Naval Command – Campaign

Falklands 1982

Falklands Conflict Campaign Guide for use

with the Naval Command wargame rules

By Rory Crabb

Naval Command – Campaign

Falklands 1982

Introduction The Falklands conflict was a ten-week war fought between Argentina and the United Kingdom over

the British overseas territories of the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

The conflict began on the 2nd of April 1982 when Argentine forces invaded the Falkland Islands and

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands the following day.

On the 5th of April the British Government dispatched a naval taskforce to re-capture the islands. The

Conflict lasted for 72 days until the Argentine surrender on the 14th of June.

This campaign guide will allow Naval Command players to re-fight key engagements of the conflict

and to play a number of “what-if” scenarios.

Some of the scenarios (especially those re-creating air attacks on specific ships) will be very quick to

play using the Naval Command rules. It is therefore suggested that these are played in conjunction

with other scenarios. For example if a ship survives one scenario it will be available to the player in

the next.

HMS Invincible returns to Portsmouth (UK), Victorious

Campaign Map

Map courtesy of the Department of History, United States Military Academy

Historical Scenarios

Attack on the Santa Fe (25th April 1982)

The Argentine submarine Santa Fe has just completed its mission of ferrying a party of marines to

Grtviken in South Georgia and is returning to sea. British frigates are in the area keeping a sharp

lookout. Santa Fe must safely exit the area and escape to open sea.

Royal Navy Forces

HMS Antrim (Type 21 Frigate)

HMS Plymouth (Rothesay Class Frigate)

HMS Brilliant (Type 22 Frigate)

Argentine Forces

ARA Santa Fe (Balao Class Submarine)

Battle Area and Deployment

The Royal Navy frigates must deploy first anywhere in the area marked on the diagram.

The submarine Santa Fe may deploy within the square area shown on the diagram. The submarine

begins the game on the surface.

British Victory Conditions

In order to win the game the British frigates must sink or cripple the Santa Fe with eight turns.

Argentine Victory Conditions

The Santa Fe must safely exit the area in as shown on the diagram within eight turns.

Santa Fe

Ro

yal Navy

Santa Fe

Exit

Air Battle (1st May 1982)

Royal Navy Sea Harriers are launched to intercept an Argentine strike force. The Argentine Air Force

has been launched to incorrect intelligence that amphibious landings are already underway.

Royal Navy Forces

HMS Invincible (Invincible Class Carrier)

6 x Sea Harrier

Argentine Forces

2x A4 Skyhawks

2 x IAI Daggers

2 x Canberras

2 x Mirage III

Airbase – Off Table

Battle Area and Deployment

The Argentine aircraft enter the area on the first turn. All British aircraft begin the game on-board

their carrier (with the exception of CAP aircraft).

British Victory Conditions

In order to win the game the British Harriers must destroy or drive off all of the Argentine Aircraft.

Argentine Victory Conditions

In order to win the game Argentine Strike Force must destroy or drive off all of the British Aircraft.

British Sea Harriers

Arg

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Air

Fo

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Sinking of the Belgrano (2nd May 1982)

The British Nuclear submarine HMS Conqueror is on a search and destroy mission.

Royal Navy Forces

HMS Conqueror (Churchill Class Submarine)

Argentine Forces

ARA General Belgrano (Brooklyn Class Cruiser)

ARA Piedra Buena (Allen M Sumner Class Destroyer)

ARA Bouchard (Allen M Sumner Class Destroyer)

YPF Puerto Rosales (Tanker)

Battle Area and Deployment

All ships are deployed using blinds. The Argentine ships deploy first and are positioned at one end of

the area in a 30 x 30cm square. The HMS Conqueror may deploy anywhere on the table as long as it

is not within 30cm of an enemy vessel or blind marker.

British Victory Conditions

In order to win the game the British Submarine must cripple or sink at least one enemy vessel within

eight turns.

Argentine Victory Conditions

In order to win the game Argentine ships must exit the opposite end of the area within eight turns

without losing any ships.

