After I qualified I did a 4 and half month trip down the Falklands with the RFA. I fully support any action that protects the residents of the falklands, as has been mentioned they continually consider themselves british, and so its our duty to protect our residents is it not? There was always suspisions of oil / gas down there but at the time of the war we lacked the technolgy to confirm or exploit the minerals. At the time of the war I'm of the mind that if Argentina got control of the islands then they'd be able to asert control on shipping through their reigon. I'm not sure if they where aware or not of the possibility of oil / gas there
As of now are are 3 companies drilling for oil / gas down there using one semi sub rig and there has not been any confirmed strikes. 2 of the three companies are now struggling for money to continue exploration.
As regards to a sub being down there you'll probably find there has always been a presence there or nearby. When I was there the RN had one frigate and us, a 25 year old tanker that had seen better days. Infact I saw her many years later in the Olongapo. I couldn't believe she had made it across let alone was still afloat!!! For information if anyone interested it was the Grey Rover
