Commonwealth-Argentine Falkland War

LordTerra · May 13, 2015

Just popped into my head and though i would post and see what you all think.

With a POD between 1945 and 1982 have it so that when Argentina launches their invasion of the Falklands have Canada, Australia and New Zealand declare war in support of the UK and have their military forces (naval, land or air) either join the Task Force to retake the Falklands or to take over the duties of other UK ships to free up more forces for the Task Force.

There help needs to be well known in the UK.

Bonus points if more Commonwealth contrys do the same.

shiftygiant · May 13, 2015

LordTerra said:
Just popped into my head and though i would post and see what you all think.

With a POD between 1945 and 1982 have it so that when Argentina launches their invasion of the Falklands have Canada, Australia and New Zealand declare war in support of the UK and have their military forces (naval, land or air) either join the Task Force to retake the Falklands or to take over the duties of other UK ships to free up more forces for the Task Force.

There help needs to be well known in the UK.

Bonus points if more Commonwealth contrys do the same.

Argentina goes for Chile and Uruguay before the Falklands?

mlp · May 13, 2015

shiftygiant said:
Argentina goes for Chile and Uruguay before the Falklands?

that'll lead the US to join though, not exactly Canada/Australia.
Maybe Argentina/Australia relations deteriorates over a long period, culminating in Australian alliance with Britain during the War?

Julius Vogel · May 13, 2015

Is this in reference to my NZ thread of a similar nature?

LordTerra · May 13, 2015

Julius Vogel said:
Is this in reference to my NZ thread of a similar nature?

Yes i read your thread and this idea once again popped into my head, though this idea has been floating around my head for awhile, just never around a computer.

LordTerra · May 13, 2015

zeppelinair said:
that'll lead the US to join though, not exactly Canada/Australia.
Maybe Argentina/Australia relations deteriorates over a long period, culminating in Australian alliance with Britain during the War?

Thats could get Australia without too my butterflies, though Australia joining could emboloud New Zealand to join but Canada is odd one out.

Caiaphas · May 13, 2015

what if the Commonwealth of Nations became a military alliance akin to NATO? so former nations of the British Empire are given the choice to join the alliance for 'protection' which could be useful in volatile Cold War Africa, so in this scenario Australia, Canada and New Zealand would be obligated to defend another member, and so would any other country that joined the alliance, maybe India would join to protect itself from China and Pakistan

EternalAnglo · May 13, 2015

Caiaphas said:
what if the Commonwealth of Nations became a military alliance akin to NATO? so former nations of the British Empire are given the choice to join the alliance for 'protection' which could be useful in volatile Cold War Africa, so in this scenario Australia, Canada and New Zealand would be obligated to defend another member, and so would any other country that joined the alliance, maybe India would join to protect itself from China and Pakistan

Id like to see this as a timeline

shiftygiant · May 13, 2015

Caiaphas said:
what if the Commonwealth of Nations became a military alliance akin to NATO? so former nations of the British Empire are given the choice to join the alliance for 'protection' which could be useful in volatile Cold War Africa, so in this scenario Australia, Canada and New Zealand would be obligated to defend another member, and so would any other country that joined the alliance, maybe India would join to protect itself from China and Pakistan

There was a plan for a Commonwealth Corps that made rounds in 1945 and '46, although their purpose was as part of Operation Downfall. Given the nature of the decolonization process, it's not unlikely to see a formation of a Pan-Commonwealth taskforce or defense pact formed if the Malaysia Emergency goes a bit worse.

HARRY · May 13, 2015

How about back in 1954 President Peron is informed of unrest in the military (what in OTL results in the bombing of the Plaza de Mayo) unsure of who exactly is involved he decides the safest option is keep them occupied elsewhere. Elsewhere being invading the Falkland island sorry Las Malvinas, Britain after all is still on rationing from WW2, is pulling troops out of the Suez and working to give independence to it colonies what could they do.

mlp · May 13, 2015

HARRY said:
How about back in 1954 President Peron is informed of unrest in the military (what in OTL results in the bombing of the Plaza de Mayo) unsure of who exactly is involved he decides the safest option is keep them occupied elsewhere. Elsewhere being invading the Falkland island sorry Las Malvinas, Britain after all is still on rationing from WW2, is pulling troops out of the Suez and working to give independence to it colonies what could they do.

