Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 34:57-35:46

HMS Vanguard in the Falklands War

A surviving Vanguard gives the Falklands amphibious force a spacious flagship, 15-inch shore bombardment, and a formidable concentration of close anti-aircraft guns.

15-inch Guns40 mm GunsAmphibious WarfareAnti-Aircraft WarfareBattleshipsFalklands WarHMS VanguardMichael ClappNaval Gunfire SupportNaval GunnerySan Carlos Water
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Question

How would HMS Vanguard have affected the Falklands War if she had survived in service?

Short answer

She would provide Clapp with a flagship, overwhelming 15-inch shore fire, and dense close-range air defence in San Carlos Water.

Notes

Vanguard becomes a flagship for Commodore Michael Clapp and the amphibious force in this counterfactual. Her 15-inch guns could shatter Argentine positions and accelerate the land campaign through naval gunfire support. The volume of bombardment might leave much less fighting by the time Fifth Infantry Brigade arrived. Vanguard's retained 40 mm batteries and other close weapons would also make attacks in San Carlos Water far more difficult. This is an operational counterfactual rather than a wider assessment of the cost of preserving the battleship.