Post by nautonnier on Feb 27, 2021 19:28:12 GMT
I got to the Falklands after all the excitement was over to put in various comms that would bring their air traffic control systems into the 1990's (from the 1950's). They were still covered with unmapped minefields (itself in breach of the Geneva Convention) - the Falklander's came up with a simple clearance method - they drove flocks of sheep over the minefields. The sheep have a disease that means they are only grown for their wool, once too old for good wool they would be driven over cliffs - so this was seen as no different.
Falklands are a lot bigger than you would expect, around 4 times the size of Rhode Island and in two main islands. Population ~2000 spread very thinly. When the UK military arrived the population quadrupled**
The hills (mountains) are not small but not talking rockies - they are 3000ft+ and like all of the Falklands windblown and cold. I went up to a radar unit on the top of 'Mount Kent' just West of Stanley. To get there we were in a snowcat. The personnel in the radar unit were in 30ft shipping containers converted for avionics and personnel. The army signals staff sergeant went direct to the Mess and started eating. I went to the ops room with my 'Flight Sergeant' (Master Sergeant in US terms) not a hospitable place.....
So this guy went above and beyond....
**
It may only be Flea that appreciates this, but there was a long running 'soap opera' on UK TV called 'Cross Roads' about a motel. One of the staff of the hotel who was 'somewhat slow' was called Benny. This became the knickname for any falklander that the forces had to deal with. This was not a problem as the Falklands had no access to UK television. Then someone decided to use some spare capacity on the military SATCOM to give the Falklands access to UK TV. They then realized why they were being called Benny's. The Commanding Officer immediately put out an order to all forces Falklands that the local islanders were no longer to be called Bennies. I arrived and I found the locals were being called 'stills' as despite the order - they were 'still' Bennies.
Falklands are a lot bigger than you would expect, around 4 times the size of Rhode Island and in two main islands. Population ~2000 spread very thinly. When the UK military arrived the population quadrupled**
The hills (mountains) are not small but not talking rockies - they are 3000ft+ and like all of the Falklands windblown and cold. I went up to a radar unit on the top of 'Mount Kent' just West of Stanley. To get there we were in a snowcat. The personnel in the radar unit were in 30ft shipping containers converted for avionics and personnel. The army signals staff sergeant went direct to the Mess and started eating. I went to the ops room with my 'Flight Sergeant' (Master Sergeant in US terms) not a hospitable place.....
So this guy went above and beyond....
**
It may only be Flea that appreciates this, but there was a long running 'soap opera' on UK TV called 'Cross Roads' about a motel. One of the staff of the hotel who was 'somewhat slow' was called Benny. This became the knickname for any falklander that the forces had to deal with. This was not a problem as the Falklands had no access to UK television. Then someone decided to use some spare capacity on the military SATCOM to give the Falklands access to UK TV. They then realized why they were being called Benny's. The Commanding Officer immediately put out an order to all forces Falklands that the local islanders were no longer to be called Bennies. I arrived and I found the locals were being called 'stills' as despite the order - they were 'still' Bennies.
Just ask Walnut.
