1982 FALKLANDS WAR

1982 - 2007
25th Anniversary

Navel Party 8901 at the moment of surrender.

    This was the war that put the great back into 'Great Britain'. A Island that has had such a checkered past that finally settled into Great Britain's ownership with its ups and down; this little known island was the 'Falklands' which in turn was known as the 'Malvinas' by the Argentineans who today  still claim rights to the Islands, which they claim was seeded to them some 300 years previous by the Spanish who had in turn purchased the Island from the French. In the meantime there had always been a British claim to the islands. This is all academic because on the 2nd of April 1982 the Argentine Army invaded.  

Argentine Invasion Fleet

Navel Party 8901 after they surrendered.

An Argentine LVTP7 - These vehicles sealed the fate of the Islands and forces the defenders to surrender.

    74 days later they were finally sent back to Argentina to lick their wounds. The British mainland had sent the biggest navel force since the end of WWII to take back the Islands and liberate its 1,500 population. In doing so they faced not only the Argentine army which was renowned to be one of the best in South America but also the South Atlantic Weather. 

Argentine Marines in Stanley.

    The Argentinean soldier was well equipped with some of the best European weapons available. Its navy was quite sizeable and posed a threat to the Task Force and finally its Air force was to prove that they were well up to the task of defending the Islands. Steaming South was one of the best trained and equipped armies in the world supported by the  Royal navy and the RAF. Lacking in numbers the British made up for it in determination.

    The Argentinean army would have the world believe it was the best trained army in South America. It had the weapons but in reality most troops were conscripts, who some had weeks earlier been at school with some carrying out there passing out ceremonies on the Falklands it self. The hard hitting Marines which took the Islands were in short supply and only late in the conflict did the Argentine generals commit all to late its Veteran soldiers and special forces units. Many of the conscripts had come from the tropical north of Argentina and that they had been flown to the south for an exercise not realizing that they were no longer on the mainland. 

    Even before the Task force arrived the Argentines were taking casualties from the elements and lack of training with most of its soldiers not even seeing snow before. Daily the Argentine air force flew over the islands and c-130 Hercules flew in supplies and troops. Its navy unloaded containers of supplies and took the dead and wounded away. Whilst the officers were kept warm and dry and well fed its privates sought shelter in water logged trenches and had if they were lucky one warm meal a day and begged for food from the local population.

Harrier on display at the Muckleburgh Collection, Norfolk.
© J Smith

    Equipment wise the two opposing forces were equally matched. The Argentines had superior air power and heavy artillery but the British had the Royal Navy. From the early days of the war the British let it be known that their submarines were operating in the area or on their way. After the exclusion zone had been set up the Argentine Navy was sent to threaten the Task force. A northern force spearheaded by the Carrier ARA 25 de Mayo and a southern force spearheaded by the ARA General Belgrano. It is thought that the Carrier force had turned around and headed back to port and the Belgrano had also turned for home. 

The Belgrano listing to Port with her bow missing just fore of no1 turret.

    As to the movements of the Belgrano we will never be sure what happened. She was said to be 5 - 6 hours away from the Task Force and within the sights of HMS Conqueror who was shadowing the small fleet. Either in a Political or Tactical decision the order was given to sink the Belgrano. What happened next made the head lines and with the Argentineans believing that further Submarines were operating in the waters off their Naval ports the Argentine Navy stayed in Port. 

    Mean while the Argentine Airforce put up the most spirited fight and was to have some of the most spectacular results that almost won them the war. With fuel enough for 30 minutes flying time over the Falklands the Argentine Airforce running the gauntlet of Anti-Aircraft fire, Harrier interceptions and even fire from their own troops (Which downed several aircraft during the war) attacked the fleet in San Carlos bay which came to be known as "Bomb Alley".

    Although they did not prevent the British troops from landing they inflicted heavy damage upon the Royal Navy. Sinking several ships and decimating the Welsh Guards upon LCL Sir Galahad.

 
Casualties and survivors reach the shore as the stricken Galahad burns in the background.

    Once ashore the British forces fought their way forward towards Port Stanley. Argentine artillery was to prove to be accurate and unrelenting where as the British Artillery was short on ammunition. Heavy machine guns tore into  the attacking infantry from well prepared positions. With the lack of concealing terrain the British attacked the series of fortified ridge lines mainly at night. Even under the cover of darkness the Argentines would still have the advantage in the guise of Night Vision equipment. The British were still using 1st Generation Night Vision and in small numbers where as the Argentines had the latest 3rd Generation Night Vision and in quantities. The other advantage they had were their snipers who had uninterrupted fields of fire. Finally the last ridge fell to a handful of men and below them lay Port Stanley.

Captured Argentine 155mm CITEFA Model 77 on display at the Muckleburgh Collection, Norfolk.
© J Smith

Captured Argentine Rheinmetall 200mm/75 Anti-Aircraft Gun on display at the Muckleburgh Collection, Norfolk
© J Smith

    The British Infantry had fought their way mainly on foot over 75 miles of boggy terrain, through minefields, artillery bombardments, air attacks and the elements to take back the Islands. The final act was by the members of Naval party 8901, who had put up a spirited defence of Governors House and who had been captured and sent back home by the Argentineans and  had vowed to return and once again raise the flag over the islands in front of Governors House.

More information: www.britains-smallwars.com

BBC NEWS ARCHIVES Includes news footage.

UK Forces

HMS Invincible ready to set sail from Portsmouth.

Events:

The British Fleet at sea.

April

Restored Vulcan on maiden flight.

MAY

Landing craft in San Carlos waters.

June

Argentine prisoners being guarded.

Headlines:

Some of the headlines at the time of the conflict.

OTO-Melara Pack Howitzer as used by the Argentineans on display at the Firepower Museum, London..
© J Smith

Pack Howitzer sitting silently after the conflict.
© Welsh Guards Forum

WELSH GUARDS:

Welsh Guards Forum: www.welshguardsonline.co.uk

Welsh Guards Collection: www.welshguardscollection.com

British L118 105mm Gun on display at the Firepower Museum, London.
© J Smith

Port Stanley.

Argentine helmets litter the field after the surrender.

40 COMMANDO:

Memorial : www.memorials.inportsmouth.co.uk

Museum: www.royalmarinesmuseum.co.uk

History: www.royalmarinesbands.co.uk/history/Falklands_memories.htm

BV202E "Snow Cat" as used by the Royal Marines .on display at the Firepower Museum, London.
© J Smith

Falkland Islands Defence Force Badge.

Some of the Locals.

HMS Plymouth

Canberra comes home.

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