Does Argentina have a navy that's even comparable to that of the British Empire at that time?

pdf27 · May 13, 2015

zeppelinair said:
Does Argentina have a navy that's even comparable to that of the British Empire at that time?

I don't think they're really even comparable to the forces the RN have stationed in the South Atlantic at this time!
Having said that, there were a few potential flashpoints in the very deep south (Southern Thule or the South Shetlands, I think - can't quite remember) at the time with the RN removing Argentinian and Chilean "meteorological" teams from the islands. Having one of those go badly wrong and leading to some sort of skirmish/war is entirely possible.

aktarian · May 13, 2015

Could these coutnries jsut send a token support, like one or two ships? Then when Argentinians start bombing one either gets hit or manages to shoot down a plane or two.

Cryhavoc101 · May 13, 2015

Perhaps have a heavier overt or covert British involvement in supporting ANZAC forces in Vietnam and beyond during the 70s

ie more than the odd unexplained picture of large Delta Winged bombers (that have only one job) over the Mekong Delta

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soMNBdOajMA

This strengthens the bonds between those Commonwealth nations

As for Canada - perhaps a relatively large group of Canadians settle on the island in the 60s and 70s

In addition have the Parachute forces of Canada train heavily with the British Airborne units and have a dotted line into the British Parachute brigade in the same way that Dutch Royal Marines have a dotted line (or did) into the Royal Marine Commando Brigade

Perhaps the British also maintian an 'East of Suez' nuclear V-Bomber deterent in defence of India, Singapore and OZ/NZ into the 1980s and in light of this Indian Support can also be forth coming - even if its purely in the form of allowing Sea Harrier 1s built for the Indian navy (Harrier 51s?) to be assigned / bought by the British Government (something they were very keen not to have happen OTL).

Tyr · May 13, 2015

Didn't Canada offer IOTL?
Britain had things under control alone though and the government saw the war as a great chance to gain some prestige so....

shiftygiant · May 13, 2015

Tyr said:
Didn't Canada offer IOTL?
Britain had things under control alone though and the government saw the war as a great chance to gain some prestige so....

I still stand that a vaster Argentina would drag in more fighters. Britain starts staging special operation's in Argentina itself, the actual fight for the islands more bloody (A war tested occupation force would come from expansions into Chile and Uruguay), so Britain asks the ANZAC for help, eventually Canada gets involved. Britain still wins, but it's longer and more bloody.

Scion of Albion · May 15, 2015

LordTerra said:
With a POD between 1945 and 1982 have it so that when Argentina launches their invasion of the Falklands have Canada, Australia and New Zealand declare war in support of the UK and have their military forces (naval, land or air) either join the Task Force to retake the Falklands or to take over the duties of other UK ships to free up more forces for the Task Force.

Canada did take over some of the RN's North Atlantic duties in 1982 precisely for that reason - to free up ships for the Task Force.

Caiaphas said:
... maybe India would join to protect itself from China and Pakistan

That would be the same Pakistan that is also in the Commonwealth, right?

Caiaphas · May 15, 2015

Scion of Albion said:
That would be the same Pakistan that is also in the Commonwealth, right?

yeah but Britain would always pick India over Pakistan

CarribeanViking · May 15, 2015

Well, it did take a much earlier point of departure, but I do have a story on the subject with the last line of the first chapter, "Two vortices of chaos were about to collide, and somewhere in the middle was a Gurkha with a hydrogen bomb."

Surviving V- force, Commonwealth crew. God help us all...

voss749 · May 15, 2015

Caiaphas said:
what if the Commonwealth of Nations became a military alliance akin to NATO? so former nations of the British Empire are given the choice to join the alliance for 'protection' which could be useful in volatile Cold War Africa, so in this scenario Australia, Canada and New Zealand would be obligated to defend another member, and so would any other country that joined the alliance, maybe India would join to protect itself from China and Pakistan

It sounds like a Dr. Who plotline ;-)