British Aircraft in the Falklands


Aerospatiale Gazelle
Avro Vulcan
BAC Canberra PRO
BAC Nimrod
British Aerospace Harrier GR. Mk 3
British Aerospace Sea Harrier FRS.
Boeing-Vertol Chinook
Handley Page Victor
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Vickers-Armstrong (BAC) VC 10
Westland Lynx HAS
Westland Scout
Westland Sea King
Westland Wasp
Westland Wessex


Aerospatiale Gazelle
Type
Light multi-role helicopter
Power plant
One Turbomeca Astazou 3A turboshaft
Speed (km/h)
264 clean at Sea level; Cruise 238
Range (km)
360 with a 1,102lb payload
Hovering Ceiling (m)
2,875
Rotor Diameter (m)
10.5
Length (m)
(Fuselage) 11.97m with Rotors turning
Payload (kg):
4000lb slung load, or pylons fitted for rocket pods.
Armaments:
Can be mounted on optional pylons, can carry 2 68mm SNEB rocket pods and cabin mounted GPMG.
Crew
2 +3 Pax.
Nine Gazelles from 3 Cdo Bde Air Sqn RM were in action at the start of the Falklands war. 6 more joined from 656 Sqn when 5 Inf Bde landed. In total, three Gazelles were shot down during the operation.
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Avro Vulcan
Aircraft Type:
Bomber
Crew: 
5
Power plant: 
4 Bristol Olympus 201 turbojets, each rated at 17,000lb thrust
Range (Km): 
7400 at high altitude with bomb load
Service Ceiling (m): 
19812
Wingspan (m): 
33.83
Wing Area (m2): 
368.3
Length (m): 
30.50
Height (m): 
8.29
Max. Payload 
21000lb of bombs internally, or One Blue Steel stand off nuclear missile, or externally upto four Shrike or two Skybolt missiles
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BAC Canberra PR9
Type
Photo reconnaissance aircraft
Power plant
Two Rolls-Royce Avon 206 turbojets of 11,250lb st
Speed (km/h)
917 at 12192m
Range (km)
4274
Service Ceiling (m)
14630
Wingspan ((m)
19.49
Length (m)
19.96
Crew
3
A few Canberras operated from Chile in the Falklands Campaign
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BAC Nimrod
Type
Maritime reconnaissance and strike aircraft
Power plant
4 12140lb dry thrust Rolls-Royce Spey Mk 250 turbofans
Speed (km/h)
925; Patrol speed 370 on two engines
Range (km)
9662 ferry range on internal fuel only
Service Ceiling (m)
12800
Wingspan ((m)
35 excluding ESM wing tip pods
Wing Area (m2)
197.04
Length (m)
39.34
Armaments:
Provision for 13500lb of dropped stores in internal bay, including nine torpedoes and underwing pylons can be fitted with Harpoon Anti-Ship missiles or pairs of Sidewinder AAMs
Crew
11
The R.1 Version of the Nimrod served in the Falklands Campaign, keeping an eye out for Enemy ships in the Total Exclusion Zone
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British Aerospace Harrier GR. Mk 3
Aircraft Type:
Strike
First Flight: 
31/8/1966
Entered Service: 
7/1969
Power plant: 
One 21,500lb thrust Rolls-Royce (Bristol) Pegasus Mk 103 vectored thrust turbofan expelling through four rotating fuselage side mounted exhaust nozzles
Speed (Km/h): 
1,186 at low altitude
Range (Km): 
667 combat radius
Service Ceiling (m): 
Above 15,240
Wingspan (m): 
7.7
Wing Area (m2): 
18.68
Length (m): 
14.27
Height (m): 
3.45
Empty Weight (kg): 
5,579 with pilot
Maximum Take Off Weight (Kg)
11,340
Armaments:
None as standard, can mount two external gun pods below fuselage. Two Aden 30mm cannon each with 100 rounds. 5,000lb of disposable stores on four wings and one centreline pylon.
Crew: 
1 (2 in Trainer versions)
The World's first V/STOL combat aircraft. Later developed into the Harrier II. Developed from the Kestrel by Hawker Siddeley, the Harrier brought to the RAF the ability to operate from locations which did not have the absurdly obvious target of a massive concrete runway and hardened aircraft shelters.
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BAe Sea Harrier FRS Mk.1
Sea Harrier FRS.1
Aircraft Type:
Carrier borne Multi-Role aircraft
First Flight: 
20/8/1978
Entered Service: 
1980?
Power plant: 
One 21,500lb dry thrust Rolls Royce Pegasus Mk 104 vectored thrust turbofan
Speed (Km/h): 
Mach 1.5 in a dive, 600 knots in level flight at sea level with full AAM load
Range (Km): 
740km on a hi-lo-hi intercept mission with full combat reserve
Service Ceiling (m): 
15545
Wingspan (m): 
7.7
Wing Area (m2): 
18.68
Length (m): 
14.5
Height (m): 
3.71
Empty Weight (kg): 
5,942
Maximum Take Off Weight (Kg)
11,884
Armaments:
Two 30mm Aden cannon in ventral pods with 150 round's each. 8,000lb of stores on centreline and four wing pylons
Crew:
1
Navalised version of the BAe Harrier, fitted with raised cockpit and anti-salt corrosion methods. The Sea Harrier flies with the Blue Fox multi-role radar. The cockpit was also raised improving the Sea Harrier pilots' view and the amount of space available in the cockpit, compared to the restrictive Harrier GR. Mk 3.
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Boeing-Vertol Chinook
Type
Medium Transport Helicopter
Power plant
Two Avco Lycoming T55 free turbine turbo shafts
Speed (km/h)
306
Range (km)
185 with 7262lb payload
Hovering Ceiling (m)
14,750ft
Rotor Diameter ((m)
18.29
Main Disc Area (m2)
  
