The war of the Falklands (in English: Falklands War , in Spanish: Guerra of mow Malvinas ) was a conflict between the Argentine and the the United Kingdom in connection with the Falkland Islands between March and June 1982. Although surprised by the Argentinian attack on the islands, the United Kingdom reacts and drove out the Argentinas troops. In Argentina, the failure contributed to the fall of the military Junte and the restoration of a democratic regime.

Historical context

The property of the islands was disputed a long time. At the 18th century, the France was the first to assert them, but it was expelled by the Spain which yielded them to Great Britain. The islands remained unoccupied so that British sovereignty lost its effectivity.

Argentina obtained its independence of Spain in 1816 and occupied the islands in 1820 with a penal settlement which was quickly abandoned. Finally, in 1833, the United Kingdom establishes a colony there but Argentina maintained its claim territorial.

With the transformation in the middle of the 20th century of the colonial office into that of the the Commonwealth, the British governments saw this opposition with Argentina like minor and being able to be the object of a diplomatic compromise, in spite of the refusal of: 1800 inhabitants of British origin to become Argentinian, calling upon article 73 of the Charter of the United Nations to support their position. In 1965, under the effect of the resolution 2065 of the the United Nations, the negotiations started; but, seventeen years later, very few things had changed.

Argentina had become a military Dictature in 1976 and faced serious economic problems and a civil quasi-war, with a Guérilla of left, the Montoneros. A bloody victory over the guerillas was obtained in 1981 but the economy was in ruin with annual inflation at 140% when the general Galtieri arrived at the capacity in 1981. It should be noted that its army underwent a Embargo on the Arme S on behalf of the the United States since 1978.

The Royal Navy maintained a military presence in the zone in the form of an small group of forty soldiers of the known Royal Navy as the naval group Naval Party 8901.

Release

Galtieri decided to divert the attention related by the public opinion to the economy and the respect of the Human rights thanks to the hoped effects of a fast national victory in the Falklands. A pressure was exerted on the United Nations (UNO) with a subtle threat of invasion: the British did not pay attention there and continued to tergiversate (it should be noted that the British positions did not express themselves in a monolithic way but rather by holding account of special interests and various administrations; what often led the observers external with errors of appreciation). The Argentinian ones interpreted the British policy as a disengagement in particular if the islands were invaded - a point of view also supported by the planned withdrawal of the last unit of the Royal Navy in 1981 (within the framework of a general reduction in the fleet) and the Loi on the British nationality of 1981 which withdrew complete nationality with the residents of the Falkland Islands.

The plan of invasion was conceived by the admiral Jorge Anaya, the chief passionately anti-British of the Argentinian navy. After the failure of the negotiations in January 1982, the plans were finalized and the invasion programmed for April. The attack was preceded by the occupation by the island by South Georgia with: 1390 km of the Falklands, the March 19th 1982, by a group of patriotic Argentinian civilians being made pass for Ferrailleur S. the ship of patrol for the the Antarctic of the Royal Navy HMS '' Endurance '' accepted the order to evacuate the civilians, the March 25th, but was prevented by it by three Argentinian men-of-war and wisely did not insist. However, the March 30th, in spite of the additional proof that the Argentinian navy embarked troops with Puerto Belgrano, the common committee of information of the the United Kingdom for the Latin America declared that the “ invasion was not imminent ”.

The diplomacy fails

Since the formal bilateral relations were stopped, the Peruvian diplomats with London represented the Argentinian diplomatic interests near the British government and the diplomats Suisse S represented the British crown near the authorities Argentine S.

Invasion

The governor of the Falkland Islands Rex Hunt was informed by the British government of a possible Argentinian invasion on March 31st. The governor made come the two senior officers from Royal the Navy to discuss the options of defense.

The major Mike Norman was in charge of the general command of the Navy as a senior while the major Gary Noott became the military adviser of the Hunt governor. The total force included/understood 67 Navy, which was higher than that which they should have had in normal weather because the garrison was about to be raised: the troops arriving and those all therefore were thus on the island at the same time. This total was tiny room to 55 when 12 Navy embarked on board boat of patrol Endurance to observe the Argentinian soldiers based in the South Georgia. Lastly, the force was supported by 23 part-time volunteers dispersed in strategic points whereas the barracks of Moody Brook were abandoned.

