The 1982 British Army Gazelle friendly fire incident occurred on 6 June 1982, during the Falklands War. The British Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Cardiff engaged and destroyed a British Army Gazelle helicopter, serial number XX377, in a friendly fire incident, killing all four occupants. Cardiff, on the lookout for aircraft flying supplies to the Argentine forces occupying the Falkland Islands, had misidentified the helicopter as an enemy C-130 Hercules. Although the helicopter's loss was initially blamed on enemy action, a subsequent inquiry found Cardiff's missiles to be the cause. No formal inquiry was held until four years later. The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated that a lack of communication between the army and the navy meant that 5th Infantry Brigade had not notified anyone of the helicopter's flight. Conversely, the navy had not informed the land forces that Cardiff had changed position to set up an ambush for Argentine aircraft travelling over the area. Furthermore, the helicopter's Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transmitter was turned off, because it caused interference with the army's Rapier anti-aircraft missile system. The board of inquiry's findings have prompted criticism of the MoD's initial response to the incident. (Full article...)