Weapons of The Falklands War - Anti-ship Missiles

Anti-ship Missiles

The Exocet is probably the most famous weapon of the war, sinking two British ships and damaging a third. Operated by both sides the missile was used by the Argentine Navy either air launched from Dassault Super Étendard jets and from an improvised land launcher.

See main article Exocet.

The Sea Skua was a British light anti-ship missile, fired from Lynx helicopters, its warhead is only 20 kg compared with the Exocet's 165 kg. However hits from three Sea Skua missiles badly damaged the Argentine ARA Alferez Sobral.

See main article Sea Skua.

The AS.12 was a French built light anti-ship missile, fired from Westland Wasp helicopters. Like the Sea Skua its small 28 kg warhead meant that it could not destroy ships outright, however it could disable smaller vessels. On 25 April 1982 it contributed towards damaging and disabling the Argentine Submarine the ARA Santa Fe. A total of nine missiles were fired at the submarine trapped on the surface by anti-submarine torpedoes circling just under the hull. Of the missiles fired four hit, four missed and one failed to launch. Two of the missiles that hit the target failed to detonate on impact, instead punching a hole through the slender conning tower and exploding on the far side.

See main article AS.12.