Harrier GR.3

The 1982 Falklands War started on the 2nd April when Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands. The UK response was to assemble a military task force, which was predominately comprised of a Royal Naval Battle Group and combined Army and Navy Amphibious Landing force. The RAF at the time had committed to provide air support, anywhere in the world, and it was this commitment which led to the latest round of defence cuts proposing to sell off the UK’s last aircraft carriers. Only a few ever considered a need to have UK forces engage in a conflict 4000 miles from home, in the South Atlantic, and so when the British islands of South Georgia and the Falklands were invaded, only the Royal Navy had the wherewithal to respond. 

Harrier GR.3 1(F) RAF Squadron 1982

The RAF did however attempt a number of innovative missions to support the cause. With the UK having to rely on very limited, if any, access to US satellites, a pair of 39(PR) Squadron’s photo reconnaissance Canberra PR9s were prepared with Chilean Airforce markings and readied to fly to Punta Arenas, Chile, for Operation FOLKLORE, a covert operation to provide the task force with photographic intelligence on Argentine military targets. Meanwhile, under Operation ACME, 52 Squadron’s R1 Nimrods, peppered with aerials, antennae and receivers which could intercept enemy communications and identify air defence radars, were readied to fly to San Felix Island, some 500 miles west of the Chilean mainland. And on the 1st May, just as the Battle Group arrived in shooting distance of the Falkland Islands, the first of 7 Operation BLACK BUCK missions were flown from the Ascension Islands by Vulcan bombers against Argentine targets on the Falklands, the first being to bomb Port Stanley’s runway to prevent its use by fast jets, such as the Exocet carrying Super Etendards.

Harrier GR.3 operating from Port San Carlos temporary forward operational airstrip 

Without use of an airfield or super sized aircraft carrier, which only the US now possessed, it was impossible for the RAF to provide any fast jet interceptors, such as the Phantom F4. It did, however, have the Harrier GR3. This 1960s developed, single-engine, single-seat, close support/reconnaissance/fighter aircraft with vertical/short takeoff and landing capability, similar to its Navy cousin, the Sea Harrier (SHAR), could land on and take off from the task forces' small Invincible class carriers, or operate from temporary forward airstrips. Therefore, when the call came to provide replacements for those SHARs anticipated to be shot down in the early days of the conflict, and with the Royal Navy having already sailed to the Falklands with their only operational aircraft, 1(F) RAF Squadron offered up 16 of its Harrier GR.3 force for the operation. 10 flew to direct to Ascension, to join Atlantic Conveyor and the newly formed 809 NAS, with a further 6 following a month later.

Although originally fitted with air to air Sidewinder missiles, the GR.3 was never required to support the SHAR on CAP (Combat Air Patrol) but instead were utilised in their more traditional ground attack role. Loaded with rockets, 1000 lb bombs, cluster bombs, and new laser guided bombs, they launched attacks against Argentine positions near Stanley, on the airfields, on Mounts Harriet, Longdon & Tumbledown and on Sapper Hill. They also ran the gauntlet of anti aircraft fire in numerous and vital, low level photo reconnaissance missions.

Originally shipped to the Falklands with Sidewinder missiles, bombs were its weapons of choice 


On the 21st May, the amphibious force landed at Port San Carlos (located on the west coast of East Falkland), and by 2nd June a temporary 260 m long forward operating airstrip had been constructed, enabling the GR.3s to leave the control and confines of HMS Hermes to operate from a location much closer to the front line. For the first time since leaving the UK, they could also now use their FINRAE (Feranti Inertial Rapid Alignment Equipment), the sophisticated weapons control and head up display (HUD) system, which could not be made to work flying from the moving deck of an aircraft carrier! The 10 Harrier GR.3s, which saw combat up until the Argentine’s surrender on 14th June, completed 126 sorties with 4 losses:



• Friday 21 May Flt Lt Glover was shot down over Port Howard, West Falkland, probably by Blowpipe SAM; he ejected, was injured and was taken prisoner-of-war. 
• Thursday 27th May - Sqdn Ldr Iveson was shot down over Goose Green, probably by 35mm Oerlikon anti aircraft fire; ejected, evaded capture and was later rescued.
• Sunday 30th May - Sqdn Ldr Pook RAF's Harrier incurred damage from small arms fire, near Stanley, then ran out of fuel short of HMS Hermes; ejected and was picked up east of the Falklands. 
• Tuesday 8th June - Wing Cmdr Squire landed heavily at Port San Carlos with partial engine failure. His Harrier was damaged beyond repair but he escaped unhurt. 

GR.3 XZ992, the aircraft number on my Italeri model kit, was delivered to the RAF on 18th February 1982 and was flown out to HMS Hermes on 1st June, as part of the second wave of 6 replacements. Unfortunately, although it probably saw little action, it was the 5th GR.3 destined not to return to the UK:

• 28th November 1984 - Flt Lt Ian Wilkes struck a large sea bird, probably a Southern Giant Petrel, while practising an attack on Port Stanley airport. He ejected at very low level, with insufficient time for the parachute to slow him down, and suffered serious injuries but was saved from drowning by two airmen who were working nearby and came to his aid.

Italeri 1:72 scale Harrier GR.3 'Falklands war' Aircraft No. XZ992

While this first generation of Harriers did not see further combat with the RAF after the Falklands War, a detachment of six Harrier GR.3As from No.1453 Flight RAF was established at Stanley airport, which became RAF Stanley, part of BFFI (British Forces Falkland Islands). After the arrival of No. 29 Squadron RAF, with their F-4M Phantom FGR.2s from Ascension Island in October 1982, just as during the 1982 conflict, 1453 Flight's mission was focused more on ground attack missions. In June 1985 the Harriers finally left the Falkland Islands' air defence to the Phantoms of 23 Squadron, which had relieved 29 Squadron in October 1983.

RAF operations were moved from Stanley airport in 1986 to the purpose built RAF Mount Pleasant. From here, it is No.1435 Flight RAF, flying the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4, who continue to provide the air defence for the Falkland Islands & South Georgia.  RAF Mount Pleasant is amazingly home to around 2,000 British military personnel, as much again as was the population of the Falkland Islands back in 1982!

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The model:

Brand: Italeri
Title: Harrier GR.3 Falklands war
Number: 1401
Scale: 1:72
Released: 2017 | Rebox (Changed decals)