The sinking Belgrano

HMS Conqueror Argentine

Battle

Group

Argen

tine Exit

Attack on the Sheffield (4th May 1982)

The British Frigate HMS Sheffield is attacked by an Argentine air strike.

Royal Navy Forces

HMS Sheffield (Type 42 Destroyer [Batch 1])

HMS Coventry (Type 42 Destroyer [Batch 1])

HMS Glasgow (Type 42 Destroyer [Batch 1])

Argentine Forces

1x SP-2H Neptune AEW Aircraft

6x Super Etendards (Exocet)

Battle Area and Deployment

All ships are deployed using blinds. The British Ships Deploy First. The Argentine SP-2H Neptune

AEW Aircraft enters the area on the first turn. The Super Etendards may only enter the area once one

of the British ships has been detected. Two Super Etendards may enter the area each turn.

British Victory Conditions

In order to win the game the British Ships must survive for at least four turns.

Argentine Victory Conditions

In order to win the game Argentine aircraft must sink at least one enemy ship within four turns.

HMS Sheffield

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Royal

Navy

Attack on the Coventry (25th May 1982)

British Frigates HMS Coventry and HMS Broadsword are acting as a decoy for enemy aircraft to

draw them away from the amphibious landings taking place in San Carlos Water.

Royal Navy Forces

HMS Coventry (Type 42 Destroyer [Batch 1])

HMS Broadsword (Type 22 Frigate [Batch 1])

Argentine Forces

6x A4 Skyhawks (Bombs)

1x SP-2H Neptune AEW Aircraft

Battle Area and Deployment

All ships are deployed using blinds. The British Ships Deploy First. The Argentine SP-2H Neptune

AEW Aircraft enters the area on the first turn. The A4 Skyhawks may only enter the area once one of

the British ships has been detected. Two A4 Skyhawks may enter the area each turn.

British Victory Conditions

In order to win the game the British Ships must survive for at least four turns.

Argentine Victory Conditions

In order to win the game Argentine aircraft must sink at least one enemy ship within four turns.

HMS Coventry

Argentine

Air Force

Royal

Navy

The Battle of San Carlos Water (21st – 25th May 1982)

Amphibious landings are taking place in San Carlos water. The Naval task force must survive

numerous Argentine air strike and safely land as many troops as possible.

Royal Navy Fleet

Rather than use all of the ships historically involved in the battle, the British player selects from the

fleet lists as follows.

- 1x Aircraft Carrier

- 1x Assault Ship

- 1x Auxiliary Ship

- 2x Merchant Ships

- 2x Destroyers/Frigates

Royal Navy Air Cover

HMS Hermes (Centaur Class Carrier) – Off Table

HMS Invincible (Invincible Class Carrier – Off Table

Royal Navy Landing Force

HMS Fearless (Fearless Class Landing Ship)

HMS Intrepid (Fearless Class Landing Ship)

RFA Sir Geraint (Auxiliary Landing Ship)

RFA Sir Tristram (Auxiliary Landing Ship)

RFA Sir Galahad (Auxiliary Landing Ship)

RFA Sir Percivale (Auxiliary Landing Ship)

RFA Sir Lancelot (Auxiliary Landing Ship)

RFA Fort Austin (Auxiliary Landing Ship)

SS Canberra (Merchant Passenger Ship)

Europic Ferry 4 (merchant RoRo)

Elk 5 (Merchant RoRo)

Royal Navy Escort Force

HMS Ardent (Type 21 Frigate)

HMS Antelope (Type 21 Frigate)

HMS Brilliant (Type 22 Frigate)

HMS Argonaut (Leander Class Frigate)

HMS Plymouth (Rothesay Class Frigate)

HMS Yarmouth (Rothesay Class Frigate)

HMS Antrim (County Class Destroyer)

Argentine Air Forces

The Argentine force for this scenario only includes aircraft. After strikes or if driven off aircraft can

return to their off table airbase to re-arm and re-fuel. The Argentine player has the following aircraft.