April 2nd, the Destroyer Santisima Trinidad stopped with 500 meters of the Mullet split and unloaded 21 Argentinian machines of attack Gémini with 92 commandos.

With 5:45, the Argentinian ones had reached their primary goal, the barracks Moody Brook and there launched a powerful attack, using heavy weapons and grenades with phosphorus. It ended when the Argentinian ones realized that the barracks were abandoned.

The commandos accepted reinforcement to go to the house of the governor. The noise of the attack alerted the Major Norman which went on the spot. Realizing that the attack came from several directions, it ordered with its troops to group in the residence. The lieutenant-commander Giachino who had sixteen men under his orders was sent to the attack, entered the appendix for the servants believing that it was the backdoor. Giachino with four of its soldiers inserted the door. Three British Navy protected it and Giachino was wounded whereas it passed the threshold like another attacker. The three others were folded up. Giachino was seriously wounded. An Argentinian doctor tried to help it but was reached by a grenade. The British asked him to go but Giachino refused - He succumbed to the hemorrhage after the rendering of the British forces.

Almost simultaneously with the attack of the house of the governor was held another action. Several vehicles had been unloaded by American amphibious ships reformed and repurchased by Argentina, whereas a section of the Navy ordered by lieutenant Bill Trollope observed them. Brown touched an armoured tank with her rocket launcher Carl Gustav . The Argentinian ones inside were not wounded and left the vehicle. The Argentinian ones quickly opened a heavy fire and the section turned over safe from the house.

At the HQ, major Norman accepted a radio operator report/ratio of the York corporal posted with Port Stanley and charged with supervising the movements of the Argentinian ships. This one suggested an carry-aircraft and a cruiser like potential targets. Deciding to fold up itself, the corporal trapped his weapon anti-tank device and left with his section in his small boat towards north through Port Guillaume. A destroyer took it in hunting until it takes refuge close to a Polish fishing vessel while waiting for the night.

Another incident occurred at the HQ when the three Argentinian survivors alerted by inadvertency major Noot of their presence whereas they tried to leave their hiding-place. The major drew towards the ceiling and the Argentinian ones went becoming the first prisoners of the conflict.

The morning of April 3rd, Rex Hunt and major Norman, from now on besieged in the house, decided to capitulate but the section of the York corporal was still free. The following day, this section reached an isolated hut and chooses to go.

After rendering, Royal the Marines and the volunteers were gathered in the sports grounds. Photographs were taken which galvanized the British public opinion when she saw them. Then the men were placed in a C-130 of transport which took them along in Uruguay then to the United Kingdom. A Marine predicts with a guard Argentinian: “You do not install too comfortably we will return”. What was made 72 days later.

The Argentinian ones occupied in same time also the South Georgia and the Sandwich islands of the South, but whereas they believed to have to make only with scientists and consequently had sent only one ship of escorted transport of one sloop of 1000 T A-69 type, they fell on a detachment from Royal Navy which with their rocket launchers inflicted such damage with the Aviso that this one had to be put at the shelter. But vis-a-vis the unloaded Argentinian quota, the British had to incline themselves.

With Buenos Aires of large crowd agitating of the flags flooded the Plaza of Mayo by hearing the news. In London, the government was amazed.

The force of reaction

The British quickly organized a diplomatic pressure against Argentina while they constituted a armada around the Porte-aéronefs HMS '' Invincible '' and HMS '' Hermes ''. Although the public opinion in the United Kingdom supported the intervention, the international community showed itself more divided. For certain States, it was about a conflict between a colonial capacity and a Regional state. However, because of its dictatorial character, the Argentinian mode pained to obtain a support. Fear to see their borders called into question grouped a majority of States to the United Nations in favor of the United Kingdom. April 10th, the European Economic community voted sanctions against Argentina.

Diplomatic operation

Alexandre Haig, the Secretary of State of the United States, tried a diplomatic operation little before the president Ronald Reagan did not state himself in favor of the British and did not order sanctions against Argentina. The Argentinian ones rejected the American project of provisional triple administration of the island (American, Argentinian, British).

The Soviet Union proposed the supply of information in Argentina.

Augusto Pinochet would have provided information to the British secret services

The American contribution to the United Kingdom was the supply of the most recent version L of the missiles AIM-9 Sidewinder and the information collected by the satellites - spies. In thanks, Weinberger and Reagan were made Chevaliers of honor of the British Empire by the Queen Elizabeth II.

