limited to only a few hours flying a month due to Argentine budget restrictions, and the aircraft didn't carry the kinds of radar and navigation instruments needed for low level, nap of the earth flying. This deficiency led to one Pukara being brought down by a Stinger missile. In the end, eleven Pukaras were captured by the British. The AAF still has faith in the Pukara, although it probably doesn't have much choice. Other than a dozen A-4M FightingHawk attack aircraft and a couple IA-63 trainer/ground attack aircraft, the Pukara is the only combat aircraft available, and the only counterinsurgency craft. 20 have been taken in hand to upgrade their electronics and weapons fits and add modern engines. They should be much more effective aircraft when the upgrades are finally complete. With typical Argentine budget problems and bureaucratic meddling, a program that was supposed to be complete by 2017 is still dragging on today. It's expected the upgraded aircraft will soldier on until 2045, the last survivors of the Falklands War.
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