What HMS Vanguard could have added in the Falklands

How useful would HMS Vanguard have been in the Falklands War?

She could have deterred Argentine surface forces, served as a flagship, and delivered very heavy naval gunfire support.

Vanguard could have performed several distinct jobs in the Falklands. Her presence would force General Belgrano to reckon with both a British attack submarine and a much more powerful surface opponent. The battleship's spacious command facilities could also support Michael Clapp's amphibious group better than the cramped ships available in 1982. Fifteen-inch high-explosive shells could deliver preparatory bombardment against defended landing areas and mountain positions. Vanguard would still require carriers, escorts, and submarines around her, while adding command capacity, deterrence, and a weight of naval gunfire otherwise absent from the task force.