Handbrake!

“Handbrake!”: the codeword that was shouted aboard Royal Navy ships upon the detection of an emission from the Thomson-CSF/EMD Agave radar of the Argentine Super Étendard, which carried the dreaded AM-39 Exocet missiles.

Argentina had bought these aircraft and their weapons from France in 1980, assigning them to the re- established 2nd Naval Air Fighter and Attack Squadron. Like most Argentine military units, the 1982 conflict over the Falklands/Malvinas conflict surprised the squadron, which was in the process of incorporating the aircraft and missiles, arriving only a few weeks beforehand from France.

Hastily, under the leadership of its commander, Capitán de Fragata Jorge Luis Colombo, the squadron finished its training and developed tactics for anti-ship attacks, deploying to the south of Argentina.

The effort paid off. With just four aircraft, five missiles, and ten pilots, the squadron succeeded in sinking HMS Sheffield and the container ship Atlantic Conveyor and conducted a long range and dangerous mission against the Carrier Battle Group on 30 May 1982.

Using declassified Argentine and British documentation, as well as interviewing pilots and technicians (French and Argentine) this book details, as never before, the history of this elite military unit from 1980 to the present, with a focus on the 1982 conflict over the Falklands/Malvinas, and the five missions flown.

It is the story of a military unit that revolutionized modern naval warfare, addressing both the military equipment involved and the people who were there. Known as the Lora (after the squadron badge showing a female parrot armed with a club), the squadron terrorised British sailors in the South Atlantic and is still in service with the Naval Aviation of the Argentine Navy.

 

"Highly recommended" Model Airplane International Magazine, Aug 22

"The text, which has been translated from Spanish, reads pretty well. ....a readable and useful addition to the library of titles on the conflict of years ago." Aeroplane Magazine

“In case you’re unfamiliar with the subject, Handbrake was the warning codeword used by the Royal Navy when one of its ships was being ‘painted’ by the SuE’s Agave radar. First, the 102-page book offers a general description of the SuE and the Exocet, and their incorporation into the Argentine Navy, along with history notes on the Second Naval Fighter and Attack Squadron. It then falls to authors Mariano Sciaroni and Alejandro Amendolara to chart the course of the Falklands conflict, with specific focus on the Argentine unit and how it employed its SuE assets. The tactics are covered in full, and there are many first-hand accounts to add colour and accuracy. And it’s not just the SuE that’s explored, because other Argentine aircraft were involved in a support capacity, such as the Lockheed Neptune, C-130 Hercules, Dagger and others. There is a plethora of period photos, which offer much in terms of reference; think colour schemes, markings, weapons loads. Supporting these are quality colour profiles, maps to give context, and various mission tables. Post-Falklands Argentine SuE activity is also covered.”  Key Model World

"This is without doubt the most-detailed account of the Super Étendard and the Exocet missile in the Falklands/Malvinas conflict. The inclusion of so much first-hand commentary from both sides lends weight to the careful analysis by the authors. The enormous number of maps and schematics detailing attack vectors and fleet positions had me engrossed while I played armchair strategist studying the maps and reading and re-reading the narrative. The 40-year anniversary of the conflict in 2022 reopened much of the continuing debate on the campaign and in particular the role of the French and the Super Étendard and Exocet missile system that proved instrumental in denting parts of the British task force. This fantastic contribution to the story by Amendolara and Sciaroni will ensure future debates are balanced and well informed." Flight Line Book Review Blog

"This book highlights this short fierce war between the UK and Argentina....the 14 chapters contain many quotes from those directly involved." Aerdia-Aviapress (translated from Dutch)

"...the book is well-illustrated, with a couple of photographs (mainly in colour) to almost every page. Sixteen detailed coloured maps help to describe events, and there are four pages of colour artwork illustrating colour schemes. This is an invaluable aid to anyone interested in the Falklands War, or wishing to model the aircraft involved." IPMS Magazine, Issue 3 2023

“This is quite the captivating read of the signature naval events of the war. It's technical enough to provide understanding of the interaction of modern weapon systems without being overwhelming. It's well written and provides situational awareness for both sides during the aerial missions. Well done. Enjoyed it.” The Historical Miniatures Gaming Society