The Falklands - 1982

The arrival of the new MoFo figures that depict the conflict in the Falklands got the tongues wagging in the Wargames Journal office - modern warfare being a touchy subject this end! As ever the design and casting of the figures is superb and this short article is by way of a short historical reminder of the events. We’ll be reviewing the figures very shortly and also planning some scenarios. But for now please enjoy the images inside this article...

March 19th, 1982

A small group of Argentinean scrap metal dealers working in/around the South Georgia Island is infringing our territory, made worse by being escorted by military personnel. Britain calls Argentina to remove the military personnel – no response.

March 26th, 1982

The Argentine military junta decides to invade the islands. The background to these events is clouded with misery for the Argentine public: the country is in critical economic trouble and mass disappearances of people at the hands of the military junta causes major unrest amongst the populous.

General Leopoldo Galtieri, in charge since the 1976 coup, launches a military invasion of the islands, code named Operación Rosario. At the head of the invasion is Commander of the Navy Admiral Jorge Anaya. The plan is to invade on one of the country’s most important national celebrations – the anniversary on May 25th or Independence Day on July 9th).

Clearly the idea is to divert public attention from the painful internal problems and restore the dwindling popularity of the dictatorship. But thinks happen sooner than expected, mounting pressure on the government forces the date to be moved to the much earlier April 2nd.

April 2nd, 1982

Thousands of troops lands on the Falklands with the support of the Argentine Navy. The small detachment of Royal Marines on the islands put up a courageous resistance, but realising the futility of the fight Governor Rex Hunt ordered them to lay down their arms. The marine forces are transported to Montevideo along with the British Governor.

April 3rd, 1982

Now the invading troops seize the islands of South Georgia and the South Sandwich group - 1,000 miles east of the Falklands - following a short battle in which an Argentine helicopter is forced down and four Argentine troops are killed. General Mario Menendez is proclaimed military governor of the islands.

The move proves to be extremely popular, just as Argentinean leader Galtieri predicted it would be. Suddenly the streets of the capital city were filed with massive outbursts of solidarity instead of the Union demonstrations that had plagued the country.

The United Nations Security Council passes Resolution 502 calling for the withdrawal of Argentine troops from the islands and the immediate cessation of hostilities. Royal Air Force aircraft deploy to the Ascension Island.

Late March to Early April 1982

Argentina accumulates more than 10,000 troops on the Falklands. But they are predominantly conscripts lacking basic training that have been drafted in a hurry and sent to the islands. Not exactly quality troops…

April 8th, 1982

US secretary of State, Alexander Haig, arrives in London to begin mediation.

April 17th, 1982

Haig meets again with the Argentine junta. After a breakdown in the mediation talks he returns to Washington on April 19th.

April 23rd, 1982

British Foreign Office advises British nationals in Argentina to leave the country for their own safety.

April 25th, 1982

Actions begin. A small British commando force re-takes the Georgia Island. The Argentine submarine ``Santa Fe'' is attacked and disabled. The commander of the Argentine forces on the island, Captain Largos, signs an unconditional surrender document on board the HMS Antrim.

Alfredo Astiz, who at the time was a Lieutenant in charge of a small party based in Stromness, surrenders with his company of men and signs an unconditional surrender document on board the British HMS Plymouth without firing a single shot. This violates the Argentine military code article 751 which states:

"A soldier will be condemned to prison for three to five years if, in combat with a foreign enemy, he surrenders without having exhausted his supply of ammunition or without having lost two thirds of the men under his command."

The main British task force is on its way – some 8,000 miles to be travelled before entering the ‘war zone’, its route is via the Ascension Island.

April 30th, 1982

Haig's mission is officially terminated. President Ronald Reagan declares US support for Britain and economic sanctions against Argentina. The British exclusion zone comes into effect.

May 1st, 1982

Harrier and Vulcan British planes attack the Port Stanley airfield – which has now been renamed `Puerto Argentino’ by Argentine’s. Three Argentine aircraft are shot down by the RAF.

May 2nd, 1982

The President of Peru, Belaunde Terry, presents a peace proposal to Argentine President Leopoldo Galtieri, who gives a preliminary acceptance with some proposed modifications. However, before the Junta ratifies the acceptance, the submarine HMS Conqueror sinks the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano whilst outside the exclusion zone, 400 crewmen die. The junta rejects the peace proposal.

May 4th, 1982

Argentine air attacks from Super Etendard fighter planes using Exocet air to surface missiles sink the British destroyer HMS Sheffield with 20 men on board. One British Harrier plane is shot down.

May 7th, 1982

The United Nations (UN) begins peace negotiations.

May 9, 1982

Two sea Harriers sink the Argentine trawler Narwal. The islands are bombarded from sea and air.

May 11th, 1982

The Argentinean supply ship ‘Isla de los Estados’ is sunk by the HMS Alacrity.

May 14th, 1982

Prime Minister Thatcher warns that a peace settlement may not be possible. Special British forces make a night raid on Pebble Island and 11 Argentine aircraft destroyed on the ground. Three Argentine Skyhawks are shot down.

The Pebble Island airstrip raid was mounted by D Sqdn SAS with the intent to destroy as many enemy aircraft as possible. First of all the men of the Squadron's Boat Troop were put ashore over Tuesday night (May 11th) to reconnoitre the area.

Three days later, on Friday 14th, Hermes with its escort Broadsword and Glamorgan (acting in a fire support role) leave the CVBG (Carrier Vessel Battle Group), and passing to the north, approach Pebble Island by night. As Glamorgan closes in to gunfire range, Hermes flies off the 48 SAS attackers and NGFO (Naval Gunnery Forward Observers) team (landed by No.846 Sea Kings) to be guided in at midnight by the awaiting patrol.

After a forced march to the airstrip, the attack, which was led by Captain Hamilton, manages to put out of action/destroy all the aircraft using prepared charges. A fuel depot, ammo dump and radar installation are also destroyed.

A brief Argentine counter-attack is halted when the officer in charge is shot. With two men slightly wounded the SAS are safely picked up again by the helicopters.

May 18th, 1982

Britain rejects a peace proposal presented by the UN Secretary General Perez de Cuellar.

May 21st, 1982

British troops make an amphibious landing near Port San Carlos, on the northern coast of East Falkland. From this beachhead the British infantry advance quickly southward to capture the settlements of Darwin and Goose Green before turning their attention towards Port Stanley.

HMS Ardent is sunk by an Argentine air strike. Nine Argentine aircraft are shot down during the attack.

May 23rd, 1982

HMS Antelope is attacked and sinks after an unexploded bomb detonates. 10 Argentine aircraft destroyed.

May 24th, 1982

Seven Argentine Aircraft destroyed.

May 25th, 1982

HMS Coventry is hit by three 1,000 lb air bombs dropped by Argentine Skyhawks - 19 British dead. The MV Atlantic Conveyor is hit by an Exocet missile and sinks three days later, 12 more British dead.

May 28th, 1982

Air raids on Port Stanley continue.

Now the largest action of the conflict takes place. The British 2nd battalion, Parachute Regiment (2-Para), take Darwin and Goose Green.

Outnumbered 2:1 (600 vs. over 1400) and low on ammunition, lacking adequate fire support, fighting over open ground, and in daylight against prepared positions, 2-Para wins the day in this decisive land battle. Sadly 2-Para Lt. Colonel "H" Jones dies in this battle and is later awarded a Victoria Cross.