6x A4 Skyhawks

4x IAI Daggers

4x Mirage III

4x FMA OA-58 Pucara

4x SP-2H Neptune AEW Aircraft

1x Airbase (Off Table)

Battle Area and Deployment

All ships are deployed using blinds. The British Fleet deploy first as shown on the diagram. Argentine

AEW aircraft enter the battle area during the first turn. Once targets have been detected the Argentine

Air Force may begin to launch airstrikes.

British Victory Conditions

In order to win the game the British must land at least 60% of their ground forces within 20 turns.

Argentine Victory Conditions

In order to win the game Argentine aircraft must prevent the British from landing 60% of their ground

forces within 20 turns.

HMS Fearless in San Carlos Water

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Target

Area

Hypothetical Scenarios These are ideas for possible scenarios that could be played around the Falklands Conflict. These are

“what-if” situations that never happened in reality. Players may wish to create their own scenarios or

use the scenarios provided in the Naval Command core rules.

Carrier Attack The Argentine aircraft carrier Veinticinco de Mayo and its escorts enters the conflict area. A British

battlegroup is sent to intercept.

Fleet Engagement The bulk of the Argentine fleet and the Royal Navy taskforce make contact in a devastating battle at

sea.

Task Force Intercept

Argentine ships and submarines attempt to intercept the task force before its arrival at the Islands. The

Royal navy must protect the landing ships and merchant navy ships from the attackers.

Mainland Strike The conflict escalates leading to British amphibious forces carrying out an attack on the Argentine

mainland.

ARA Veinticinco de Mayo

Royal Navy Task Force

Aircraft Carriers

Centaur Class Aircraft Carrier (STOVL Conversion) [1953] FP: 5 Max Speed 8 EW 4+ Damage Levels 4/5/6 Missile Defence 7+/12

Target 4+ UEW 2+ Damage Control 5+ Air Defence 7+/30 Special Features: Carrier [5]

Aircraft: 4x Sea Harrier, 2x Sea King ASW

HMS Hermes – Task Force Flagship

Invincible Class Aircraft Carrier [1980] FP: 5 Max Speed 8 EW 5+ Damage Levels 4/5/6 Missile Defence 6+/12

Target 4+ UEW 3+ Damage Control 5+ Air Defence 6+/30 Special Features: Carrier [5]

Aircraft: 5x Sea Harrier, 2x Sea King ASW

HMS Invincible

Assault Ships

Fearless Class Assault Ship [1965] FP: 3 Max Speed 6 EW 4+ Damage Levels 4/5/6 Missile Defence 8+/12

Target 4+ UEW 2+ Damage Control 5+ Air Defence 7+/12 Special Features: Carrier [2]/ Transport [20]/ 6 x Landing Craft, Aircraft: 2 x Sea King Transport

HMS Fearless

HMS Intrepid

Destroyers

County Class Destroyer [1962] FP: 2 Max Speed 8 EW 3+ Damage Levels 2/3/4 Missile Defence 8+/20

Target 5+ UEW 2+ Damage Control 5+ Air Defence 6+/20 Special Features: ASW

Aircraft: 1 x Wessex

Weapon Range CS Damage Ammo 4 x 4.5” Gun 12 - 2 - Torpedoes 12 +1 5 6/6

HMS Antrim

HMS Glamorgan

Type 82 Class Destroyer [1973] FP: 2 Max Speed 8 EW 4+ Damage Levels 3/4/5 Missile Defence 6+/20

Target 5+ UEW 3+ Damage Control 5+ Air Defence 5+/20 Special Features: ASW, Flight Deck

Weapon Range CS Damage Ammo 4.5” Gun 12 - 2 - Ikara ASW Missile 10 +1 6 2/24 Torpedoes 12 5 6/6

HMS Bristol

Type 42 Class Destroyer (Batch I) [1975] FP: 2 Max Speed 8 EW 4+ Damage Levels 2/3/4 Missile Defence 6+/20

Target 5+ UEW 3+ Damage Control 5+ Air Defence 6+/20 Special Features: ASW

Aircraft: 1 x Lynx (AEW/ASW/Strike)

