Accession Number:

AD1023221

Title:

The Falklands and the War of Reagans Ear

Descriptive Note:

Technical Report

Corporate Author:

Air Command And Staff College Maxwell Air Force Base United States

Personal Author(s):

• Corfield,Graem

Report Date:

2013-12-01

Pagination or Media Count:

31.0

Abstract:

During the Cold War, the UK rebalanced its defense posture emphasizing a continental commitment to NATO over its former maritime strategy. Successive defense reviews whittled away the reach and capacity of the Royal Navy, and by 1982 the poverty of options available led it to employ a tripwire strategy of deterrence in the South Atlantic that, instead, precipitated an invasion of the Falkland Islands. Nevertheless, Argentinas actions caught the UK by surprise and threatened Parliaments confidence in the sitting government Admiral Henry Leachs warning to Prime Minister PM Margaret Thatcher that in another few months we might be living in another country, has gained mythical status in the retelling of the crisis.

Descriptors:

• Military forces(Foreign)
• United Kingdom
• Argentina
• naval warfare
• naval operations
• navy
• Military aircraft operations
• military strategy

Subject Categories:

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE