I start this post off with a question:
During the 1982 Falklands War were there any members of the Canadian Forces attached to British units/ships as part of an exchange or as observers?
I have searched high and low and can find nothing on this, just makes me more curious though.
Now, on to the meat of the post...
1982, the Falklands are invaded.
We all know 'The Empire Strikes Back' and all that jazz, but I suggest a POD.
What if the Commonwealth had some kind of secret defense agreement embedded in it? Maybe it's like the NATO 'attack one, attack us all'? Maybe it's more specific to some Commonwealth members... no matter, the defense agreement exisits and because of it Canada has to provide all support to the UK during the conflict.
Checking the MARCOM assets in 1982 it looks like the following were in Halifax (VERY rough list, forgive any errors):
Annapolis class destroyer escort - HMCS Nipigon (pre DELEX)
Restigouche class destroyer - HMCS Terra Nova, HMCS Gatineau (post IRE, pre DELEX)
St. Laurent class destroyer - HMCS Saguenay, HMCS Margaree, HMCS Assiniboine (post DELEX)
Iroquois class destroyers - HMCS Athabaskan, HMCS Iroquois (pre TRUMP)
Protecteur class auxiliary oiler replenishment (AOR) - HMCS Preserver
The St. Laurent and Iroquois class destroyers have thier Sea Kings of course.
I know not all of these ships would be fit to sail, so lets say 1/2 the destroyers and the AOR can go (5 ships).
I know none of them had anything like an effective AAW system, would the RN still want them along?
This is just the MARCOM side of things, would Land Force units be asked to come along? Might one destroyer (or more) be used as a transport.
If it had to, what would a Canadian contribution to the Falklands War have looked like?
During the 1982 Falklands War were there any members of the Canadian Forces attached to British units/ships as part of an exchange or as observers?
I have searched high and low and can find nothing on this, just makes me more curious though.
Now, on to the meat of the post...
1982, the Falklands are invaded.
We all know 'The Empire Strikes Back' and all that jazz, but I suggest a POD.
What if the Commonwealth had some kind of secret defense agreement embedded in it? Maybe it's like the NATO 'attack one, attack us all'? Maybe it's more specific to some Commonwealth members... no matter, the defense agreement exisits and because of it Canada has to provide all support to the UK during the conflict.
Checking the MARCOM assets in 1982 it looks like the following were in Halifax (VERY rough list, forgive any errors):
Annapolis class destroyer escort - HMCS Nipigon (pre DELEX)
Restigouche class destroyer - HMCS Terra Nova, HMCS Gatineau (post IRE, pre DELEX)
St. Laurent class destroyer - HMCS Saguenay, HMCS Margaree, HMCS Assiniboine (post DELEX)
Iroquois class destroyers - HMCS Athabaskan, HMCS Iroquois (pre TRUMP)
Protecteur class auxiliary oiler replenishment (AOR) - HMCS Preserver
The St. Laurent and Iroquois class destroyers have thier Sea Kings of course.
I know not all of these ships would be fit to sail, so lets say 1/2 the destroyers and the AOR can go (5 ships).
I know none of them had anything like an effective AAW system, would the RN still want them along?
This is just the MARCOM side of things, would Land Force units be asked to come along? Might one destroyer (or more) be used as a transport.
If it had to, what would a Canadian contribution to the Falklands War have looked like?