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Very difficult question to answer;- a response to an FOI, there’s a reply that a file in the UK PRO which may help, “Sea Dart in the Falklands system operation performance assessment”, but I haven’t had time to get it. Maybe some clues.

I’ve cataloged 34 operational firings (ships, dates, times, likely targets) within the duration of the Falkland war from publicly available information. A large portion of these were two missile salvo’s where the second missile failed to guide due to, I believe the Chows exhaust plume, which contains aluminium, chaffed it’s own guidance radar in combination with a launcher control software bug. Ref recent interview with Captain H Balfour. HMS Exeter.

Add on the blast door sensor problem, another Type 42’s 909 sidelobe presenting like a valid target, and flocks of sea birds also presenting as valid targets to a nervous crew……not to mention A Woodwards orders for the operators to be aggressive so launch whenever possible…..it all gets messy.

Against this background it’ll be very difficult to really come to any definitive conclusion.

<blockquote data-quote="Zoo Tycoon" data-source="post: 731934" data-attributes="member: 1642">Very difficult question to answer;- a response to an FOI, there’s a reply that a file in the UK PRO which may help, “Sea Dart in the Falklands system operation performance assessment”, but I haven’t had time to get it. Maybe some clues.I’ve cataloged 34 operational firings (ships, dates, times, likely targets) within the duration of the Falkland war from publicly available information. A large portion of these were two missile salvo’s where the second missile failed to guide due to, I believe the Chows exhaust plume, which contains aluminium, chaffed it’s own guidance radar in combination with a launcher control software bug. Ref recent interview with Captain H Balfour. HMS Exeter.Add on the blast door sensor problem, another Type 42’s 909 sidelobe presenting like a valid target, and flocks of sea birds also presenting as valid targets to a nervous crew……not to mention A Woodwards orders for the operators to be aggressive so launch whenever possible…..it all gets messy.Against this background it’ll be very difficult to really come to any definitive conclusion.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Zoo Tycoon, post: 731934, member: 1642"] Very difficult question to answer;- a response to an FOI, there’s a reply that a file in the UK PRO which may help, “Sea Dart in the Falklands system operation performance assessment”, but I haven’t had time to get it. Maybe some clues. I’ve cataloged 34 operational firings (ships, dates, times, likely targets) within the duration of the Falkland war from publicly available information. A large portion of these were two missile salvo’s where the second missile failed to guide due to, I believe the Chows exhaust plume, which contains aluminium, chaffed it’s own guidance radar in combination with a launcher control software bug. Ref recent interview with Captain H Balfour. HMS Exeter. Add on the blast door sensor problem, another Type 42’s 909 sidelobe presenting like a valid target, and flocks of sea birds also presenting as valid targets to a nervous crew……not to mention A Woodwards orders for the operators to be aggressive so launch whenever possible…..it all gets messy. Against this background it’ll be very difficult to really come to any definitive conclusion. [/QUOTE]

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