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

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OPERATIONS BETWEEN VIETNAM AND THE PERSIAN GULF<br />

Figure 76. Seacat.The short-range British Seacat was an older <strong>SAM</strong> used<br />

by the Royal Navy, as well as by the Argentines. There is some dispute<br />

as <strong>to</strong> its effectiveness in the Falklands War. This picture is <strong>of</strong> a training<br />

exercise before that war. (Reprinted from Imperial War Museum.)<br />

British fleet. The Argentine air force sank seven ships and hit<br />

another dozen. 41 Clearly, the Argentines came <strong>of</strong>f better in the<br />

air-sea battle in terms <strong>of</strong> resources expended. Each British<br />

ship cost tens if not hundreds <strong>of</strong> millions <strong>of</strong> dollars; the HMS<br />

Sheffield, for example, cost $225 million. Argentine Exocets<br />

and aircraft cost far less, approximately $200,000 for the missiles<br />

and perhaps $5 million for a modern jet fighter. 42 But, the<br />

British did win the war and did achieve their national objective.<br />

Other Actions in the 1980s<br />

There were no major air operations by developed powers in<br />

the 1980s. Three other actions deserve mention, however, be-<br />

168

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