All you need to know about Operation Mikado in 1982

Here is all you need to know about Operation Mikado.

Operation Mikado

Operation Mikado was a highly ambitious mission planned in 1982 to destroy Argentina’s remaining Exocet missiles and the Super Étendard aircraft capable of launching them.

The operation targeted the Argentine naval air base at Río Grande in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Exocet attacks had already sunk HMS Sheffield and damaged other British vessels, making the missiles a major threat to the British Task Force.

Why it was considered necessary

By May 1982, British planners believed Argentina had only a limited number of Exocet missiles. Destroying the aircraft, missiles and pilots at their source could reduce the danger to the fleet and improve the chances of retaking the Falkland Islands.

The daring plan

Around 55 SAS soldiers from B Squadron were expected to fly directly to Río Grande aboard two RAF C-130 Hercules aircraft.

The aircraft would land on the runway at night with their engines running, allowing the SAS to launch a rapid assault. Their targets included the Super Étendard jets, Exocet missiles and potentially the pilots.

If successful, the force would escape to neighbouring Chile.

Operation Plum Duff

Before the main raid could proceed, an SAS patrol was inserted as part of a reconnaissance mission known as Operation Plum Duff.

Its purpose was to gather intelligence on the target area and assess possible routes and landing sites. The mission faced serious difficulties caused by terrain, weather and navigation, underlining the dangers of attacking mainland Argentina.

Why the mission was cancelled

Río Grande was heavily defended by anti-aircraft guns, radar systems, marines and infantry units.

As planning progressed, British commanders concluded that the SAS force faced an extremely high risk of devastating casualties. Senior military leaders eventually cancelled the operation before it could be launched.

How close it came

Operation Mikado went beyond the drawing board, with reconnaissance preparations carried out and aircraft, personnel and logistics examined in detail.

The plan to land special forces directly on mainland Argentina showed how seriously British planners viewed the Exocet threat during the Falklands War.

Legacy

Operation Mikado remains one of the most controversial “what if” missions in SAS history.

Supporters believe it could have removed a major threat to the fleet, while critics regard it as a near-suicidal undertaking. Because it was never carried out, the operation remains a little-known but fascinating episode of the Falklands conflict.

Operation Mikado continues to prompt debate over the risks Britain was prepared to take against Argentina’s Exocet threat.