GADA 601
Encyclopedia
The 601st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group (GAA 601 or Grupo de Artillería Antiaérea 601), historically known as GADA 601 (Grupo de Artillería de Defensa Aérea 601) is the main anti-aircraft artillery unit of the Argentine Army
. Its headquarters are based just north of Mar del Plata
. Its name was changed to GAA 601 Teniente General Pablo Ricchieri in 1999. The force played a key role during the 1982 Falklands War
. The unit is the main air defence training center of Argentina.
, the main headquarters of the army, along with the Centro de Instrucción Antiaéreo, a training unit.
Meanwhile, the authorities of the resort town
of Mar del Plata
were seeking the settling of an army base there. In 1940, a local independent commission, under the auspices of Juan Fava and Rufino Inda, both of them former socialist Mayor
s of the city, made a formal request to the Ministry of War. Incidentally, the socialists ruled Mar del Plata during the two major combat deployments in the unit's history (1962 and 1982), although the country was under a military dictatorship in both occasions. By the end of 1944 the two anti-aircraft groups were merged and effectively transferred to Mar del Plata, under the name of Escuela Antiaérea.
weapons deployed were 76.2 mm Skoda
guns and 20 mm cannons
.
Several years later, between 1949 and 1962, the army purchased Bofors 40 mm gun
s and 90 mm gun
s. During 1951, the first long-range radar, a Westinghouse, was imported from the USA. The group changed its name from Training Center of Air Defense (CIADA) to Artillery Battalion of Air Defense 601 (GADA 601) in 1964. Its first commander was Lieutenant Colonel Esteban Rodriguez. The GADA was composed of batteries, each one divided in three sections. The section, led by a 2nd Lieutenant, usually comprised two artillery pieces. In 1968, a new sub-unit, Battery "C", was established, incorporating new material like the 40 mm L 70 Bofors-Contraves radar-guided system.
The first missile Battery was equipped with Tigercat triple launchers in 1970.
In 1980, after a border crisis with Chile
, the army acquired the 35 mm Oerlikon-Contraves radar-guided system
. Furthermore, a new unit had been added to the GADA in 1976, the AADA 602, to deal first with the Tigercats and some years later with Roland-2 missiles.
After losing half of the 35 mm systems and one of the four Rolands in the war of 1982, the group was reinforced with 40 mm Bofors and 30 mm Hispano-Suiza
guns.
to the dictatorships of the 1970s, there were several periods of political unrest and violence involving the military. Argentina witnessed the overthrowing of constitutional governments followed by sporadic clashes between rival factions of the armed forces and the surge of leftists militant organizations. The GADA took part on a number of these incidents:
1955: Revolución Libertadora
. During the last days of Peronism
in power, following a huge purge on its ranks, the Army became the only force inside the military with a majority of officers supporting Perón. This was also the case of the GADA. There was a first ill-fated attempt against the government, led mostly by the Navy, on 16 June, when rebel aircraft mounted a series of air strikes
around Plaza de Mayo
, killing nearly 350 people. In Mar del Plata, the group kept a close watch on the naval base, taking positions on the hills surrounding the port. Eventually, the uprising succeeded on 16 September. This time, the attitude of the GADA officers was more hesitant. During the morning of the 19, the cruiser ARA 9 de Julio
(former ) and five destroyers shelled the group headquarters, already abandoned by the troops. A long range radar tower and other equipment was destroyed. The commander changed sides shortly after this action.
1962: After the fall of President Arturo Frondizi
and his replacement by a puppet civilian government under the supervision of the armed forces, the military remained divided over the issue of the banning of some political parties. While there was a wide consensus on the proscription of leftist ideologists, things became not so clear regarding peronism. The hard-line group was dubbed colorados (the purples), and the "legalist" - against an indiscriminate ban - azules (the blues).
In September 1962, the army's command in chief and the Ministry of Defence were controlled by the colorados. An internal uprising started inside the army on September 18, when the azules, commanded by General Onganía
defied the central authority. President José María Guido
remained neutral. On 22 September, the units involved marched to the capital. One of these was a 27 Sherman tanks strong column departed from their base at Magdalena
, south east of La Plata
. The Commander in Chief sat up a roadblock near Florencio Varela
, a city in the midway between Buenos Aires and La Plata. The GADA was called to duty to reinforce the position owing to the anti-tank capabilities of the 90 mm. The post was overpassed by the armored column, but according to Colonel Federico de la Fuente, the group commander, the 90 mm fire disabled between 4 to 5 tanks. After a full day of clashes, the crisis ended with the dismissal Commander in Chief and the Minister of Defence. Onganía claimed victory for the azules and their "constitutional" point of view. However, he would took the presidential seat from president Arturo Illia by a coup d'état
in 1966.
1970–1978: The Dirty War
. Amid leftist violence and social unrest, the military engaged in an indiscriminate repression along this period. The first significant GADA activity was the deployment, in 1975, of a full battery of light anti-aircraft guns in Tucumán province
, which by the time was the scenario of a rough counterinsurgency campaign
against the ERP
. The guns were intended to deal with the alleged presence of a helicopter Hiller
1100 stolen by the guerrillas from a Government-owned company. The conflict struck home in March 1976, when a splinter organisation of the ERP ambushed and killed the GADA commander in Mar del Plata's downtown. A few days later, the military overthrew the government of Isabel Perón. The coup gave them the complete control of the country and started the most vicious dictatorship in Argentina's history. The group, along with special intelligence officers, mounted operations not only against militants, but also against those ideologically affiliated to them. These illegal arrests were carried out with the collaboration of the Air Force, which built a clandestine detention facility near the city's airport, dubbed La Cueva (The Cave). Most of these detainees became missing or desaparecidos. In 2008, former GADA commander Colonel Pedro Barda was indicted over human right abuses and eventually sentenced to life in prison.
prompted a conflict with Chile
in 1978. On December 12, the bulk of the GADA was deployed in northern Patagonia
.
The Grupo de Artillería de Defensa Aérea Mixto 602, in charge of the Tiger Cat missiles was moved by railway to the town of Río Colorado, close to the river of the same name, in Río Negro province
. Meanwhile, the remainder of the force continued the trip further west, to the city of Zapala
, in Neuquen
province. The troops then marched by route to the build up area near Plaza Huincul.
The group established three outposts along the rivers Colorado
and Limay
in order to provide AAA defence to key bridges.
After a diplomatic breakthrough achieved by the Vatican
envoy, Cardinal Antonio Samoré, the GADA came back to Mar del Plata on January 30.
, the army group was reinforced when an Argentine Air Force
detachment, the Grupo 1 de Artillería Antiaérea (1st Group of Antiaircraft Artillery) was transferred from Tandil
to Mar del Plata in latter part of 1981. Both forces would operate together during the conflict in the defence of Stanley airport, renamed BAM Malvinas by the Argentines and Goose Green airstrip, designated BAM Cóndor (Cóndor Military Air Base).
GADA 601 was mobilised to Comodoro Rivadavia
, along the Patagonia's coast, on April 12. The equipment was loaded at the naval base of Mar del Plata on board the cargo ship Córdoba, bound for Puerto Deseado
. As the ship was damaged whilst at anchor, the artillery, missiles systems and vehicles were airlifted to Comodoro Rivadavia. A battery comprising a Roland-2 missile unit, a Skyguard radar and two 35 mm Oerlikon twin cannons was left behind to provide air defence for the mainland air bases of Puerto San Julián
and Río Gallegos. The remainder of the troops and their materiel finally crossed to the Islands by air between April 12 and April 24.
The troops were deployed in three batteries (A, B and C), with three sections each, plus AADA 602 with a Roland-2 launcher. Each section manned two twin Oerlikon-Contraves guns controlled by a Skyguard radar. A second anti-aircraft group of the army, the GADA 101 from Ciudadela, Buenos Aires, arrived in Stanley on April 29. They were armed with 8 single HS-831 30 mm cannons. The main early warning system for the army was an AN/TPS-44 tactical surveillance radar (Alert Mk II A/O), manned by GADA 601 personnel, mounted on the eastern slopes of Sapper Hill
. The main areas to defend were the airfields (Stanley and Goose Green
), Command and Control centres and artillery positions. The Air Force Grupo 1 de Artillería Antiaérea was in charge of the airport, with nine twin 20 mm cannons and a Super-Fledermaus Fire Control radar with 3 x Oerlikon 35 mm twin guns, similar to the Skyguard Fire Control radar. GADA 601 deployed one of its own 35 mm section near the east end of the airstrip. The other sections and the Roland unit were initially located in an arc from Moody Brook
to the eastern slopes of Sapper Hill
. The third section of B battery was transported by helicopter to Goose Green on May 29.
