Sea Slug offered County-class destroyers both anti-air and anti-ship roles, yet the Falklands produced more land-attack firings than shots at aircraft. The sole air-defence launch may have owed as much to the danger of retaining the missile aboard as to any expectation of a hit. Mark 2 was arguably less capable than Mark 1 in use because opponents had learned how to evade first-generation guided weapons. The comparison shows how a newer missile could face a more difficult tactical environment, while actual wartime use departed from its original air-defence purpose.
Notable Point · 29:30-30:39
Sea Slug's Falklands use extended beyond air defence
Falklands land-attack firings and the uncertain prospects of its air-defence launch reveal the limits of Sea Slug in actual combat.