six minute long video about Amateur Radio during the Falkland War.
Interesting video about amateur radio during Falklands Islands war
- Thread starter kf6olc
- Start date
K6GBW
Member
Neat video! 1982 was the year I graduated high school, and I was off to basic training at Ft. Benning. The state of the world at the time meant that I was very aware of conflict around the globe. I don't think many Americans realized what a real fight it was in the Falklands, or the challenges that the UK faced in going there and taking the island back.
A few years later I was assigned to West Germany. I distinctly remember seeing the huge beam antenna at Frankfurt am Main AFB. At the time I knew nothing about radio so asked about it and was told it was for the MARS station. I ended up sending a 'Health and Welfare' message back to the States via that station and the local MARS operators. Later, while we patrolled the border I got exposed to both VHF and HF radio. I think this is where my interest in Ham radio first began. When I got out one of the first things I did was get my ham license.
Thanks for sharing this!
A few years later I was assigned to West Germany. I distinctly remember seeing the huge beam antenna at Frankfurt am Main AFB. At the time I knew nothing about radio so asked about it and was told it was for the MARS station. I ended up sending a 'Health and Welfare' message back to the States via that station and the local MARS operators. Later, while we patrolled the border I got exposed to both VHF and HF radio. I think this is where my interest in Ham radio first began. When I got out one of the first things I did was get my ham license.
Thanks for sharing this!
Pete_uk
Member
The first news of the invasion reached the BBC in London thanks to a radio ham on the islands.
Quite a bit of info was passed to London via some clandestine stations at much risk.
Very much a different time of course.
Quite a bit of info was passed to London via some clandestine stations at much risk.
Very much a different time of course.
The Forces News channel is very interesting. I have been a subscriber for a few years. I like seeing our ally's take on things.
Last time I visited with some friends from Argentina something came up about the Falklands and my friends stopped and corrected me citing it’s the Malvinas and not to forget that. Then they proudly reminded me of their Exocet missile that downed a British ship.
I've made only 3 contacts with the Falklands that were purely awesome. First one was with VP8RAF in 2014, and the other two were with VP8LP in 2016. It was truly an amazing experience for me to have a couple of QSO's with the man himself!
www.forces.net
How two amateur radio enthusiasts secretly passed soldiers' 'I am safe' messages during Falklands War
Each message they transmitted to home for the soldiers in the Falklands was the same: "I am safe".
And then there is this video about amateur radio during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait back in 1990:
Not sure downed is the best term, but the HMS Sheffield had to be towed back to the UK.
Pete_uk
Member
HMS Sheffield
HMS Ardent
HMS Antelope
HMS Coventry
SS Atlantic Conveyor (supply ship)
RFA Sir Galahad
All lost
Aircraft carrier HMS Invincible and her Harrier fleet showed their worth.
Certainly restored a bit of British pride.
Anyway I'm veering away from amateur radio.
HMS Ardent
HMS Antelope
HMS Coventry
SS Atlantic Conveyor (supply ship)
RFA Sir Galahad
All lost
Aircraft carrier HMS Invincible and her Harrier fleet showed their worth.
Certainly restored a bit of British pride.
Anyway I'm veering away from amateur radio.