Length (m)
30.18 with Rotors turning. Fuselage 15.54
Armaments:
Guns can be fitted to doors, also sponson carried weapons are available but rarely used.
Payload
44 troops, or 24 stretcher casualties plus two attendants or 16,00lb external slung load and a 4,000lb internal payload
Crew
2+
A number Chinooks were bound for the Falklands aboard the Atlantic Conveyor, unfortunately all but one of the Chinooks were lost in the sinking of the Atlantic Conveyor. The lone surviving Chinook, Bravo November, performed performed vital and dangerous tasks for several weeks until more Chinooks arrived in mid-June.
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Handley Page Victor K.2
Aircraft Type:
Air to air refuelling tanker
First Flight: 
1974
Power plant: 
4 Rolls Royce Conway RCo.17 Mk.201
Speed (Km/h): 
964
Range (Km): 
7400
Service Ceiling (m): 
15240
Wingspan (m): 
35.57
Wing Area (m2): 
204.38
Length (m): 
34.96
Height (m): 
8.55
Crew: 
5 plus a seat for the Crew Chief if required.
RAF Victors were used as Refueling aircraft by the Royal Air Force to and from Ascension Island. Especially in support of the Vulcan in its Black Buck Missions, the Victor tanker had a fuel capacity of 58,029 kg, 128,000Lbs, 15,991 UK Gallons or 72,695 Litres.
Many Thanks to RR Brooks of The Handley Page Victor "The Ultimate V Bomber" for the help with the Victor details.
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Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Type
Transport
Power plant
Four Allison T56-A-7 turboprops, 4050 hp each
Speed (km/h)
603 at 6100m
Range (km)
5470
Service Ceiling (m)
9145
Wingspan ((m)
40.41
Length (m)
29.79
Crew
5
Payload
92 passengers or 35700lb payload
RAF Hercules Aircraft were used as Transports by the Royal Air Force to and from Ascension Island
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Vickers-Armstrong (BAC) VC 10
Type
Transport and Tanker
Power plant
Four 22500lb dry thrust Rolls-Royce Conway Mk 301 turbofans
Speed (km/h)
684 at 9145, for long range. Cruise: C1K: 830km/h at 38,000ft, K2/K3/K4: 928km/h at 38,000ft
Range (km)
6276 with maximum payload
Service Ceiling (m)
1245
Wingspan ((m)
44.55
Length (m)
C1K: 48.36 , K2: 48.36m; K3/K4 2.32m (excluding probe
Crew
2-3?
Payload
Fuel or Passengers, sometimes a mixture. Depending on variant
The VC10 aircraft were used as Transports by the Royal Air Force to and from Ascension Island
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Westland Lynx
Type
Multi-role Anti-Submarine, Anti-Ship and Utilities Helicopter 
Power plant
Two Rolls-Royce Gem turbo shafts
Speed (km/h)
232, Cruise on one engine 225
Range (km)
592
Hovering Ceiling (m)
2575
Rotor Diameter ((m)
12.8
Length (m)
15.16 with rotors turning
Armaments:
Wide range of torpedoes, guns, mines, sonar buoys, anti-ship and ASW torpedoes mounted on wheel sponsons and forward fuselage mountings.
Crew
3
A Lynx crippled an Argentine freighter with a Sea Skua missile during the Falklands War
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Westland Sea King
Type
ASW and Air-sea rescue Helicopter
Power plant
Two Rolls-Royce Gnome turbo shafts
Speed (km/h)
230; Cruise 208
Range (km)
1230 with standard fuel
Service Ceiling (m)
975m
Rotor Diameter ((m)
18.9
Main Disc Area (m2)
  
Length (m)
22.15 with Rotors turning
Armaments:
Sponson mountings for a variety of ASW and Anti-ship weaponry. Guns can be fitted to doors.
Crew
3
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Westland Scout
Type
Anti-Tank and Utility helicopter
Power plant
Nimbus 101 turbo shaft
Speed (km/h)
211; Cruise 196
Range (km)
507 with four passengers and full allowances
Hovering Ceiling (m)
2682
Rotor Diameter (m)
9.83
Length (m)
12.29m with rotors turning
Payload (kg):
2,404 kg
Armaments:
Mounted on optional boom, can carry, SS11 missiles or a cabin mounted GPMG.
Crew
2 + 3 Pax
Six Scouts from 3 Cdo Bde Air Sqn RM were in action at the start of the Falklands war along with 3 from 656 Squadron Army Air Corps. 3 more joined 656 Sqn when 5 Inf Bde landed. One Scout was shot down during operations.
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Westland Wasp
Type
Shipboard ASW, SAR and Utility helicopter
Power plant
One Nimbus 503 engine
Speed (km/h)
193; Cruise 177
Range (km)
435 with four passengers and full allowances
Hovering Ceiling (m)
2682
Rotor Diameter ((m)
9.83
Length (m)
12.29m with Rotors turning
Armaments:
Can be mounted on optional sponsons, can carry torpedoes, missiles, rockets and guns
Crew
2
A Wasp from H.M.S. Plymouth employed an AS12 in the Falklands against the Argentine Submarine Sante Fe, Crippling it.
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Westland Wessex HAS.3
Type
Multi-role utility and assault helicopter with ASW capability
Power plant
1,600shp Rolls-Royce Gazelle 165 turbo shaft
Speed (km/h)
212; cruise 195
Range (km)
486 on Standard Fuel
Hovering Ceiling (m)
945m
Rotor Diameter (m)
17.07
Length (m)
20.04
Payload (kg):
4,000lb payload
Armaments:
Weapons can be mounted externally
Crew
3
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