Operation Corporate was the UK name given to the conflict between it and Argentina to retake the Falkand Islands (Islas Malvinas) and associated South Atlantic territories following their seizure by military invasion in early April 1982. The UK despatched a large naval task force and associated air and land forces, often using the Ascension Island as a mid point mounting base. Most of the UKs helicopter squadrons and/or their personnel found themselves involved in this operation sooner or later. Many of the helicopter types involved were upgraded to improve their capabilities or survivability. This conflict also marked the first combat use of the newly delivered RAF Chinook HC Mk1, and where several were lost, along with many other reinforcement helicopters, following the Exocet sinking of the Atlantic Conveyor.

The operation highlighted the drawbacks of relying on a non-organic maritime reconnaissance capability, following the HM Treasury-led retirement of the Gannet AEW.3 force and the inflexibility in the deployment of Shackleton AEW.2 and Nimrod MR.2 shore-based assets to support the Fleet in a timely fashion. On the plus side, it led to the development of the Sea King AEW.2 and its successors plus the adoption of more robust anti-missile defence systems and a re-learning of lessons about the use of low combustibility materials for the surface fleet.

indeed it was not the lack of maritime recce capability that was exposed, as the Nimrod MR2 (not the Mk 1 was indicated above) was fitted with in-flight refuelling probes specifically to operate in the combat zone, and the organic Sea Kings and Sea Harriers were employed for these duties too. The fundamental deficiency was organic airborne early warning (AEW) as the only available UK aircraft, the Shackleton AEW Mk2 had insufficient endurance to operate in the South Atlantic.

Units |
Dates | Unit | Models |
---|---|---|
![]() | CH-47C Chinook | |
![]() | Wessex Sea King | |
![]() | ||
![]() | Lynx | |
![]() | Sea King | |
![]() | Wasp Wessex | |
![]() | Wessex | |
![]() | Sea King HC.4 | |
03apr82 to 15jul82 | ![]() | SA341B Gazelle AH.1 Lynx Scout |
04apr82 to 17sep82 | ![]() | Sea King Sea King Sea King |
17apr82 to 16oct82 | ![]() | Wessex |
21apr82 to 02aug82 | ![]() | SA341B Gazelle AH.1 |
03may82 to 31jul82 | ![]() | Sea King |
07may82 to 26sep82 | ![]() | Wessex |
Some of the units could be operating fixed wing aircraft at the time, check every unit for details
|
Model | IDs |
---|---|
Boeing-Vertol CH-47C Chinook | ZA705 ZA706 w/o ZA707 ZA713 ZA715 ZA716 w/o ZA717 ZA718 ZA719 w/o |
Westland Wasp | XS562 XT427 XT432 XT779 XV624 |
Westland Sea King HC.4 | ZA290 ZA311 |
Westland Lynx HAS2 | XZ233 XZ247 XZ249 XZ251 w/o XZ696 XZ698 XZ700 XZ720 XZ722 XZ723 XZ736 |
Westland Sea King HAS.2 | XZ579 XZ580 |
Westland Sea King HAS.1 | XV649 XV654 XV656 XV659 XV663 XV696 XV700 XV714 |
Westland Wessex HU.5 | XS479 XS480 w/o XS483 XS486 XS488 XS495 XS499 XS506 XS507 XS512 XS514 XS515 XS516 XS518 XT450 XT451 XT459 XT460 XT464 XT466 XT468 XT469 XT471 XT472 XT473 XT475 XT476 XT480 XT483 XT484 XT486 XT755 XT756 XT757 XT759 XT765 XT766 XT771 XT773 |
Westland Scout AH.1 | XP902 XR627 XR628 XT629 XT637 XT649 XV140 XW615 XW616 |
Aerospatiale SA341B Gazelle AH.1 | XX376 XX380 XX402 XX411 XX412 XX413 XZ326 ZA730 ZA776 |
Ships |