Falklands War
On the 5th April 1982, a large British task force set out on a 7500 mile journey to liberate a group of tiny windswept islands in the South Atlantic. On 1st May began the biggest naval action to take place since the Second World War - nearly 900 men lost their lives.
The Americans argued that it would be impossible to launch a successful counter invasion but in the face of overwhelming logistical difficulties, the British sent their Task Force and ultimately regained the Falklands Islands to British rule.
The Americans argued that it would be impossible to launch a successful counter invasion but in the face of overwhelming logistical difficulties, the British sent their Task Force and ultimately regained the Falklands Islands to British rule.
A map of the sparsely populated Falkland Islands
| Timescale of Important Events in the Falklands War 1982 | |
| Fri, 02 April | Argentine Forces invade the islands. |
| Mon 05 April | HMS Invincible and HMS Hermes set sail from Portsmouth. |
| Mon, 19 April | HMS Conqueror arrives at South Georgia |
| Wed 21 April | SAS troops mount landings but are later withdrawn due to adverse weather conditions. |
| Sun 25 April | With a force of just 76 men, Major Sheridan launches invasion and forces Argentine garrison to formally surrender (Apr 26th) without a struggle. |
| Sat 01 May | Task Force enters Exclusion Zone. Vulcan bomber attacks runway at Stanley. First air attacks by Harriers on |
| Sun 02 May | HMS Conqueror sinks General Belgrano |
| Tue 04 May | HMS Sheffield hit by Exocet missile. 20 men killed. First Harrier shot down over Goose Green. |
| Wed 12 May | HMS Glasgow disabled by Argentine bomb. |
| Fri 14 May | SAS raid on Pebble Island. |
| Wed 19 May | 21 SAS men killed after their helicopter crashed into the sea. |
| Fri 21 May | First landings at San Carlos Bay. HMS Ardent lost. |
| Sun 23 May | HMS Antelope lost. |
| Mon 24 May | Sir Lancelot’ and ‘Sir Galahad’ hit but the bombs failed to explode |
| Tue 25 May | HMS Coventry’ lost; ‘HMS Broadsword’ damaged; ‘Atlantic Conveyor’ hit by an Exocet missile |
| Thu 27 May | Battle for Goose Green/Darwin started |
| Fri 28 May | Argentinean forces at Goose Green surrendered to 2 Para. ‘Atlantic Conveyor’ sank |
| Sun 30 May | Mount Kent captured by 42 Commando and SAS |
| Tue 08 Jun | Sir Galahad’ destroyed at Bluff Cove with many men killed and wounded, mainly from the Welsh Guards |
| Sat 12/Sun 13 Jun | Simultaneous attacks on Mount Longdon, Two Sisters and Mount Harriet |
| Sun 13/Mon 14 Jun | Attacks made on Mount Tumbledown and Wireless Ridge
 |
| 14th June 1982 | Argentine Forces Surrender. |
| 13th July 1982 | Argentine government accepts an end to hostilities |
Yomping - A term which arose specifically from the Falklands War. It describes the action of marching in full kit across heavy terrain towards battle. The term is similar in meaning to the army slang 'tab' and in the case of the Falklands Yomp, soldiers covered some 56 miles from the landing site at San Carlos Bay to the final destination Port Stanley. Some sources suggest that yomp is an acronym for Your Own Marching Pace.
British Troops Guard Argentine Soldiers - A group of Argentine soldiers captured in Port Stanley during the final run down to the surrender of Argentine forces on the islands. 9800 troops were made prisoners of war after General Menendez surrendered to Major General Jeremy Moore. Over 4000 of those troops were immediately repatriated to Argentina via the Ocean Liner canberra.
The Exocet Missile - A key element of the Argentine's weaponry against British shipping during the conflict. H.M.S Sheffield (pictured left) was sunk by an Exocet missile fired from a Super Etendard aircraft.
Harrier Jump Jet - Undoubtedly one of the major reasons for the British success in defeating Argentina in the Falklands conflict. It's great versatility and incredible manoeverability proved it a real winner against the faster Argentine jets.
HMS Hermes - The flagship of the Task Force fleet which was dispatched to the South Atlantic with the aim of regaining the Falkland Islands. HMS Hermes carried 26 FRS1 Harriers, 4 GR3 Harriers and 10 Sea King Helicopters. There were also a troop of SAS and Royal Marine soldiers on board.
Displacement: 23,000 tonnes standard 2; 28,000 tonnes Full Load
Length: 236.14 m
Beam: 45.10 m
Draught: 27.8 ft (8.5 m)
Propulsion: 2 Parson turbines, 76,000 shp (57 MW)
Speed: 28 knots (52 km/h)
Range: 7,000 nautical miles at 18 knots (13,000 km at 33 km/h)
Complement: 2,100
Armament: 10 × 40 mm Bofors
Displacement: 23,000 tonnes standard 2; 28,000 tonnes Full Load
Length: 236.14 m
Beam: 45.10 m
Draught: 27.8 ft (8.5 m)
Propulsion: 2 Parson turbines, 76,000 shp (57 MW)
Speed: 28 knots (52 km/h)
Range: 7,000 nautical miles at 18 knots (13,000 km at 33 km/h)
Complement: 2,100
Armament: 10 × 40 mm Bofors
HMS Sheffield - Type 42 Guided Missile Destroyer which suffered the ultimate fate of sinking after being hit by an Exocet missile fired from a low-flying Super Etendard. A combination of skilful Argentine pilots and poor, outdated radar equipment on board the ship were ultimately to prove its downfall.
Parachute Regiment - Undoubtedly another potent and key ingredient in the British War machine aimed at the Argentines during the conflict. The regiment fought brief but often fierce battles with the enemy but mostly won quick and decisive victories on the battlefield.
S.A.S - The SAS played a crucial role in the conflict perhaps most notably for their daring raid against the Argentine Pucara aircraft and the initial retaking of South Georgia. They also played a key role in reconnaisance of the enemy throughout the conflict.