Archie to SAM: A Short Operational History of Ground-Based Air ...

OPERATIONS BETWEEN VIETNAM AND THE PERSIAN GULF
Figure 72. Roland launch. The Roland was developed by the French,
who claimed it destroyed four British aircraft in the Falklands War, a
claim denied by the British. (Reprinted from Redstone Arsenal.)
tions. The Argentine airmen flew mostly outdated aircraft during
daytime, in clear weather, without ECM, and at the limits
of their range. In addition, with the exception of five Frenchmade
Exocet missiles, they dropped gravity bombs on targets
(mainly ships) that they had not been trained to engage. Nevertheless,
they sank seven ships and damaged another dozen.
British losses could have been far worse, but at least one-fifth
(perhaps three-quarters) of the Argentine bombs failed to explode
due to faulty fuze settings, defective fuzes or bombs, and
most of all, to extremely low-level and short bomb releases.
(One-half of the dozen ships damaged were hit by dud bombs.)
The Argentine pilots demonstrated their courage and dedication
by their repeated attacks, despite the formidable odds and
high losses. For example, between 21 and 25 May, they lost 19
aircraft on 117 sorties. 33
The British also operated under a number of severe handicaps
in the campaign. The British supply line stretched 7,000
163