Weapon Range CS Damage Ammo 4.5” Gun 12 - 2 - Torpedoes 12 +1 6 6/6

HMS Sheffield

HMS Coventry

HMS Glasgow

HMS Cardiff

HMS Exeter

Frigates

Type 12M Rothesay Class Frigate [1960] FP: 2 Max Speed 8 EW 4+ Damage Levels 2/3/4 Missile Defence 8+/12

Target 5+ UEW 2+ Damage Control 5+ Air Defence 6+/12 Special Features: ASW

Aircraft: 1 x Wasp

Weapon Range CS Damage Ammo 2 x 4.5” Gun 12 - 3 - Limbo ASW Mortar 1 -1 4 3/3 Torpedoes 12 +1 5 6/6

HMS Yarmouth

HMS Plymouth

Type 12L Leander Class Frigate (Batch II) [1963] FP: 2 Max Speed 8 EW 4+ Damage Levels 2/3/4 Missile Defence 7+/12

Target 5+ UEW 3+ Damage Control 5+ Air Defence 6+/12 Special Features: ASW

Aircraft: 1 x Lynx (AEW/ASW/Strike)

Weapon Range CS Damage Ammo 4.5” Gun 12 - 2 - Exocett 70 +0 6 4/4 Torpedoes 12 +1 5 6/6

HMS Andromeda

HMS Argonaut

HMS Minerva

HMS Penelope

Type 21 Amazon Class Frigate [1974] FP: 2 Max Speed 8 EW 4+ Damage Levels 2/3/4 Missile Defence 7+/12

Target 5+ UEW 3+ Damage Control 6+ Air Defence 6+/12 Special Features: ASW

Aircraft: 1 x Lynx (AEW/ASW/Strike)

Weapon Range CS Damage Ammo 4.5” Gun 12 - 2 - Exocett 70 +0 6 4/4 Torpedoes 12 +1 6 6/6

HMS Ardent

HMS Antelope

HMS Active

HMS Alacrity

HMS Ambuscade

HMS Avenger

HMS Arrow

Type 22 Broadsword Class Frigate (Batch I) [1979] FP: 2 Max Speed 8 EW 5+ Damage Levels 2/3/4 Missile Defence 5+/12

Target 5+ UEW 3+ Damage Control 5+ Air Defence 5+/12 Special Features: ASW

Aircraft: 1 x Lynx (AEW/ASW/Strike)

Weapon Range CS Damage Ammo Exocett 72 +0 6 4/4 Torpedoes 12 +1 6 6/6

HMS Broadsword

HMS Brilliant

Attack Submarines

Churchill Class Submarine [1970] FP: 3 Max Speed 5/8 EW 5+ Damage Levels 1/2/3 Missile Defence -

Target 6+ UEW 6+ Damage Control 7+ Air Defence - Special Features: ASW

Weapon Range CS Damage Ammo Torpedoes 12 +0 12 1/15

HMS Conqueror

HMS Courageous

Swiftsure Class Submarine [1973] FP: 4 Max Speed 5/8 EW 5+ Damage Levels 1/2/3 Missile Defence -

Target 6+ UEW 6+ Damage Control 7+ Air Defence - Special Features: ASW

Weapon Range CS Damage Ammo Torpedoes 12 +1 12 1/15

HMS Spartan

HMS Splendid

Fixed Wing Fast Jet Aircraft

Fixed Wing Aircraft Combat Radius CS Damage Dogfight Sea Harrier [Strike/ Interceptor] 400 +1 8 +1

Helicopters

AEW Aircraft and Helicopters Speed EW CS Damage Dogfight Wasp 4+ +0 4 -4 Whirlwind Transport 30 3+ +0 - -4 Whirlwind ASW 30 3+ +0 4 -4 Wessex Transport Helicopter 30 4+ +0 - -4 Wessex ASW Helicopter 30 4+ +0 4 -4 Sea king ASW Helicopter 30 5+ +1 6 -2 Sea King Transport Helicopter 30 5+ +1 - -3 Lynx Strike Helicopter 40 6+ +1 6 -1 Lynx AEW Helicopter 40 6+ +1 - -1 Lynx ASW Helicopter 40 6+ +1 - -1