The GADA radar on Sapper Hill
was the first to detect the Black Buck raid
of 1 May. Unsure of its position after such a long flight at low level over water, the commander (Flt Lt Martin Withers) of Vulcan bomber
XM607 briefly climbed to gain a radar fix from the mountains east of Stanley. In performing this manoeuvre, his aircraft was briefly detected by the crew of the AN/TPS-44 surveillance radar before descending once more to low level. Initially the crew were uncertain that the aircraft they had detected was hostile, leading to delays in alerting the air defence system. The air base was warned at 4:20 am local time but the low level approach of the Vulcan bomber
combined with active jamming from DASH 10 ECM
pod prevented the AAA defences from engaging the bomber. The reaction of the defences was therefore ineffective. The stick of 21 1000 lb bombs damaged the airport tower, scored a single direct hit in the centre of the runway and killed two Air Force personnel. Nevertheless, the airstrip was still operational.
At 7:40 four Sea Harriers from carried out a second attack from the west. Argentine sources claimed that a Roland-2 downed one of these aircraft, however, British sources indicate that none of the aircraft taking part in this sortie were damaged.
As the air defences were now alert, another five Sea Harriers coming in from the east, were received by heavy 35 and 20 mm AAA, both from GADA and the Air Force's Grupo 1. Ingress was from the north at low level. The attackers used a combination of 1000 lb bombs and cluster bombs
; a fuel depot was left in flames and minore damage was inflicted on the airport facilities. GADA claimed to have shot down two aircraft that morning, one to 35 mm fire, the other to a Tiger Cat missile. British sources, whilst conceding that the reaction of the ground defences was intense, indicate only a 20 mm hit on the tail of the Sea Harrier piloted by Lt. Cdr. David Morgan. In fact, no British aircraft were lost.
Later that day, a Mirage III, already damaged in combat by a Sea Harrier was the victim of a friendly fire
incident while attempting to land on the air base. A GADA 601 battery fired three burst of 35 mm rounds at the Mirage, but the aircraft had been already targeted by Argentine Navy 30mm guns deployed along the town. The Official History of the Argentine Air Force put the blame on the lack of coordination between the Joint Antiaircraft Command and infantry troops on the ground, who started to fire their rifles at the aircraft, unleashing a chain reaction among the Navy and Army's gunners.
In contrast to the vigorous anti-aircraft response in Stanley
, the GADA 601/Grupo 1 team in Goose Green
was taken by surprise. The ground crews there were assisting a number of Pucará aircraft that were about to take off to avoid being caught on the airstrip. At 8:00, the air warning was downgraded to "blue" to allow the Pucará's departure. The anti-aircraft guns were ordered to perform a training exercise. To make matters worse, the gear of one of the planes became embedded in mud, delaying the operation. A few minutes later, three Sea Harriers made a sudden appearance over the base. The leader of the formation dropped two 1,000 lb bombs, which missed their intended targets (the airstrip and an ammunition depot). The other aircraft instead, loaded with three cluster bombs
, found their mark. Several bomblets hit one of the still grounded Pucarás, killing the pilot as the Argentine aircraft burst in flames. Another bomb dispensed its load of bomblets over the tents of the support personnel; seven men were killed and 13 wounded. The other bombs started a fire very close to a stockpile of heavy ammunition boxes. Eventually, the fire crews prevented further explosions.
After a few days without air strikes, on May 4 a flight of three Sea Harriers belonging to the 800 Naval Air Squadron and armed with cluster bombs raided Goose Green. However this time potential targets were well camouflaged, and the air base had been put under a 24-hour full alert. The 35 mm cannons were relocated to the north and south of the small Goose Green peninsular from their original position west of the airstrip. The raid's leading aircraft, piloted by Lt Cdr Gordie Batt, was locked up by the Skyguard system while flying from the east at very low altitude. Batt became aware of this from his onboard systems and deployed Chaff
whilst breaking right so the Skyguard lost lock. However, behind the lead was Sea Harrier nº. XZ450 piloted by Lt
Nick Taylor, this particular aircraft lacked a Radar Warning Receiver
(RWR) as it had been removed before the war to fit instrumentation for a new missile, Sea Eagle, that was undergoing trials. Unaware of the threat ahead, Taylor was hit by a second salvo from the 35 mm cannons.
Nº. XZ450's fuselage
was hit and caught fire, losing the left wing in the process, it then cartwheeled in the air and crashed at a 10º angle. Taylor's body was thrown through the canopy and fell 80 meters away from the crash site. The crash was caught on the gun camera film, of Flt Lt Ted Ball, which showed a large explosion in the region of the fuselage that was clearly unsurvivable.
The third aircraft, piloted by Flt Lt Ted Ball, released its bombs but no targets were hit and returned to Hermes.
The 20 mm cannons from Air Force's Grupo 1 claimed they shot down another of the Sea Harriers. However British sources have confirmed that XZ450 was the only aircraft lost that day.
The remains of Lt Nick Taylor, were buried on the edge of the airfield where he fell, with full military honors, to this day his grave is still tended to by the residents of Goose Green. The first shooting down of a Sea Harrier was a morale boost for GADA gunners and soldiers. Incidentally Taylor's aircraft, no. XZ450, was also the aircraft that made the Sea Harrier's maiden flight
on 20 August 1978.
Examination of the wreckage of nº. XZ450 yielded the panel for the launch of Sea Eagle missiles, British sources have speculated that the Argentines concluded that Sea Eagle had been made operational and this was another factor that kept the Argentine navy in port.
This GADA success prompted a change of tactics in the employment of the Sea Harriers: in order to avoid further losses of such valuable air defence assets and pilots, the subsequent air-to-ground operations were carried out from high altitude, well above the reach of the enemy ground fire. It was not until the arrival of the first GR3 Harriers that limited low level missions were launched, most of them in close air support role, or against high-value targets, like artillery and radars. The GR.3 Harrier, however, repeated the experience of its naval counterpart: a series of losses and aircraft damaged left three GR3 Harrier operational of 1(F) Squadron by June 1 (although re-inforcements joined the Task Force later that day by flying directly from Ascension Island
). To fix the problem, the RAF was forced to improve their countermeasures to continue its air campaign by increasing the number of Chaff and flares
packages onboard and enhancing its radar-detection capabilities. The GR3 were also supported by Sea Harrier's diversionary missions.
On May 12, another friendly fire incident struck the GADA after three A4 Skyhawks conducted a successful attack on . One of the returning jets flew by mistake over a banned zone in Goose Green, and was shot down with the loss of the pilot. The Argentine Air Force conceded that this time the incident was triggered by a pilot's navigation error.
With the beginning of Operation Sutton
, the Harriers GR3s of 1(F) Squadron stepped up attacks upon ground targets. This included low level strikes with cluster bombs and rockets as well as nuisance raids in which 1000 lb bombs were launched in loft and high altitude profiles. During some high-altitude bombings the radar-guided guns locked onto the falling 1,000 lb bombs and it is claimed destroyed them on at least three occasions. It is also claimed that a Roland-2 blew up another bomb in mid-air after the release aircraft successfully broke radar lock.
On May 22, the section deployed in Goose Green engaged a strike package of four Harrier GR.3 from 1(F) Squadron. One of the Harriers piloted by Sqn Ldr Jerry Pook released chaff approximately 2 km from the target zone, blinding the radar and triggering an anti-missile alarm (confirmed by the reports of the Argentine forces under Second Lt. Braghini). Nevertheless, Braghini reports that they re-locked Pook's Harrier and fired several 35 mm rounds. British after action reports indicate that the Argentine forces engaged all of the Harriers with heavy AAA fire but that it was the Harrier GR.3 piloted by Sqn Ldr PV Harris that was subsequently locked up by a Super Fledermaus-type radar. Harris pressed his attack but his cluster bombs hung up. Argentine forces report that the air attack produced no damage but the after action report by the British indicates secondary explosions following the attack with cluster bombs. A further example of the fog of war is that whilst the British attack committed four Harrier GR.3, the Argentine report mentions only three.
On the night of May 24, the GADA 601 section issued a warning to the air base at Goose Green about the presence of a helicopter and the possible landing of special forces. Several minutes later members of the SAS
mounted a diversionary attack on Darwin Hill.
