Submarinos nucleares de ataque do Reino Unido na Guerra das Malvinas em 1982

Abstract

This dissertation examines the employment of the United Kingdom’s Nuclear-Powered Attack Submarines (SSN) during the 1982 Falklands War. The study aims to answer the central question: how did the British Navy employ its SSN in the conflict? For this purpose, it adopts as a reference the Brazilian Navy Doctrine, particularly the concepts within the Naval Power Employment Field Naval Defense, relating the Basic Naval Tasks and the Effects of Naval Power. The research addresses conceptual aspects and submarine classifications, highlighting the operational superiority of SSN over conventional units (SSK). It then provides a detailed description of the actions of HMS Spartan, HMS Splendid, and HMS Conqueror, from their initial deployment to the South Atlantic to patrol and surveillance operations, emphasizing the political, strategic, and operational impact of the sinking of the ARA General Belgrano by HMS Conqueror, the only lethal action conducted by a British SSN during the campaign. The analysis of operations, structured according to Basic Naval Tasks and Effects of Naval Power, demonstrates that SSN played a decisive role in a Sea Denial to the enemy and in producing the Effect of Defense and Recapture of Oceanic Islands, thereby ensuring British maritime supremacy in the region. The study also highlights the operational limitations of these assets and the logistical constraints affecting their prolonged presence in areas far from home bases. Finally, the dissertation suggests that the British experience in the Falklands offers valuable insights for Brazilian naval planning, particularly regarding the number and availability of SSN required to ensure, effectively and sustainably, the desired deterrence capability within the country’s strategic environment.