Argentine Fleet

Aircraft Carrier

Collossus Class Aircraft Carrier [1944] FP: 5 Max Speed 8 EW 3+ Damage Levels 4/5/6 Missile Defence 6+/12

Target 4+ UEW 2+ Damage Control 5+ Air Defence 5+/12 Special Features: Carrier [2/2] Aircraft: 5x A4 Skyhawks, 1 x S2 Tracker AEW, 2x Sea King ASW

ARA Veinticino de Mayo

Cruisers

Brooklyn Class Cruiser [1938] FP: 4

Max Speed 8 EW 3+ Damage Levels 4/5/6 Missile Defence 6+/12 Target 3+ UEW 2+ Damage Control 6+ Air Defence 6+/18

Special Features: ASW Weapon Range CS Damage Ammo 15 x 6” Guns 12 - 3 - 8 x 5” Guns 12 - 2 -

ARA General Belgrano

Destroyers

Type 42 Class Destroyer (Batch I) [1975] FP: 2 Max Speed 8 EW 4+ Damage Levels 2/3/4 Missile Defence 6+/18

Target 5+ UEW 3+ Damage Control 5+ Air Defence 6+/18 Special Features: ASW Aircraft: 1 x Lynx (AEW/ASW/Strike) Weapon Range CS Damage Ammo 4.5” Gun 12 - 2 - Torpedoes 12 +1 6 6/6

ARA Hercules

ARA Santisima Trinidad

Allen M Sumner Class Destroyer [1943] FP: 2 Max Speed 8 EW 3+ Damage Levels 2/3/4 Missile Defence 8+/18

Target 5+ UEW 2+ Damage Control 6+ Air Defence 6+/18 Weapon Range CS Damage Ammo 6 x 5” Gun 12 - 2 - Torpedoes 12 +1 6 5/10

ARA Hipolito Bouchard

ARA Piedrabuena

ARA Comodoro Segui

ARA Comodoro Py

Corvettes

Drummond Class Corvette [1978] FP: 2 Max Speed 8 EW 4+ Damage Levels 2/3/4 Missile Defence 8+/18

Target 5+ UEW 3+ Damage Control 5+ Air Defence 6+/18 Special Features: ASW Weapon Range CS Damage Ammo 100mm Gun 12 - 2 - Exocett 70 +0 6 4/4 Torpedoes 12 +1 6 6/6

ARA Drummond

ARA Guerrico

ARA Granville

Attack Submarines

Type 209 Submarine [1971] FP: 3 Max Speed 4/6 EW 4+ Damage Levels 1/2/3 Missile Defence -

Target 7+ UEW 6+ Damage Control 8+ Air Defence - Special Features: ASW, Weapon Range CS Damage Ammo Torpedoes 12 -1 8 1/22

ARA San Luis

Balao Class (GUPPY Programme) Submarine [1943] FP: 3 Max Speed 4/6 EW 3+ Damage Levels 1/2/3 Missile Defence -

Target 7+ UEW 5+ Damage Control 7+ Air Defence - Special Features: ASW Weapon Range CS Damage Ammo Torpedoes 12 -1 8 1/22

ARA Santa Fe

Fixed Wing Fast Jet Aircraft

Fixed Wing Aircraft Combat Radius CS Damage Dogfight A4 Skyhawk 600 +0 8 +2 Super Etendard 500 +1 10 +2 Mirage III 600 +1 8 +2 IAI Dagger 600 +1 8 +2 Canberra 800 +0 10 -3 FMA IA 58 Pucara 180 -1 6 -2

AEW Aircraft and Helicopters

AEW Aircraft and Helicopters Speed EW CS Damage Dogfight S2 Tracker AEW 40 4+ +2 - -3 SP-2H Neptune Lynx Helicopter ASW 40 6+ +1 5 -1 Alouette A103 40 6+ +1 5 -1 Sea King Transport Helicopter 30 5+ +1 - -3