On May 27, during the first stages of the battle of Goose Green
, several Harrier sorties hit the Argentine advanced positions to the north in support of the assault but the Close Air Support mission was complicated by bad weather and poor communications. After making four passes, Sqn Ldr Bob Iveson's aircraft was hit by heavy AAA fire from GADA 601 35 mm cannon. The aircraft, Harrier nº XZ998, exploded in the air about 5,000 meters from GADA 601's position. Sqn Ldr
Bob Iveson, bailed out safely and was rescued by friendly forces three days later. Many of the aircraft shot down by ground defences were hit after making repeated passes over the target and the wisdom of the tactics was repeatedly questioned.
The next morning, on May 28, British troops from the 2nd PARA Regiment took Darwin Hill
after fierce fighting.
The GADA detachment, unaware of the situation, observed several platoons advancing down the southern slopes of the ridge. After identifying them as British, GADA 601 section engaged with direct fire. The 35 mm bursts blocked the advance of the leading companies
of the 2nd PARA Regiment, who suffered a number of losses. C Company bore the brunt of the Argentine fire, the Headquarters section of C Company was effectively put out of action and all told they took 20 % casualties, including their commander, Major Hugh Jenner, and his signallers. The rear platoon, attached from A Company, was forced to remain behind Darwin Hill for the rest of the battle.
The last direct-fire mission of GADA 601's section targeted the Darwin school-house, a position recently taken by troops of D Company. The building, already set on fire by white phosphorus grenades by the British, was systematically destroyed by 35 mm rounds and burnt to the ground, resulting in further casualties for the paratroopers.
The British advance from this area was eventually halted on the orders of Major Chris Keeble who decided to stop the advance in order to consolidate his position.
Shortly after the GADA position was subjected to mortar fire, and the power generator
of the guns was damaged beyond repair. A later Harrier strike was inaccurate and failed to hit the GADA 601 position, as corroborated by a British account of the action. The mortar barrage, however, forced the section to seek shelter. With the garrison now isolated and surrounded, the Argentine commanding officer chose to surrender the following day.
After the fall of Goose Green, the British effort was now free to concentrate on Port Stanley (called Puerto Argentino by the Argentines). From the period between May 2 to May 28, there were three Vulcan sorties planned, but only one was carried out against Base Aérea Militar Malvinas. Argentine sources reveal that two soldiers were slightly injured but no damage was done to the airstrip. Another attempt against the airstrip was carried out during May 24. A package of four GR3s, flying at very low level to avoid radar detection, managed to drop retarding fuse bombs right on the runway. They were supported by two Sea Harriers tossing air burst
bombs from high altitude to deceive the air defences. The low-angle fall, however, produced only surface damage, which was repaired six hours after the strike. Argentine sources acknowledge that a Pucará and an Aermacchi
were also damaged. One of the GR3s was also hit either by debris, according to the British version, or by antiaircraft fire, according to Argentine sources.
On May 25, the group suffered its first fatality when a soldier was killed by the blast of an unexploded bomblet. Five days later, a pair of GR3 was initially tasked to attack with rockets
entrenched troops on Mount Wall, west of Stanley, one of the very first strikes against the defensive ring around the Falklands capital. The air patrol was led by Sqn. Ld. Jerry Pook on nº XZ963. The original target was changed for a helicopter landing zone, some distance eastward. After approaching from the south, Pook flew right over a column of vehicles and troops, and was greeted by automatic fire around 4 km from the target's area. Argentine authors assert instead that the aircraft was hit by 35 mm fire from GADA's 1st section, B battery, which was completing a redeployment from Moody Brook to a position between Sapper Hill and the Stanley racecourse, under the command of 2nd Lieutenant Ferre. Pook's first hand account recalls to have feeling a "heavy thump", which is compatible with the impact of a large anti-aircraft shell. Nevertheless, the actual target's position given by Pook in his book was too far to the west to being acquired and shot at by GADA's gunners, albeit he is not too much assertive about having been hit by small arms rounds. A British official report states, however, that on June 12 another GR3 was peppered by "AAA splinters" east of Mount Harriet, almost the same location where Pook's jet was damaged. After finding no choppers on the assigned area, both Harriers attacked the original objective further west. At this time it became clear that Pook's jet was leaking fuel as consequence of the hit. With the engine in the verge of burning out and an incipient hydraulic failure, Pook climbed to 7,000 meters and ejected some 45 NM
from Hermes. He was rescued only 10 minutes later.
The next day, May 31, Stanley airport was hit by the combined action of Vulcan, Harrier and Sea Harrier aircraft. The Vulcan fired Shrike
anti-radar missiles, which went stray when the Argentine radar-operators switched off their devices. The Sea Harriers dropped bombs from high level, and three Harriers straffed the airstrip with cannon fire and rockets, in the belief that A4 Skyhawks had recently landed there. A Skyguard section claims to have hit two GR3s just before the pilots opened fire. Indeed, the RAF acknowledges that the two aircraft were badly hit, but the source of the damage is unclear. The engine of the leading Harrier, nº XV789, had to be replaced onboard Hermes. The other fighter, nº XZ977, only needed minor repairs.
On June 1, the Roland-2 system claimed a Sea Harrier over the airport. The aircraft, nº XZ456, belonging to the 801 Naval Air Squadron
from , was in a recce
mission 7 km south of Stanley, apparently out of the reach of the missile, but tracked by its radar. The Argentine officer on charge of the unit, Lt. Regalini, fired the Roland despite the target being 7,000 meters away. The pilot, Flt. Lt. Ian Mortimer, climbed up, confident that he had successfully outmaneuvered the missile. A couple of seconds later, the rear bay of his jet was torn apart by the explosion of the proximity fuze
, leaving only the cockpit undamaged. Mortimer's ejection was witnessed by hundreds of Argentine troops. After a 9-hour ordeal at sea, he was recovered by a British helicopter.
The GADA lost four men to a Shrike missile strike on June 3. While at least two Skyguard units were fighting off an air attack – believed at that time to be conducted by Harriers - two missiles were fired by one Vulcan bomber involved in the operation Black Buck six. The long range radars switched off their emissions as usual, but the two Skyguard systems waited until it was too late for one of them. Second Lt. Huergo's section claims that them locked a "bomb" and destroyed it in mid-air – it may be they hit one of the missiles - but at the same time of this explosion, another blast was heard. The other missile, mounted on the radar wave of the 1st section of battery A's Skyguard had hit its target. First Lt. Alejandro Dachary, and three of his men were killed. Another soldier survived the attack. Apparently the operator, warned by the alarm, turned off the radar, but the missile was already in terminal phase and struck home anyway. The bomber, Vulcan nº XM597, was forced to divert to Rio de Janeiro
in Brazil during the returning trip, after its in-flight refuelling probe broke. One of the missiles it was carrying was ditched into the ocean to reduce drag, but the other remained stuck on the pylon and could not be released. Sensitive documents containing classified information
were jettisoned into the sea via the crew hatch, and a "Mayday" signal was sent. The aircraft was eventually cleared to land by Brazilian authorities. The Vulcan remained interned for nine days, and returned along with its crew on 11 June. However, the remaining Shrike missile was confiscated.
On 9 June, Harrier nº XZ997 was hit again by shell splinters over Sapper Hill, defended by at least one 35 mm section. The aircraft wings and upper fuselage were holed in several places, and the Harrier suffered a minor hydraulic failure on recovery.
During a naval bombardment against Sapper Hill, on the early morning of June 12, the GADA's main radar was damaged and another soldier was killed.
In what may have been the last GADA 601 success in this war, Harrier nº XW919 was hit by shrapnel and seriously damaged on June 12, while dropping CBUs on an artillery position near Sapper Hill. During the recovery, the aircraft caught fire on Hermes flight deck, owing to a fractured reaction pipe. Argentine sources claim that the aircraft was hit by AAA immediately after the attack. A 155 mm
howitzer
was lightly damaged and six soldiers injured. The account mistakes the CBUs for rockets. As mentioned above, Sapper Hill was defended by at least one GADA section. After being patched up, the aircraft was declared out of service and shipped to Britain on board MV Contender Bezant. The Harrier gone through extensive repairs and, though still operational, it was eventually transferred to the SFDO (School of Flight Deck Operations) at Culdrose. This Harrier is now on display at the Defence College of Shrivenham
.
In the final hours of the war, the western most section of the group took part of the battle of Wireless Ridge
, supporting the withdrawal of the Regiment of Infantry 7 with 35 mm fire.
After the Argentine capitulation, the group's 35 mm Oerlikon guns, abandoned and disabled by their operators, were captured by British forces. The weapons were refurbished and used to form a Royal Auxiliary Air Force
squadron at RAF Waddington
. Four Skyguard radar units are employed by RAF Police to survey UK military flights over residential areas and to give warning of low-flying aircraft on sensitive facilities since 1993.
