An Avro Vulcan, as used during Operation Black Buck

During the Falklands War, Operations Black Buck 1 to Black Buck 6 were a series of six extremely long-range bombing attacks by Royal Air Force Vulcan bombers against Argentine positions in the Falkland Islands. Avro Vulcan XH534. ... Avro Vulcan XH534. ... Combatants United Kingdom Argentina Commanders Sir John Fieldhouse Sir John Woodward Margaret Thatcher Leopoldo Galtieri Mario Menéndez Ernesto Crespo Casualties 258 killed[1] 777 wounded 59 taken prisoner 649 killed 1,068 wounded 11,313 taken prisoner The Falklands War (Spanish: ) was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the... The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... The Avro Vulcan was a British delta wing subsonic bomber, operated by the Royal Air Force from 1953 until 1984. ...

Two Vulcans were deployed to Wideawake airfield on Ascension Island, of which one flew the Black Buck raids against the Falkland Islands (XM607). The Vulcans were captained by Squadron Leader Neil McDougall, Squadron Leader John Reeve and Flight Lieutenant Martin Withers. Eleven Victor tankers, including two standby aircraft were required to refuel the Vulcans before and after their attacks on the Falklands. The attacking Vulcan was refuelled five times on the outward journey and once on the return journey. Each aircraft carried twenty-one 1,000 pound (450 kg) bombs or two Shrike anti-radar missiles (Dash 10 pod). The bombs were intended to cause damage to Argentine installations, especially the Port Stanley Airport; it was hoped that the attacks would cause the defenders to switch on defensive radars, which would then be targeted by the missiles. Anthem: God Save the Queen Capital Georgetown Largest city Georgetown Official languages English Government Dependency of St. ... The Handley Page Victor was a British jet bomber aircraft, one of the V bombers intended to carry Britains nuclear arsenal. ... AGM-45 Shrike is an anti-radiation missile designed to home in on hostile antiaircraft radars. ... Port Stanley Airport (IATA: PSY, ICAO: SFAL) is an airport in the Falkland Islands, two miles outside the capital, Stanley. ...

In spite of being the longest combat flights in history at the time, the military success of Black Buck can be at best described as minimal, the actual damage to the airfield and radars was quickly repaired. The runway was continually used by Argentine C-130's until the end of the war. ^{[1] [2]}. The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop cargo aircraft and the main tactical airlifter for many military forces worldwide. ...

Although, to the British, the raids achieved a number of non-material objectives, including demonstrating the British willingness and ability to attack Argentine forces on the islands. It also demonstrated the ability of the RAF to strike at the Argentinian homeland if necessary.

Black Buck One 30th April and Black Buck Two: 4th May

Bombing raids on the Port Stanley airfield, The Attacking Vulcan XM607 carried 21 1,000lb bombs, and the attacking Vulcan was the back up aircraft captained by Flight Lieutenant Martin Withers. Scoring ony one direct hit on the runway. Also at the time it was the longest bombing raid in history covering over 4000 nautical miles all of witch was conducted over open sea. this record was not broken until a American B-52 flew from the USA to Iraq and then returned to RAF Mildenhall in England during operation desert storm in 1991(note bar the transatlantic crossing this raid was mainly conducted over friendly territory unlike the Black Buck.)

Black Buck Three: 31st May and Black Buck Four: 3rd June

Missile strikes against Argentine Skyguard radar on the Falklands using American supplied AGM-45 Shrike Anti-Radar missiles on improvised underwing pylons. During the 3rd June mission, the Vulcan sustained damage to its air refuelling probe and was forced to land at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, where the aircraft was impounded until the 11th June, and the remaining Shrike missile was confiscated, This Vulcan was captained by Squadron Leader Neil McDougall. Skyguard may refer to: Skyguard (airport defense system) The Skyguard radar system used with Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon Category: ... AGM-45 Shrike is an anti-radiation missile designed to home in on hostile antiaircraft radars. ... This article is about the Brazilian city. ...

Black Buck Five: 12th June

The final Black Buck mission was against Argentine troop positions close to Port Stanley using 1,000lb bombs

References

• Commodore Ruben Oscar Moro La Guerra Inaudita, 2000 ISBN 987-96007-3-8
• Rowland White - Vulcan 607 - 2006 - Bantam Publishing ISBN 0593053915

1. ^ Offensive Air Operations Of The Falklands War - USMC
2. ^ http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Falklands/vulcan.htm The Avro Vulcan and the Black Buck raids

External links

• History of the Vulcan from Thunder & Lightnings - give details of the Black Buck Missions

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