The French president François Mitterrand asked at his secret services to inform the British about the planes Mirage and the missiles Exocet provided before by France to Argentina.

Preparation of the war

Because of the distance between the Falklands and the United Kingdom, the British were to use a autonomous air and sea force ordered by the rear-admiral John Woodward. One second component was the embarked force of amphibious attack under the orders of the commodore Mr. C. Clapp, inter alia, in the boat of cruising requisitioned Canberra . The unloaded terrestrial troops were under the command of the General Sergeant Julian Thompson (Ordering 3rd Brigade Commando). They included/understood mainly three battalions of Royal the Navy (Commando) and two Para battalions. The whole of the forces was under the coordination of the admiral John Fieldhouse. To avoid causing collateral victims, a military zone of exclusion of 320 km was established around the islands.

France took part in an important way in the British preparation. Exercises took place off Brittany between the two armies and of the confidential informations were transmitted by France on the position and the characteristics of the Super-Standard and Exocet sold in Argentina. Moreover, the British forces could make stopover in Dakar thanks to the French.

Prince Andrew was useful as pilot of helicopter on the Invincible .

This operation accepted code name Corporate . The press baptized it “the Empire counter-attacks”.

The war

Mid-April the naval squadron, supported by bombers Vulcan and supply craft Victor , had reached the island of Rise.

The South Georgia

In spite of a difficult weather within the framework of the operation Paraquat , the island was taken again. The Underwater Argentinian Santa Fe , attacked by a helicopter, was given up by its crew.

Raids Black Buck

May, the operations against the Falklands opened with the attacks by Avro Vulcan of the Royal Air Force, at the time of the operation Black Buck 1 against the Stanley port airport. These planes with average operating range were to be supplied several times and the Victor supply craft were to be themselves supplied with flight, which obliged with a great logistic effort. Only one bends touched the objective but the Argentinian ones realizing of their vulnerability decided to maintain their jets on the continent. It is considered that this mission was a tactical failure but a strategic success. A few minutes after Black Buck, nine Sea Harrier of the Hermes continued the raid by releasing sticks of bomb on Port Stanley and the airfields in Goose Green. The two missions destroyed planes on the ground and made some damage on the infrastructures of the airports. The Fuerza Aerea Argentina launched an attack with Grupo 6, as of the beginning of the operations of unloading. Four of these apparatuses were destroyed by Sea Harriers while the engagements engaged between other Harriers and the hunters Mirage III of Grupo 8. Each side refusing to fight with the best altitude of the other the Mirages were constrained to go down. One of the Mirages was cut down and another, was damaged, diriga towards Port Stanley where the Argentinian defenders victims of confusion cut down it.

Shipwreck of Belgrano

May 2nd, the Croiseur dating from the Second world war MACAW '' General Belgrano '' was run by the Conqueror out of the zone of exclusion. 321 people perished. The British newspaper The Sun titrated GOTCHA! ( One had you! ). This loss hardens the attitude of the Argentinian government. It became also a pretext for the countryside of the anti-war which affirmed that the cruiser moved away from the zone of exclusion. However according to the international laws, the direction of a belligerent ship does not have any importance, it can be cast as well in international water as in those of the countries in war.

In spite of the controversies, this torpedoing had an strategic importance: all the Argentinian fleet, including both Destroyer S of support of the Belgrano , took refuge in the ports and around the Porte-avions Veinticinco of Mayo , which withdrew a threat for the British squadron.

Exocet

Two days after the shipwreck of the Belgrano , on May 4th, the British lost the destroyer of the type 42 HMS '' Sheffield '' in the fire after the shooting of a Exocet missile (this information and this date are disputed by the Argentinian ones). This destroyer and two others were on mission of coverage radar. When the ships were detected by an Argentinian patrol P-2 Neptune, two Super-Standard S were sent armed with Exocet each one. Supplied by C-130 little time after takeoff, they approached at low altitude, and released the missiles at a distance from 30 and 50 km. One missed HMS '' Yarmouth '', but the other touched the Sheffield resulting in the death of 22 British sailors.