The bulk of the group's personnel left the Islands on 17 June 1982. The officers were released a month later.
from February 1992 to November 1995. About 70 officers and NCOs of the force also joint the Fuerza de Tareas Argentina (FTA) in Cyprus
.
Argentine Army
The Argentine Army is the land armed force branch of the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic and the senior military service of the country.- History :...
. Its headquarters are based just north of Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata is an Argentine city located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, south of Buenos Aires. Mar del Plata is the second largest city of Buenos Aires Province. The name "Mar del Plata" had apparently the sense of "sea of the Río de la Plata region" or "adjoining sea to the Río de la Plata"...
. Its name was changed to GAA 601 Teniente General Pablo Ricchieri in 1999. The force played a key role during the 1982 Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
. The unit is the main air defence training center of Argentina.
Origins
The origin of the anti-aircraft artillery of the Argentine Army dates back to 1939, when the Grupo de Artillería Antiaérea was established in Campo de MayoCampo de Mayo
Campo de Mayo is a military base located in Greater Buenos Aires, Argentina, northwest of Buenos Aires.Campo de Mayo covers an area of and is one of the most important military bases in Argentina, including Argentine Army's:...
, the main headquarters of the army, along with the Centro de Instrucción Antiaéreo, a training unit.
Meanwhile, the authorities of the resort town
Resort town
A resort town, sometimes called a resort city or resort destination, is a town or area where tourism or vacationing is a primary component of the local culture and economy...
of Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata is an Argentine city located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, south of Buenos Aires. Mar del Plata is the second largest city of Buenos Aires Province. The name "Mar del Plata" had apparently the sense of "sea of the Río de la Plata region" or "adjoining sea to the Río de la Plata"...
were seeking the settling of an army base there. In 1940, a local independent commission, under the auspices of Juan Fava and Rufino Inda, both of them former socialist Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
s of the city, made a formal request to the Ministry of War. Incidentally, the socialists ruled Mar del Plata during the two major combat deployments in the unit's history (1962 and 1982), although the country was under a military dictatorship in both occasions. By the end of 1944 the two anti-aircraft groups were merged and effectively transferred to Mar del Plata, under the name of Escuela Antiaérea.
Weapons
The first AAAAnti-aircraft warfare
NATO defines air defence as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action." They include ground and air based weapon systems, associated sensor systems, command and control arrangements and passive measures. It may be to protect naval, ground and air forces...
weapons deployed were 76.2 mm Skoda
Škoda Works
Škoda Works was the largest industrial enterprise in Austro-Hungary and later in Czechoslovakia, one of its successor states. It was also one of the largest industrial conglomerates in Europe in the 20th century...
guns and 20 mm cannons
Oerlikon 20 mm cannon
The Oerlikon 20 mm cannon is a series of autocannons, based on an original design by Reinhold Becker of Germany, very early in World War I, and widely produced by Oerlikon Contraves and others...
.
Several years later, between 1949 and 1962, the army purchased Bofors 40 mm gun
Bofors 40 mm gun
The Bofors 40 mm gun is an anti-aircraft autocannon designed by the Swedish defence firm of Bofors Defence...
s and 90 mm gun
90 mm gun
The American 90 mm family of guns served as primary heavy anti-aircraft and anti-tank guns, playing a role similar to the renowned German 88 mm gun. They were the US's primary anti-aircraft guns from just prior to the opening of World War II into the 1950s when most AAA was replaced by missile...
s. During 1951, the first long-range radar, a Westinghouse, was imported from the USA. The group changed its name from Training Center of Air Defense (CIADA) to Artillery Battalion of Air Defense 601 (GADA 601) in 1964. Its first commander was Lieutenant Colonel Esteban Rodriguez. The GADA was composed of batteries, each one divided in three sections. The section, led by a 2nd Lieutenant, usually comprised two artillery pieces. In 1968, a new sub-unit, Battery "C", was established, incorporating new material like the 40 mm L 70 Bofors-Contraves radar-guided system.
The first missile Battery was equipped with Tigercat triple launchers in 1970.
In 1980, after a border crisis with Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, the army acquired the 35 mm Oerlikon-Contraves radar-guided system
Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon
The Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon is a towed anti-aircraft gun made by Oerlikon Contraves . The system was originally designated as 2 ZLA/353 ML but this was later changed to GDF-001...
. Furthermore, a new unit had been added to the GADA in 1976, the AADA 602, to deal first with the Tigercats and some years later with Roland-2 missiles.
After losing half of the 35 mm systems and one of the four Rolands in the war of 1982, the group was reinforced with 40 mm Bofors and 30 mm Hispano-Suiza
Hispano-Suiza
Hispano-Suiza was a Spanish automotive and engineering firm, best known for its luxury cars and aviation engines in the pre-World War II period of the twentieth century. In 1923, its French subsidiary became a semi-autonomous partnership with the parent company and is now part of the French SAFRAN...
guns.
Political unrest (1955–1978)
From the second term in office of Juan PerónJuan Perón
Juan Domingo Perón was an Argentine military officer, and politician. Perón was three times elected as President of Argentina though he only managed to serve one full term, after serving in several government positions, including the Secretary of Labor and the Vice Presidency...
to the dictatorships of the 1970s, there were several periods of political unrest and violence involving the military. Argentina witnessed the overthrowing of constitutional governments followed by sporadic clashes between rival factions of the armed forces and the surge of leftists militant organizations. The GADA took part on a number of these incidents:
1955: Revolución Libertadora
Revolución Libertadora
The Revolución Libertadora was a military uprising that ended the second presidential term of Juan Perón in Argentina, on September 16, 1955.-History:...
. During the last days of Peronism
Peronism
Peronism , or Justicialism , is an Argentine political movement based on the programmes associated with former President Juan Perón and his second wife, Eva Perón...
in power, following a huge purge on its ranks, the Army became the only force inside the military with a majority of officers supporting Perón. This was also the case of the GADA. There was a first ill-fated attempt against the government, led mostly by the Navy, on 16 June, when rebel aircraft mounted a series of air strikes
Bombing of Plaza de Mayo
The bombing of Plaza de Mayo was a massacre which took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on June 16 1955.At 12:40 pm, a number of aircraft from the Argentine Navy and Air Force strafed and bombed Plaza de Mayo square in Buenos Aires, in what remains to this day the largest aerial bombing ever on...
around Plaza de Mayo
Plaza de Mayo
The Plaza de Mayo is the main square in downtown Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is flanked by Hipólito Yrigoyen, Balcarce, Rivadavia and Bolívar streets....
, killing nearly 350 people. In Mar del Plata, the group kept a close watch on the naval base, taking positions on the hills surrounding the port. Eventually, the uprising succeeded on 16 September. This time, the attitude of the GADA officers was more hesitant. During the morning of the 19, the cruiser ARA 9 de Julio
ARA Nueve de Julio
The ARA Nueve de Julio was an Argentine Navy cruiser, purchased from the United States Navy on January 11, 1951. Nueve de Julio was decommissioned in 1978 and sent to Japan to be scrapped.- Early career :...
(former ) and five destroyers shelled the group headquarters, already abandoned by the troops. A long range radar tower and other equipment was destroyed. The commander changed sides shortly after this action.
1962: After the fall of President Arturo Frondizi
Arturo Frondizi
Arturo Frondizi Ercoli was the President of Argentina between May 1, 1958, and March 29, 1962, for the Intransigent Radical Civic Union.-Early life:Frondizi was born in Paso de los Libres, Corrientes Province...
and his replacement by a puppet civilian government under the supervision of the armed forces, the military remained divided over the issue of the banning of some political parties. While there was a wide consensus on the proscription of leftist ideologists, things became not so clear regarding peronism. The hard-line group was dubbed colorados (the purples), and the "legalist" - against an indiscriminate ban - azules (the blues).
In September 1962, the army's command in chief and the Ministry of Defence were controlled by the colorados. An internal uprising started inside the army on September 18, when the azules, commanded by General Onganía
Juan Carlos Onganía
Juan Carlos Onganía Carballo was de facto president of Argentina from 29 June 1966 to 8 June 1970. He rose to power as military dictator after toppling, in a coup d’état self-named Revolución Argentina , the democratically elected president Arturo Illia .-Economic and social...
defied the central authority. President José María Guido
José María Guido
José María Guido was an interim President of Argentina from 30 March 1962 to 12 October 1963.Guido was elected to the Argentine Senate for Río Negro Province in 1958, representing the Intransigent Radical Civic Union...
remained neutral. On 22 September, the units involved marched to the capital. One of these was a 27 Sherman tanks strong column departed from their base at Magdalena
Magdalena, Buenos Aires
Magdalena is a town in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. It is the head town of the Magdalena Partido.Founded in 1611, the hamlet grew slowly until the late nineteenth century. The Parish of Santa María Magdalena , consecrated in 1776, inaugurated its current temple in 1860...
