1982
The Falklands War was a 10-week undeclared war between Argentina and the United Kingdom over two British dependent territories in the South Atlantic: the Falkland Islands and its territorial dependency, South Georgia and
the South Sandwich Islands. The result of the war was a British victory.
19 March, the Falklands War was triggered when a group of civilian scrap metal workers arrived at Leith Harbour on board the transport ship ARA Bahia Buen Suceso without the required landing clearance and then raised the Argentine flag. The scrap workers had been infiltrated by Argentine marines posing as civilian scientists. The action was code named Operation Alpha.
1-2 April, Argentine forces mounted amphibious landings, known as Operation Rosario, on the Falkland Islands under the cover of darkness. With limited British forces facing overwhelming military and logistical odds, Commander-in-Chief, and Vice Admiral of the Falkland Islands, Rex Hunt, reluctantly gave the order to the
Royal Marines to lay down their arms.
3 April, the invasion of South Georgia, also known as the Battle of Grytviken or Operation Georgias, took place. Argentine forces seized control of the east coast of South Georgia after overpowering a small group of Royal Marines at Grytviken.
5 April, in response to the surprise capture by Argentine forces, British soldiers joined a naval task force of 127 ships sent to
re-take the Falkland Islands. The ‘bloody’ conflict lasted 74 days and ended with an Argentine surrender on 14 June 1982,
returning the islands back to British sovereignty. In total, 649 Argentine, 255 British, and 3 Falkland Islanders died during
the hostilities.
“We, the British people, are proud of what
has been done, proud of these heroic pages
in our island story, proud to be here today to salute the task force. Proud to be British.”
Margaret Thatcher, Victory Speech, 1982
Main
Menu
