This is an interesting thread. Of course the Nimrods were not confined to operating from Ascension. Nimrod R1 XW664 also operated from San Felix Island and gathered intelligence on the Argentine forces. More details can be found here http://www.spyflight.co.uk/chile.htm

Watchman

You are making an interesting statement Watchman, that is not actually borne out by the second from last paragraph of the link you provide.

The critical sentence from which states:

It is still unclear whether any of these three sorties were actually undertaken by a Nimrod R1 of 51 Sqn, rather than a Nimrod MPA

exmpa