, south east of La Plata
La Plata
La Plata is the capital city of the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and of La Plata partido. According to the , the city proper has a population of 574,369 and its metropolitan area has 694,253 inhabitants....
. The Commander in Chief sat up a roadblock near Florencio Varela
Florencio Varela
Florencio Varela could refer to:*Florencio Varela, Argentine writer, journalist and educator*Florencio Varela, Buenos Aires, a town named after the writer*Florencio Varela Partido, the administrative district of the town...
, a city in the midway between Buenos Aires and La Plata. The GADA was called to duty to reinforce the position owing to the anti-tank capabilities of the 90 mm. The post was overpassed by the armored column, but according to Colonel Federico de la Fuente, the group commander, the 90 mm fire disabled between 4 to 5 tanks. After a full day of clashes, the crisis ended with the dismissal Commander in Chief and the Minister of Defence. Onganía claimed victory for the azules and their "constitutional" point of view. However, he would took the presidential seat from president Arturo Illia by a coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
in 1966.
1970–1978: The Dirty War
Dirty War
The Dirty War was a period of state-sponsored violence in Argentina from 1976 until 1983. Victims of the violence included several thousand left-wing activists, including trade unionists, students, journalists, Marxists, Peronist guerrillas and alleged sympathizers, either proved or suspected...
. Amid leftist violence and social unrest, the military engaged in an indiscriminate repression along this period. The first significant GADA activity was the deployment, in 1975, of a full battery of light anti-aircraft guns in Tucumán province
Tucumán Province
Tucumán is the most densely populated, and the smallest by land area, of the provinces of Argentina. Located in the northwest of the country, the capital is San Miguel de Tucumán, often shortened to Tucumán. Neighboring provinces are, clockwise from the north: Salta, Santiago del Estero and...
, which by the time was the scenario of a rough counterinsurgency campaign
Operativo Independencia
Operativo Independencia was the code-name of the Argentine military operation in the Tucumán Province, started in 1975, to crush the ERP , a Guevarist guerrilla group which attempted to secede part of Tucuman as an independent nation, in the north-west of Argentina...
against the ERP
People's Revolutionary Army (Argentina)
The Ejército Revolucionario del Pueblo was the military branch of the communist Partido Revolucionario de los Trabajadores in Argentina...
. The guns were intended to deal with the alleged presence of a helicopter Hiller
Fairchild Hiller FH-1100
|-See also:-External links:* , current Type Certificate holder.* *...
1100 stolen by the guerrillas from a Government-owned company. The conflict struck home in March 1976, when a splinter organisation of the ERP ambushed and killed the GADA commander in Mar del Plata's downtown. A few days later, the military overthrew the government of Isabel Perón. The coup gave them the complete control of the country and started the most vicious dictatorship in Argentina's history. The group, along with special intelligence officers, mounted operations not only against militants, but also against those ideologically affiliated to them. These illegal arrests were carried out with the collaboration of the Air Force, which built a clandestine detention facility near the city's airport, dubbed La Cueva (The Cave). Most of these detainees became missing or desaparecidos. In 2008, former GADA commander Colonel Pedro Barda was indicted over human right abuses and eventually sentenced to life in prison.
Crisis with Chile (1978)
A dispute over the islands of the Beagle ChannelBeagle Channel
thumb|right|300px|Aereal view of Beagle Channel. The Chilean [[Navarino Island]] is seen in the top-right while the Argentine part of [[Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego]] is seen at the bottom-left....
prompted a conflict with Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
in 1978. On December 12, the bulk of the GADA was deployed in northern Patagonia
Patagonia
Patagonia is a region located in Argentina and Chile, integrating the southernmost section of the Andes mountains to the southwest towards the Pacific ocean and from the east of the cordillera to the valleys it follows south through Colorado River towards Carmen de Patagones in the Atlantic Ocean...
.
The Grupo de Artillería de Defensa Aérea Mixto 602, in charge of the Tiger Cat missiles was moved by railway to the town of Río Colorado, close to the river of the same name, in Río Negro province
Río Negro Province
Río Negro is a province of Argentina, located at the northern edge of Patagonia. Neighboring provinces are from the south clockwise Chubut, Neuquén, Mendoza, La Pampa and Buenos Aires. To the east lies the Atlantic Ocean.Its capital is Viedma...
. Meanwhile, the remainder of the force continued the trip further west, to the city of Zapala
Zapala
Zapala is a city in the Patagonian province of Neuquén, Argentina with about 32,000 inhabitants according to the .The city is located at the geographic center of the province at the confluence of national and provincial roads, on a route to the Andes and Chile...
, in Neuquen
Neuquén
Neuquén is the name of the following things:* Neuquén, Argentina* Neuquén Province* Neuquén River* Neuquén Group...
province. The troops then marched by route to the build up area near Plaza Huincul.
The group established three outposts along the rivers Colorado
Colorado River (Argentina)
The Colorado River is a river in the south of Argentina.The Colorado river marks most of the political limit between the provinces of Neuquén and Mendoza, and between Rio Negro and La Pampa...
and Limay
Limay River
The Limay River is an important river in the northwestern Argentine Patagonia . It is born at the eastern end of the Nahuel Huapi Lake and flows in a meandering path for about 380 km, collecting the waters of several tributaries, such as the Traful, the Pichileufú and the Collón Curá. It then meets...
in order to provide AAA defence to key bridges.
After a diplomatic breakthrough achieved by the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
envoy, Cardinal Antonio Samoré, the GADA came back to Mar del Plata on January 30.
Build-up
Just before the start of the crisis that would lead to the Falklands WarFalklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
, the army group was reinforced when an Argentine Air Force
Argentine Air Force
The Argentine Air Force is the national aviation branch of the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic. , it had 14,606 military and 6,854 civilian staff.-History:...
detachment, the Grupo 1 de Artillería Antiaérea (1st Group of Antiaircraft Artillery) was transferred from Tandil
Tandil
-Place name:The name of the city comes from the Mapuche words tan , and lil . It is probably a reference to the Piedra Movediza , a large boulder which stood seemingly miraculously balanced on the edge of a rocky foothill. The Moving Stone toppled on February 29, 1912, and split into two pieces at...
to Mar del Plata in latter part of 1981. Both forces would operate together during the conflict in the defence of Stanley airport, renamed BAM Malvinas by the Argentines and Goose Green airstrip, designated BAM Cóndor (Cóndor Military Air Base).
GADA 601 was mobilised to Comodoro Rivadavia
Comodoro Rivadavia
Comodoro Rivadavia is a city in the Patagonian province of Chubut in southern Argentina, located on the San Jorge Gulf, an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean, at the foot of the Chenque Hill. Comodoro Rivadavia is the most important city of the San Jorge Basin....
, along the Patagonia's coast, on April 12. The equipment was loaded at the naval base of Mar del Plata on board the cargo ship Córdoba, bound for Puerto Deseado
Puerto Deseado
Puerto Deseado, originally called Port Desire, is a city of about 15,000 inhabitants and a fishing port in Patagonia in Santa Cruz Province of Argentina, on the estuary of the Deseado River....
. As the ship was damaged whilst at anchor, the artillery, missiles systems and vehicles were airlifted to Comodoro Rivadavia. A battery comprising a Roland-2 missile unit, a Skyguard radar and two 35 mm Oerlikon twin cannons was left behind to provide air defence for the mainland air bases of Puerto San Julián
Puerto San Julián
Puerto San Julián, also known historically as Port St Julian, is a natural harbour in Patagonia in the Santa Cruz Province of Argentina located at . In the days of sailing ships it formed a stopping point, south of Puerto Deseado...
and Río Gallegos. The remainder of the troops and their materiel finally crossed to the Islands by air between April 12 and April 24.
The troops were deployed in three batteries (A, B and C), with three sections each, plus AADA 602 with a Roland-2 launcher. Each section manned two twin Oerlikon-Contraves guns controlled by a Skyguard radar. A second anti-aircraft group of the army, the GADA 101 from Ciudadela, Buenos Aires, arrived in Stanley on April 29. They were armed with 8 single HS-831 30 mm cannons. The main early warning system for the army was an AN/TPS-44 tactical surveillance radar (Alert Mk II A/O), manned by GADA 601 personnel, mounted on the eastern slopes of Sapper Hill
Sapper Hill
Sapper Hill is on East Falkland, Falkland Islands, . It is just to the south of Stanley, and is heavily mined from the Falklands War. It is named after a company of sappers who were based at Moody Brook barracks.-Falklands War:...
