Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 3:13:02-3:13:40

What if a 15-inch-gun battleship had served in the Falklands?

A reactivated Warspite or Vanguard would have given the amphibious force an extraordinary 15-inch naval-gunfire capability around San Carlos Water.

Counterfactual HistoryFalklands WarHMS VanguardHMS WarspiteNaval Gunfire Support
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Question

What if HMS Warspite or HMS Vanguard had been reactivated for the Falklands War?

Short answer

Its 15-inch guns would have provided overwhelming naval gunfire support for the force around San Carlos Water.

Notes

The counterfactual imagines a surviving battleship returning to service for the Falklands campaign. Michael Clapp's amphibious command could embark aboard Warspite, placing 15-inch guns in San Carlos Water. Such a ship could deliver fire support on a scale far beyond the destroyers and frigates historically available. Its chief value in this scenario would be suppressing Argentine positions ashore rather than seeking an enemy battle line.