The Royal Navy’s introduction of the Sea Harrier came more than ten years after the RAF started operating the Harrier GR1. On 1 April 1980, 800 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) formed at RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset, followed by 801 NAS on 26 February 1981. After the commissioning of the brand-new ‘through-deck cruiser’ HMS Invincible, 800 NAS embarked for its first major deployment in September 1980. Also deployed was 801 NAS on the ageing conventional aircraft carrier HMS Hermes.
When Argentine forces invaded the Falklands on 2 April 1982, some Sea Harriers were still lacking their Blue Fox radars, and none of them had clearance to carry BAe Sea Eagle anti-ship missiles. However, the Sea Harrier was operational, albeit with somewhat limited capabilities, in the nick of time for the Falklands conflict. Britain’s Task Force that was hastily sent to the South Atlantic could not have been as effective without it and the outcome might have been very different.
At the same time, despite its relative maturity, the RAF’s Harrier GR3 was only cleared to fire its 30mm Aden cannon and drop 1,000lb (454kg) bombs and BL-755 cluster weapons. It did not have clearance for the new third-generation AIM-9L Side-winder (which had been supplied in haste by the Americans), laser-guided bombs, or Shrike anti-radiation missiles. Nevertheless, in order to provide more air power, No. 1 Squadron flew fourteen Harrier GR3s nonstop (some 4,000 miles) from the UK to Ascension Island in the South Atlantic. The Harriers made the trip in nine hours, refueling in mid-air five times.
The Task Force had 28 Sea Harriers and 14 RAF Harrier GR3s, together with 175 helicopters. The air war began on 1 May, when an early bombing raid on Port Stanley airfield by an RAF Vulcan bomber flying from Ascension Island was followed by a dawn attack by twelve Sea Harriers operating from HMS Hermes. The Sea Harriers generally operated in the air combat role, while the GR3s focused on ground attack. The Sea Harriers took a toll of incoming Argentinian aircraft that was quite remarkable in the circumstances.
Sea Harriers and Harrier GR3s operated from RN aircraft carriers, which remained a considerable distance offshore to stay out of range of Argentine aircraft armed with Exocet anti-shipping missiles. This meant that the Harriers were not immediately available to support ground troops and could only spend a limited time over the islands. As soon as the British Invasion Force at San Carlos had moved inland a forward operating base (FOB) was built by the Royal Engineers at a site north-west of Port San Carlos settlement. The FOB was constructed of aluminium decking, but was only half the size that had been planned because much of the material had sunk with the Atlantic Conveyor. The landing strip was narrow and 850ft long with a turning loop at one end, and could cope with only four aircraft. First used by a Sea Harrier on 5 June 1982, it was subsequently used by the RAF and RN as required, aircraft and pilots remaining overnight on occasions. It was known as RAF Port San Carlos to the RAF, or HMS Sheathbill to the RN, but was more usually referred to as ‘Sid’s Strip’ after the commanding officer, Sqn Ldr ‘Sid’ Morris.
The RAF’s Harrier GR3s played an invaluable role in taking over much of the highly dangerous ground/surface attack mission, and made 125 operational sorties. Although no Sea Harriers were destroyed in air combat, there were other operational losses. The conflict was short, and it revealed some shortcomings in both Harrier variants. On the other hand, it demonstrated beyond any doubt the unique operational versatility of the family. Without the foresight of the naval planners who had stubbornly fought for the Sea Harrier, the Falklands might well have been given up to Argentina without a fight.
After hostilities ceased, a Harrier Detachment (HarDet) of six GR3s, together with two Sea Harriers, was established at Port Stanley, becoming No. 1453 Flight in August 1983. The Harriers and Sea Harriers returned to the UK once Mount Pleasant airfield was opened on 12 May 1985 and RAF Phantoms took over the role.