. The main areas to defend were the airfields (Stanley and Goose Green
Goose Green
Goose Green is a settlement in Lafonia on East Falkland in the Falkland Islands. It lies on Choiseul Sound, on the east side of the island's central isthmus, south-southwest of Darwin. With a population of about 70, it is the second largest settlement of the Falkland Islands.Goose Green has a shop...
), Command and Control centres and artillery positions. The Air Force Grupo 1 de Artillería Antiaérea was in charge of the airport, with nine twin 20 mm cannons and a Super-Fledermaus Fire Control radar with 3 x Oerlikon 35 mm twin guns, similar to the Skyguard Fire Control radar. GADA 601 deployed one of its own 35 mm section near the east end of the airstrip. The other sections and the Roland unit were initially located in an arc from Moody Brook
Moody Brook
Moody Brook is a small watercourse that flows into Stanley Harbour on East Falkland, Falkland Islands. It is near Stanley, just to the north west, and was formerly the location of the town barracks, which were attacked in Operation Azul, the 1982 Argentine Invasion of the Falkland Islands.It is...
to the eastern slopes of Sapper Hill
Sapper Hill
Sapper Hill is on East Falkland, Falkland Islands, . It is just to the south of Stanley, and is heavily mined from the Falklands War. It is named after a company of sappers who were based at Moody Brook barracks.-Falklands War:...
. The third section of B battery was transported by helicopter to Goose Green on May 29.
1st May: Opening Actions
The GADA radar on Sapper Hill
Sapper Hill
Sapper Hill is on East Falkland, Falkland Islands, . It is just to the south of Stanley, and is heavily mined from the Falklands War. It is named after a company of sappers who were based at Moody Brook barracks.-Falklands War:...
was the first to detect the Black Buck raid
Operation Black Buck
During the Falklands War, Operations Black Buck 1 to Black Buck 7 were a series of seven extremely long-range ground attack missions by Royal Air Force Vulcan bombers planned against Argentine positions in the Falkland Islands...
of 1 May. Unsure of its position after such a long flight at low level over water, the commander (Flt Lt Martin Withers) of Vulcan bomber
Avro Vulcan
The Avro Vulcan, sometimes referred to as the Hawker Siddeley Vulcan, was a jet-powered delta wing strategic bomber, operated by the Royal Air Force from 1956 until 1984. Aircraft manufacturer A V Roe & Co designed the Vulcan in response to Specification B.35/46. Of the three V bombers produced,...
XM607 briefly climbed to gain a radar fix from the mountains east of Stanley. In performing this manoeuvre, his aircraft was briefly detected by the crew of the AN/TPS-44 surveillance radar before descending once more to low level. Initially the crew were uncertain that the aircraft they had detected was hostile, leading to delays in alerting the air defence system. The air base was warned at 4:20 am local time but the low level approach of the Vulcan bomber
Avro Vulcan
The Avro Vulcan, sometimes referred to as the Hawker Siddeley Vulcan, was a jet-powered delta wing strategic bomber, operated by the Royal Air Force from 1956 until 1984. Aircraft manufacturer A V Roe & Co designed the Vulcan in response to Specification B.35/46. Of the three V bombers produced,...
combined with active jamming from DASH 10 ECM
Electronic countermeasures
An electronic countermeasure is an electrical or electronic device designed to trick or deceive radar, sonar or other detection systems, like infrared or lasers. It may be used both offensively and defensively to deny targeting information to an enemy...
pod prevented the AAA defences from engaging the bomber. The reaction of the defences was therefore ineffective. The stick of 21 1000 lb bombs damaged the airport tower, scored a single direct hit in the centre of the runway and killed two Air Force personnel. Nevertheless, the airstrip was still operational.
At 7:40 four Sea Harriers from carried out a second attack from the west. Argentine sources claimed that a Roland-2 downed one of these aircraft, however, British sources indicate that none of the aircraft taking part in this sortie were damaged.
As the air defences were now alert, another five Sea Harriers coming in from the east, were received by heavy 35 and 20 mm AAA, both from GADA and the Air Force's Grupo 1. Ingress was from the north at low level. The attackers used a combination of 1000 lb bombs and cluster bombs
BL755
BL755 is a cluster bomb. Its primary targets are armored vehicles and tanks with secondary soft target capabilities.-Design:The BL755 looks like a standard 1,000 lb general purpose bomb but with a hard "saddle" on the spine for ejector release and crutching pad loads and a distinctive large...
; a fuel depot was left in flames and minore damage was inflicted on the airport facilities. GADA claimed to have shot down two aircraft that morning, one to 35 mm fire, the other to a Tiger Cat missile. British sources, whilst conceding that the reaction of the ground defences was intense, indicate only a 20 mm hit on the tail of the Sea Harrier piloted by Lt. Cdr. David Morgan. In fact, no British aircraft were lost.
Later that day, a Mirage III, already damaged in combat by a Sea Harrier was the victim of a friendly fire
Friendly fire
Friendly fire is inadvertent firing towards one's own or otherwise friendly forces while attempting to engage enemy forces, particularly where this results in injury or death. A death resulting from a negligent discharge is not considered friendly fire...
incident while attempting to land on the air base. A GADA 601 battery fired three burst of 35 mm rounds at the Mirage, but the aircraft had been already targeted by Argentine Navy 30mm guns deployed along the town. The Official History of the Argentine Air Force put the blame on the lack of coordination between the Joint Antiaircraft Command and infantry troops on the ground, who started to fire their rifles at the aircraft, unleashing a chain reaction among the Navy and Army's gunners.
In contrast to the vigorous anti-aircraft response in Stanley
Stanley, Falkland Islands
Stanley is the capital and only true cityin the Falkland Islands. It is located on the isle of East Falkland, on a north-facing slope in one of the wettest parts of the islands. At the 2006 census, the city had a population of 2,115...
, the GADA 601/Grupo 1 team in Goose Green
Goose Green
Goose Green is a settlement in Lafonia on East Falkland in the Falkland Islands. It lies on Choiseul Sound, on the east side of the island's central isthmus, south-southwest of Darwin. With a population of about 70, it is the second largest settlement of the Falkland Islands.Goose Green has a shop...
was taken by surprise. The ground crews there were assisting a number of Pucará aircraft that were about to take off to avoid being caught on the airstrip. At 8:00, the air warning was downgraded to "blue" to allow the Pucará's departure. The anti-aircraft guns were ordered to perform a training exercise. To make matters worse, the gear of one of the planes became embedded in mud, delaying the operation. A few minutes later, three Sea Harriers made a sudden appearance over the base. The leader of the formation dropped two 1,000 lb bombs, which missed their intended targets (the airstrip and an ammunition depot). The other aircraft instead, loaded with three cluster bombs
BL755
BL755 is a cluster bomb. Its primary targets are armored vehicles and tanks with secondary soft target capabilities.-Design:The BL755 looks like a standard 1,000 lb general purpose bomb but with a hard "saddle" on the spine for ejector release and crutching pad loads and a distinctive large...
, found their mark. Several bomblets hit one of the still grounded Pucarás, killing the pilot as the Argentine aircraft burst in flames. Another bomb dispensed its load of bomblets over the tents of the support personnel; seven men were killed and 13 wounded. The other bombs started a fire very close to a stockpile of heavy ammunition boxes. Eventually, the fire crews prevented further explosions.
First Success
Chaff (radar countermeasure)
Chaff, originally called Window by the British, and Düppel by the Second World War era German Luftwaffe , is a radar countermeasure in which aircraft or other targets spread a cloud of small, thin pieces of aluminium, metallized glass fibre or plastic, which either appears as a cluster of secondary...
whilst breaking right so the Skyguard lost lock. However, behind the lead was Sea Harrier nº. XZ450 piloted by Lt
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
Nick Taylor, this particular aircraft lacked a Radar Warning Receiver
Radar warning receiver
Radar warning receiver systems detect the radio emissions of radar systems. Their primary purpose is to issue a warning when a radar signal that might be a threat is detected. The warning can then be used, manually or automatically, to evade the detected threat...
(RWR) as it had been removed before the war to fit instrumentation for a new missile, Sea Eagle, that was undergoing trials. Unaware of the threat ahead, Taylor was hit by a second salvo from the 35 mm cannons.
