Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 55:18-58:30

What sinking Veinticinco de Mayo would have meant

Argentina's carrier was a strike and fleet flagship, not primarily an ASW carrier, and a British submarine would not have declined a valid shot for political reasons.

A-4 SkyhawkAircraft CarriersFalklands WarRoyal NavyS-2 TrackerSubmarine ServiceSubmarinesVeinticinco De Mayo
Watch at this timeFull video guide
Question

How would the sinking of Argentina's carrier have been viewed during the Falklands War?

Short answer

It would have been a major British success against Argentina's fleet flagship and principal sea-based strike asset.

Notes

Veinticinco de Mayo was Argentina's fleet flagship and principal sea-based strike asset, not primarily an anti-submarine carrier. Her A-4 Skyhawks provided strike power while Trackers performed search duties. The panel rejects a claim that a British submarine might withhold a valid shot to protect the political case for carriers. Sinking the flagship would be an operational success, an extraordinary source of submarine prestige, and another argument for protecting carriers with effective escorts.