Invasion of the Islands
On April 3, Argentinian troops seized the islands of South Georgia and the nearby South Sandwich group following a short battle.
In Britain, there was widespread public support for the armada of ships, troops and aircraft that was being assembled and by April 5, a formidable Task Force was sent by the UK to engage the Argentine Navy and Air Force, and reclaim the islands, by amphibious assault. The Task Force consisted of 28,000 troops and over 100 ships. Argentina had 12,000 mainly conscripted soldiers and about 40 vessels.
Argentinian Marines in action during the Falklands War
By April 22, the Task Force had entered Falkland waters and on April 25 a small commando force re-took South Georgia. But it wasn’t long before the reality of the war became shatteringly clear as the first major loss of life came on 2 May with the sinking of the Argentine cruiser, General Belgrano, which went down with the loss of 368 crew. Two days later, the British destroyer, HMS Sheffield, was hit by an Exocet missile and sank with the loss of 20 crew.
HMS Sheffield mortally hit on May 4
HMS Antelope
Overall, the British were to suffer considerable naval losses – including the sinking of HMS Ardent, HMS Antelope (which went down after an unexploded bomb detonated), HMS Coventry and the merchant navy container ship MV Atlantic Conveyor, which went down with thousands of tons of vital ammunition, as well as helicopters which had been intended to ferry troops across the Falklands.
Seven weeks after the Argentines invaded, the first major British troop landing began at San Carlos on 21 May. The plan was to launch attacks from there on Goose Green and Stanley. British 2nd battalion, Parachute Regiment (2-Para), took Darwin and Goose Green in what was arguably the longest and toughest battle of the War. According to the book Goose Green: a battle is fought to be won by Mark Adkin: Though outnumbered (2 to 1: 600 vs. over 1400), low on ammunition, lacking adequate fire support, fighting over open ground, and in daylight against prepared positions, the 2-para emerges as the winner in this first big and critical land battle. British 2-Para Lt. Col. Herbert ‘H’ Jones died in this battle and was later awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for single-handedly charging Argentinian trenches on Darwin Ridge on May 28 armed with just a sub-machine gun.
Argentinian soldier captured after the battle of Goose Green
The battle for Goose Green lasted a day and night and was fiercely fought, with many dead. Despite being pounded by naval artillery, the Argentinian defenders at Goose Green fought ferociously, often making one-man stands. Argentine Sub-Lieutenant Estévez won his country’s highest award for gallantry after being shot in the leg, and then wounded by shrapnel before being killed while trying to redirect British artillery fire during the battle. But after continued fighting and despite being hugely outnumbered, British troops were ultimately successful.
Victory meant British forces were clear to break out of San Carlos and begin the long march east towards Stanley. Carrying 120lb packs on their backs, the troops fought their way across the peat bogs of East Falkland before mounting their final attack on the last line of Argentine defence, the high ground around Stanley.
The damaged FRA Sir Tristram in Port Pleasant
Although the war appeared to be going in the favour of the British, there were some tragic times ahead. On June 8 landing ships Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram were bombed whilst unloading ammunition and soldiers from San Carlos to Fitzroy and Bluff Cove. The bombs exploded the ammunition and more than 50 men perished and many more suffered terrible injuries. Among these was Welsh Guardsman Simon Weston, whose face was badly disfigured by burns but whose courage became a symbol of the war.
With their defences breached, the Argentines surrendered. On 14 June troops marched into Stanley and General Mario Menendez, the Argentinian commander of the Falklands, surrendered to Major General Jeremy Moore with 9,800 Argentinian troops laying down their arms.
The war had lasted 74 days, with 255 British and 649 Argentinian dead along with three Falkland Islanders. Six British ships were lost, 10 others suffered battle damage and a total of 34 aircraft were lost.
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The Falklands Conflict Remembered
Quick Facts
The Falklands Conflict Remembered
Introduction
Invasion of the Islands <<
The Falklands 25 Years On
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