Nº. XZ450's fuselage
Fuselage
The fuselage is an aircraft's main body section that holds crew and passengers or cargo. In single-engine aircraft it will usually contain an engine, although in some amphibious aircraft the single engine is mounted on a pylon attached to the fuselage which in turn is used as a floating hull...
was hit and caught fire, losing the left wing in the process, it then cartwheeled in the air and crashed at a 10º angle. Taylor's body was thrown through the canopy and fell 80 meters away from the crash site. The crash was caught on the gun camera film, of Flt Lt Ted Ball, which showed a large explosion in the region of the fuselage that was clearly unsurvivable.
The third aircraft, piloted by Flt Lt Ted Ball, released its bombs but no targets were hit and returned to Hermes.
The 20 mm cannons from Air Force's Grupo 1 claimed they shot down another of the Sea Harriers. However British sources have confirmed that XZ450 was the only aircraft lost that day.
The remains of Lt Nick Taylor, were buried on the edge of the airfield where he fell, with full military honors, to this day his grave is still tended to by the residents of Goose Green. The first shooting down of a Sea Harrier was a morale boost for GADA gunners and soldiers. Incidentally Taylor's aircraft, no. XZ450, was also the aircraft that made the Sea Harrier's maiden flight
Maiden flight
The maiden flight of an aircraft is the first occasion on which an aircraft leaves the ground of its own accord. This is similar to a ship's maiden voyage....
on 20 August 1978.
Examination of the wreckage of nº. XZ450 yielded the panel for the launch of Sea Eagle missiles, British sources have speculated that the Argentines concluded that Sea Eagle had been made operational and this was another factor that kept the Argentine navy in port.
This GADA success prompted a change of tactics in the employment of the Sea Harriers: in order to avoid further losses of such valuable air defence assets and pilots, the subsequent air-to-ground operations were carried out from high altitude, well above the reach of the enemy ground fire. It was not until the arrival of the first GR3 Harriers that limited low level missions were launched, most of them in close air support role, or against high-value targets, like artillery and radars. The GR.3 Harrier, however, repeated the experience of its naval counterpart: a series of losses and aircraft damaged left three GR3 Harrier operational of 1(F) Squadron by June 1 (although re-inforcements joined the Task Force later that day by flying directly from Ascension Island
Ascension Island
Ascension Island is an isolated volcanic island in the equatorial waters of the South Atlantic Ocean, around from the coast of Africa and from the coast of South America, which is roughly midway between the horn of South America and Africa...
). To fix the problem, the RAF was forced to improve their countermeasures to continue its air campaign by increasing the number of Chaff and flares
Flare (countermeasure)
A flare is an aerial infrared countermeasure to counter an infrared homing surface-to-air missile or air-to-air missile. Flares are commonly composed of a pyrotechnic composition based on magnesium or another hot-burning metal, with burning temperature equal to or hotter than engine exhaust...
packages onboard and enhancing its radar-detection capabilities. The GR3 were also supported by Sea Harrier's diversionary missions.
GR3 Harriers in action
On May 12, another friendly fire incident struck the GADA after three A4 Skyhawks conducted a successful attack on . One of the returning jets flew by mistake over a banned zone in Goose Green, and was shot down with the loss of the pilot. The Argentine Air Force conceded that this time the incident was triggered by a pilot's navigation error.
With the beginning of Operation Sutton
Operation Sutton
During the 1982 Falklands War, Operation Sutton was the British landings on the shores of San Carlos Water, at Ajax Bay and Port San Carlos, near the San Carlos on East Falkland. During the night 3 Commando Brigade along with attached units of the Parachute Regiment were landed from the liner SS...
, the Harriers GR3s of 1(F) Squadron stepped up attacks upon ground targets. This included low level strikes with cluster bombs and rockets as well as nuisance raids in which 1000 lb bombs were launched in loft and high altitude profiles. During some high-altitude bombings the radar-guided guns locked onto the falling 1,000 lb bombs and it is claimed destroyed them on at least three occasions. It is also claimed that a Roland-2 blew up another bomb in mid-air after the release aircraft successfully broke radar lock.
On the night of May 24, the GADA 601 section issued a warning to the air base at Goose Green about the presence of a helicopter and the possible landing of special forces. Several minutes later members of the SAS
Special Air Service
Special Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...
mounted a diversionary attack on Darwin Hill.
On May 27, during the first stages of the battle of Goose Green
Battle of Goose Green
The Battle of Goose Green was an engagement of the Falklands War between British and Argentine forces. Goose Green and its neighbour Darwin are settlements on East Falkland in the Falkland Islands. They lie on Choiseul Sound on the east side of the island's central isthmus...
, several Harrier sorties hit the Argentine advanced positions to the north in support of the assault but the Close Air Support mission was complicated by bad weather and poor communications. After making four passes, Sqn Ldr Bob Iveson's aircraft was hit by heavy AAA fire from GADA 601 35 mm cannon. The aircraft, Harrier nº XZ998, exploded in the air about 5,000 meters from GADA 601's position. Sqn Ldr
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
Bob Iveson, bailed out safely and was rescued by friendly forces three days later. Many of the aircraft shot down by ground defences were hit after making repeated passes over the target and the wisdom of the tactics was repeatedly questioned.
Direct fire on Darwin Hill
Darwin, Falkland Islands
Darwin is a settlement in Lafonia on East Falkland, lying on Choiseul Sound, on the east side of the island's central isthmus, north of Goose Green...
after fierce fighting.
The GADA detachment, unaware of the situation, observed several platoons advancing down the southern slopes of the ridge. After identifying them as British, GADA 601 section engaged with direct fire. The 35 mm bursts blocked the advance of the leading companies
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
of the 2nd PARA Regiment, who suffered a number of losses. C Company bore the brunt of the Argentine fire, the Headquarters section of C Company was effectively put out of action and all told they took 20 % casualties, including their commander, Major Hugh Jenner, and his signallers. The rear platoon, attached from A Company, was forced to remain behind Darwin Hill for the rest of the battle.
The last direct-fire mission of GADA 601's section targeted the Darwin school-house, a position recently taken by troops of D Company. The building, already set on fire by white phosphorus grenades by the British, was systematically destroyed by 35 mm rounds and burnt to the ground, resulting in further casualties for the paratroopers.
The British advance from this area was eventually halted on the orders of Major Chris Keeble who decided to stop the advance in order to consolidate his position.
Shortly after the GADA position was subjected to mortar fire, and the power generator
Diesel generator
A diesel generator is the combination of a diesel engine with an electrical generator to generate electrical energy....
of the guns was damaged beyond repair. A later Harrier strike was inaccurate and failed to hit the GADA 601 position, as corroborated by a British account of the action. The mortar barrage, however, forced the section to seek shelter. With the garrison now isolated and surrounded, the Argentine commanding officer chose to surrender the following day.
The Battle for the Capital
After the fall of Goose Green, the British effort was now free to concentrate on Port Stanley (called Puerto Argentino by the Argentines). From the period between May 2 to May 28, there were three Vulcan sorties planned, but only one was carried out against Base Aérea Militar Malvinas. Argentine sources reveal that two soldiers were slightly injured but no damage was done to the airstrip. Another attempt against the airstrip was carried out during May 24. A package of four GR3s, flying at very low level to avoid radar detection, managed to drop retarding fuse bombs right on the runway. They were supported by two Sea Harriers tossing air burst
Air burst
An air burst is the detonation of an explosive device such as an anti-personnel artillery shell or a nuclear weapon in the air instead of on contact with the ground or target or a delayed armor piercing explosion....
bombs from high altitude to deceive the air defences. The low-angle fall, however, produced only surface damage, which was repaired six hours after the strike. Argentine sources acknowledge that a Pucará and an Aermacchi
Aermacchi MB-339
The Aermacchi MB-339 is an Italian military trainer and light attack aircraft. It was developed as a replacement for the earlier MB-326.-Design and development:...
were also damaged. One of the GR3s was also hit either by debris, according to the British version, or by antiaircraft fire, according to Argentine sources.
