The Falklands

The Falkland Islands are situated well over 250 nautical miles off the east coast of mainland South America. In the South Atlantic. For such a small island it has seen many conflicts, in its known time it has seen French, British, Spanish and Argentine settlements. Although it has been mostly under British rule since 1833. Although they remain claimed by Argentina a view which is still held strong by their government today.

With a population of around three thousand. Called “Falkland Islanders” of which most are British and British descendants but other nationalities also call the islands home. With the official language being English and for the most part much of the island looking like the United Kingdom. From Red phone boxes to Black cabs the vast majority of its residents consider themselves British. Apart from the British both of the islands, east and west play host to a large variety of wild life.

There is much dispute as to who first found the islands and settled on them. With British, Spanish and Portuguese all claiming founding rights during the 16^th century.

April, 1982

This is where the Battle for the Falklands really started. Argentine invaded the islands along with other British territories. With the United Nations calling for Argentina to withdraw its armed forces. But they failed to take note. The British sent a force to retake the islands leading to one of the shortest and bloodiest wars in living memory. Several fierce air and sea battles lead to the sinking of several ships and loss of life.

April 5^th

The British naval vanguard begins is trip to the Ascension Island. In the days to follow further ships, aircraft and troops are sent to the South Atlantic. Which along with military vessels and battleships several civilian liners were sent along too as transport ships, including the P&O cruise liner, Canberra and the QE2.

April 7^th

As the war begins to heat up, the British government imposes a two hundred mile exclusion zone around the islands.

April 8^th

The then US Secretary of State, Alexander Haig begins shuttle mediation. Later the EEC would issue trade sanctions against Argentina.

April 22^nd

The British task force sent earlier reaches the Falklands waters and gets ready to start landing troops and small armour.

April 25^th

In a special operation a small team of British Royal Marine Commando's retake the island of South Georgia.

April 26^th

The then British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher tells the world the time for diplomacy is coming to an end. Shortly after this announcement. US President Ronald Reagan declares support for the United Kingdom.

May 1^st

British military aircraft attack the port of Stanley airfield with the end result of three Argentine aircraft downed.

May 3^rd

The British navy submarine HMS Conqueror fires torpedoes upon the Argentine cruiser The General Belgrano. The attack was around 30 miles outside of the war zone. The ship went down at the loss of 400 Argentine crew. The British navy claimed it fired upon the ship in self defence.

May 5^th

The United Kingdom extend their exclusion zone to include waters within 12 miles of the Argentine mainland territories.

May 8^th

The islands are hit from both air and naval strikes. Two British navy harrier jump jets sink the Argentine trawler Narwal.

May 11^th

When the British navy attacks and sinks the Argentine supply ship the Isa De Los Estados with a strike from the HMS Alacrity. Argentina declares the whole of the South Atlantic to be a war zone.

May 14^th

The British forces shoot down a further three Argentine aircraft. Three skyhawks fall, shortly after Margaret Thatcher tells international parties that a peaceful settlement may no longer be possible. The British special forces, the SAS “Special Air Service” mount a night raid on Pebble island, an operation that would go down in the regiments history books. The small team of men managed to destroy eleven Argentine aircraft while they were on the ground. The Argentine forces believed they were fighting against a full on assault. Rather than a small task force.

May 18^th

The British government formally rejects a peace proposal presented to them by the United Nations secretary General.

May 21^st

In a major deployment, British troops begin landing near the Port San Carlos and begin to reinforce the bridgehead in the days to come. The Royal Navy suffer a loss in the same time period, with the sinking of HMS Ardent. Taking nine Argentine aircraft with them.

May 23^rd

The Royal Navy are struck by another blow. With the sinking of HMS Antelope. During the same time seventeen Argentine aircraft are also destroyed.

May 25^th

Another loss to the Royal Navy as the HMS Coventry is bombed by Argentine forces at the loss of 19 British service personnel. In the days to follow the MV Atlantic Conveyor is also hit and sinks with the deaths of a further twelve British citizens.

May 28^th

The British forces retake the Argentine held positions at Darwin and Goose Green at the loss of 17 British soldiers. Although the Argentine forces felt a much greater loss of personnel and over 1,400 of their ground personnel are taken prisoner.

The British commanding officer, Colonel H Jones was killed in combat, a major blow to the British. He would later be awarded the Victoria Cross.

May 29^th

The British Navy continues to strike the islands as their ground troops advance. Taking Douglas settlement along with Teal inlet, Mount Kent and finally surrounding Port Stanley.

June 8^th

The battle rages on as Argentine aircraft attack British troops landing at the Bluff Cove. The Royal Navy take a blow as the HMS Plymouth is hit and severely damaged in the battle. The troop landing ship Sir Galahad is sunk and its partner Sir Tristram is disabled. 50 British personnel are killed and over 55 are wounded in the attack.

June 12^th

The British forces mount an assault against the Argentine positions at Mount Longdon taking it back after the longest battle of the conflict so far resulting in hand to hand combat with the Argentine troops. The Argentine military suffer 50 dead while the British forces lose only 23 men. Sergeant Ian John McKay who was killed in the assault would later be awarded the Victoria Cross. Shortly after the Mount is retaken a further six British soldiers are killed.

June 14^th

The British forces defeat the Argentine garrison at Port Stanley. With the Commander, Mario Menendez signing a document of surrender. With the standing down, 9,800 Argentine military personnel throw down their weapons.

June 20^th

The British formally declare an end to the conflict and the South Atlantic is no longer a war zone and the 200 miles of protected waters around the islands is reduced.

In recent months the argument revolving around the Falklands islands has risen up once again. With Argentina appealing to the UN once more. Only time will tell if there will be a repeat of the 1982 conflict and neither country is likely to back down. With Argentina claiming ownership of the islands while the British have never acknowledged this.

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