While it fought the fire, the Yarmouth undergoes the attack of a submarine of the class GUPPY which launched nine torpedes to him. None the Telefunken torpedes exploded, which started a litigation with Germany at the end of the war. Nevertheless, the destroyers were withdrawn from the zone of combat, leaving the principal squadron with less protection.

The weather conditions were degraded with the arrival of the bad season.

Unloading with Port San Carlos

During the night of May 21st, the British organized an amphibious unloading on the beaches on the northern coast of the Falklands with 4000 men and made sure of his control.

The plan aimed at being made main of Darwin and Goose Green before turning to Port Stanley.

At sea, the weakness of the anti-aircraft defenses of the ships was shown in the shipwreck of HMS '' Ardent '' the 21, HMS '' Antelope '' the 23 and the MV '' Atlantic Conveyer '', with an essential cargo of helicopters and components of track the 25. This day the '' Coventry '', of the same type that the Sheffield was lost whereas it was with HMS '' Broadsword ''. The '' Argonaut '' and the '' Brilliant '' were seriously damaged. The Argentinian ones lost more than thirty planes in these attacks. Reports/ratios after the war indicated that the damage would have been much more important for the British so of the commandos had not destroyed planes on the ground.

Goose Green

The parachutists approached and attacked Darwin and Goose Green May 27th and 28th, which were held by the 12th Argentinian regiment of infantry. After a hard battle where seventeen British and two hundred Argentinian lost the life, thousand four hundreds of the latter were prisoners. The BBC announced the victory before it is effective.

After having eliminated the danger from the important quota of Goose Green, the British forces could make an opening towards the east since the head of bridge of San Carlos either while going or transported by helicopters.

June 1st with the arrival of: 5000 additional British soldiers of the fifth brigade of the Steamer Queen Elisabeth 2 , the new commander of division general major JJ Moore RM, had enough troops to launch an offensive against the garrison of Stanley Port.

During these preparations the air raids Argentinas continued making 48 dead including 32 guards of Wales on board the Sir Galahad and Sir Tristam on June 8th. Many constrained soldiers to remain on board because of the loss of the helicopters of the Atlantic Conveyer were victims of burns.

Battle for Port Stanley

In the night of June 11th after several days of difficult recognition and the installation of logistics, the British forces, supported by artillery, launched a brigade to the offensive of defenses heights of Stanley Port. Thirteen British were killed when the Glamorgan which provided a support fire was touched by Exocet drawn since the back from a truck.

In the morning the Argentinas positions were removed. The night of June 13rd the second phase was engaged to take again Wireless Ridge and Mont Tumbledown. June 14th, the commander of the garrison, Mario Menendez, offered her rendering with: 9800 men.

This 72 day old war caused the death of 255 British and 649 Argentinian.

Analyzes

Soldier

Militarily the war of the Falklands was remarkable by certain aspects:

• It was one of rare the naval battles after the Second world war. It illustrated the vulnerability of the surface vessels to the missiles and the importance of the Aéronavale.

• It justified the decision of the United Kingdom to develop planes with vertical takeoff Harrier and Porte-aéronefs.

• the capacity Logistique of the United Kingdom was used to the maximum and was improved later on.

• It underlined the role of the Special forces which destroyed many planes and contributed to the collection of information.

• the utility of the helicopters was shown, as well with the combat as in logistic support.

• At sea certain weaknesses of the vessels were underlined like the use of the Aluminum and the Nylon which could melt and burn.

Policy

The exit of the war could have been different if a aircraft carrier had been touched by Exocet or if the Argentinian ones had waited one year or two which they are withdrawn from the service. The supply of an important garrison was expensive and it is probable that Argentina could not have kept these islands one year more.

This war contributed to the popularity of Margaret Thatcher and helped with the victory of its party in 1983, even if several members of its government gave their resignation, including the secretary for the external Businesses Lord Carrington. One as said as there was a renewal of respect for the United Kingdom, up to that point perceived like a declining colonial capacity.

The album The Final Cut of the group Pink Floyd carries direct loads against this war denounced like breaking the dream of post-war period not to more make die British soldiers in a war.

External bonds

• www.stratisc.org: Reflections on the role of the forces Naval Aviation in the war of Falklands

Random links:

Gnawa Diffusion | Honda CBR | Firm-brewery the Silky one | Benoit Benvegnu | Autonomous prefecture Tibetan of Gannan