On May 25, the group suffered its first fatality when a soldier was killed by the blast of an unexploded bomblet. Five days later, a pair of GR3 was initially tasked to attack with rockets
entrenched troops on Mount Wall, west of Stanley, one of the very first strikes against the defensive ring around the Falklands capital. The air patrol was led by Sqn. Ld. Jerry Pook on nº XZ963. The original target was changed for a helicopter landing zone, some distance eastward. After approaching from the south, Pook flew right over a column of vehicles and troops, and was greeted by automatic fire around 4 km from the target's area. Argentine authors assert instead that the aircraft was hit by 35 mm fire from GADA's 1st section, B battery, which was completing a redeployment from Moody Brook to a position between Sapper Hill and the Stanley racecourse, under the command of 2nd Lieutenant Ferre. Pook's first hand account recalls to have feeling a "heavy thump", which is compatible with the impact of a large anti-aircraft shell. Nevertheless, the actual target's position given by Pook in his book was too far to the west to being acquired and shot at by GADA's gunners, albeit he is not too much assertive about having been hit by small arms rounds. A British official report states, however, that on June 12 another GR3 was peppered by "AAA splinters" east of Mount Harriet, almost the same location where Pook's jet was damaged. After finding no choppers on the assigned area, both Harriers attacked the original objective further west. At this time it became clear that Pook's jet was leaking fuel as consequence of the hit. With the engine in the verge of burning out and an incipient hydraulic failure, Pook climbed to 7,000 meters and ejected some 45 NM
Nautical mile
The nautical mile is a unit of length that is about one minute of arc of latitude along any meridian, but is approximately one minute of arc of longitude only at the equator...
from Hermes. He was rescued only 10 minutes later.
The next day, May 31, Stanley airport was hit by the combined action of Vulcan, Harrier and Sea Harrier aircraft. The Vulcan fired Shrike
AGM-45 Shrike
AGM-45 Shrike is an American anti-radiation missile designed to home in on hostile antiaircraft radars. The Shrike was developed by the Naval Weapons Center at China Lake in 1963 by mating a seeker head to the rocket body of an AIM-7 Sparrow. It was phased out by U.S...
anti-radar missiles, which went stray when the Argentine radar-operators switched off their devices. The Sea Harriers dropped bombs from high level, and three Harriers straffed the airstrip with cannon fire and rockets, in the belief that A4 Skyhawks had recently landed there. A Skyguard section claims to have hit two GR3s just before the pilots opened fire. Indeed, the RAF acknowledges that the two aircraft were badly hit, but the source of the damage is unclear. The engine of the leading Harrier, nº XV789, had to be replaced onboard Hermes. The other fighter, nº XZ977, only needed minor repairs.
On June 1, the Roland-2 system claimed a Sea Harrier over the airport. The aircraft, nº XZ456, belonging to the 801 Naval Air Squadron
801 Naval Air Squadron
801 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm squadron of the Royal Navy formed in 1933 which fought in World War II, the Korean War and the Falklands War.- Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Air Force:...
from , was in a recce
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
mission 7 km south of Stanley, apparently out of the reach of the missile, but tracked by its radar. The Argentine officer on charge of the unit, Lt. Regalini, fired the Roland despite the target being 7,000 meters away. The pilot, Flt. Lt. Ian Mortimer, climbed up, confident that he had successfully outmaneuvered the missile. A couple of seconds later, the rear bay of his jet was torn apart by the explosion of the proximity fuze
Proximity fuze
A proximity fuze is a fuze that is designed to detonate an explosive device automatically when the distance to target becomes smaller than a predetermined value or when the target passes through a given plane...
, leaving only the cockpit undamaged. Mortimer's ejection was witnessed by hundreds of Argentine troops. After a 9-hour ordeal at sea, he was recovered by a British helicopter.
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
in Brazil during the returning trip, after its in-flight refuelling probe broke. One of the missiles it was carrying was ditched into the ocean to reduce drag, but the other remained stuck on the pylon and could not be released. Sensitive documents containing classified information
Classified information
Classified information is sensitive information to which access is restricted by law or regulation to particular groups of persons. A formal security clearance is required to handle classified documents or access classified data. The clearance process requires a satisfactory background investigation...
were jettisoned into the sea via the crew hatch, and a "Mayday" signal was sent. The aircraft was eventually cleared to land by Brazilian authorities. The Vulcan remained interned for nine days, and returned along with its crew on 11 June. However, the remaining Shrike missile was confiscated.
On 9 June, Harrier nº XZ997 was hit again by shell splinters over Sapper Hill, defended by at least one 35 mm section. The aircraft wings and upper fuselage were holed in several places, and the Harrier suffered a minor hydraulic failure on recovery.
During a naval bombardment against Sapper Hill, on the early morning of June 12, the GADA's main radar was damaged and another soldier was killed.
In what may have been the last GADA 601 success in this war, Harrier nº XW919 was hit by shrapnel and seriously damaged on June 12, while dropping CBUs on an artillery position near Sapper Hill. During the recovery, the aircraft caught fire on Hermes flight deck, owing to a fractured reaction pipe. Argentine sources claim that the aircraft was hit by AAA immediately after the attack. A 155 mm
CITER 155mm L33 Gun
The 155mm L33 Argentine Model Gun is an Argentinian artillery field gun in service with the Argentine Army.-Development:...
howitzer
Howitzer
A howitzer is a type of artillery piece characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small propellant charges to propel projectiles at relatively high trajectories, with a steep angle of descent...
was lightly damaged and six soldiers injured. The account mistakes the CBUs for rockets. As mentioned above, Sapper Hill was defended by at least one GADA section. After being patched up, the aircraft was declared out of service and shipped to Britain on board MV Contender Bezant. The Harrier gone through extensive repairs and, though still operational, it was eventually transferred to the SFDO (School of Flight Deck Operations) at Culdrose. This Harrier is now on display at the Defence College of Shrivenham
Shrivenham
Shrivenham is a large village and civil parish in Oxfordshire, England, close to the boundary with Wiltshire. It is in the Vale of White Horse, between Swindon and Faringdon. It was part of Berkshire until the 1974 boundary changes transferred it to Oxfordshire.-Character:Shrivenham features many...
.
In the final hours of the war, the western most section of the group took part of the battle of Wireless Ridge
Battle of Wireless Ridge
The Battle of Wireless Ridge was an engagement of the Falklands War which took place on the night of 13 June and 14 June 1982, between British and Argentine forces during the advance towards the Argentine-occupied capital of the Falklands Stanley. Wireless Ridge was one of seven strategic hills...
, supporting the withdrawal of the Regiment of Infantry 7 with 35 mm fire.
After the Argentine capitulation, the group's 35 mm Oerlikon guns, abandoned and disabled by their operators, were captured by British forces. The weapons were refurbished and used to form a Royal Auxiliary Air Force
Royal Auxiliary Air Force
The Royal Auxiliary Air Force , originally the Auxiliary Air Force , is the voluntary active duty reserve element of the Royal Air Force, providing a primary reinforcement capability for the regular service...
squadron at RAF Waddington
RAF Waddington
RAF Waddington is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England.-Formation:Waddington opened as a Royal Flying Corps flying training station in 1916 until 1920, when the station went into care and maintenance....
. Four Skyguard radar units are employed by RAF Police to survey UK military flights over residential areas and to give warning of low-flying aircraft on sensitive facilities since 1993.
The bulk of the group's personnel left the Islands on 17 June 1982. The officers were released a month later.
Enemy aircraft shot down or disabled by GADA 601
| Nº | Pilot | Date | Place | Weapon | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea Harrier XZ450 | Flt. Lt. Flight Lieutenant Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"... Nick Taylor |
4 May 1982 | Goose Green | 35 mm fire | Shot Down |
| Harrier XZ988 | Sqn. Ldr. Squadron Leader Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these... Bob Iveson |
27 May 1982 | Goose Green | 35 mm fire | Shot Down |
| Harrier XZ963 | Sqn. Ldr. Jerry Pook | 30 May 1982 | West of Stanley | 35 mm/Small arms fire | Shot Down |
| Sea Harrier XZ456 | Fl. Lt. Ian Mortimer | 1 June 1982 | South of Stanley airport | Roland-2 missile | Shot Down |
| Harrier XW919 | Flt. Lt. Murdo McLeod | 12 June 1982 | Sapper Hill | 35 mm splinters | Out of service |
Direct fire support
| Date | Place | Target | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 May 1982 | Goose Green | 2nd PARA Regiment | Two advancing companies halted 20% of casualties among PARA C Company Company's HQs out of action |
| 13/14 June 1982 | Wireless Ridge | 2nd PARA Regiment | Withdrawal of remnants of Regiment of Infantry 7 successfully covered by 35 mm fire |
Peacekeeping missions
After the war, the group took part in several UN peacekeeping missions since 1992 with a contingent of 200 troops. The main peacekeeping operation involving the GADA was UNPROFOR. The GADA was under the command of the Batallón Ejército Argentino (BAE), deployed in Western SlavoniaSlavonia
Slavonia is a geographical and historical region in eastern Croatia...
from February 1992 to November 1995. About 70 officers and NCOs of the force also joint the Fuerza de Tareas Argentina (FTA) in Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
.