|
When the Argentine commander surrendered to the British on 14 June 1982 his occupation of the Falkland Islands had lasted for 74 days, shorter in the case of South Georgia which was liberated first by the British. This short period interrupted 142 years of rule by Britain of the Falkland Islands as a Crown Colony. The Argentine forces landed on 2 April 1982 and after a short fire-fight by the small garrison of Royal Marines agreed surrender terms with the Governor Sir Rex Hunt. A few hours later the Royal Marines at S. Georgia also surrendered to the Argentine force, again after a short fight.
On the evening of 2 April the British cabinet met under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and agreed to despatch a task force. Its objective was written simply: "To cause the withdrawal of the Argentine forces and restore the British administration." The code-word for the operation was CORPORATE, and Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse, C-in-C Fleet based at Northwood, was appointed C-in-C. On 3 April the UN Security Council met and passed resolution 502, which demanded an immediate cessation of hostilities and the immediate withdrawal of the Argentine forces from the Falkland Islands. A period of intense diplomatic activity followed, led by the American Secretary of State General Haig, to find a peaceful solution of the conflict. Meanwhile the British task force sailed, under command of Admiral Sir John Woodward, HMS INVINCIBLE. A base was established on Ascension Island to provide logistic support and from which long range air attacks on the Falklands could be mounted. Elements of the task force separated from the main flotilla and re-took S. Georgia on 25 April, without serious resistance. On 30 April a Total Exclusion Zone (TEZ) was imposed within a circle of 200 miles centred on the islands.
The opening shots in the campaign to re-capture the Falkland Islands took place on 1 May when a force of RAF Vulcans based on Ascension Island attacked the airfield at Port Stanley, SAS and SBS patrols were also landed to survey the Argentine defences. The air attacks were followed on 2 May by the sinking of the Argentine cruiser BELGRANO by the British nuclear submarine HMS CONQUEROR, with a severe loss of life of the Argentine crew. The BELGRANO was regarded as a serious threat to the task force, although operating on the edge of the TEZ at the time, and its sinking was authorised by the war cabinet. The Argentine Air Force now made its presence felt by a successful Exocet attack on the destroyer SHEFFIELD, which sank with the loss of 24 lives on 4 May.
San Carlos was selected for the main landing, and 3 Commando Brigade (Brigadier, later Major-General, Julian Thompson) made the first landings on 21 May, without opposition. By 24 May the bridgehead was pronounced secure. The Argentine Air Force however, continued its attacks on ships in Falkland Sound causing damage and loss of life, including the sinking of HMS COVENTRY and the merchant ship ATLANTIC CONVEYOR, the latter taking to the bottom a valuable cargo of helicopters and stores needed for the land force. 3 Brigade now developed operations outside the bridgehead, mounting an attack by 2 Parachute on Darwin and Goose Green which were captured on 27 May, after a night attack against determined resistance. The Paras lost their CO Lt Col Jones, killed while leading an attack against an enemy position. On 31 May Mount Kent was seized by the SAS and 45 Commando, and 3 Para reached Douglas Settlement and Teal Inlet. Brigadier Thompson reported directly to the C-in-C at Northwood over a satellite link established by elements of 30 Signal Regiment at Ajax Bay. This was the first use of this means of communication by the Army in a major operation, and was described by Thompson: "The radio telephone was as clear as if the call had been coming from next door. As clear and unequivocal were the orders from Northwood."
The land force now came under the command of Major-General Jeremy Moore who had sailed from Ascension Island with 5 Brigade(Brigadier Anthony Wilson) on board QEII. General Moore's HQ was established initially on board the assault ship HMS FEARLESS, after cross-decking from HMS ANTRIM, with elements of 30 Signal Regiment manning the communications, 5 Brigade were transferred to CANBERRA and NORLAND before landing at San Carlos with the objective of occupying Fitzroy and preparing to attack Port Stanley from the South. General Moore planned his main attack to be from the north and west, using Teal Inlet as base, and for this purpose 3 Brigade was reinforced from 5 Brigade. Argentine air attacks against shipping continued, most serious being the attack on the Landing Ships Sir GALAHAD and TRISTRAM taking the Welsh Guards to Fitzroy, causing over a 100 casualties.
Preparations for the assault on Stanley began on 11 June with a night attack by 3 Brigade against enemy positions on Mount Longdon, Two Sisters, and Mount Harriet. The positions were taken by morning and over 400 prisoners captured. The final assault on Port Stanley began on 13 June. Mount Tumbledown was taken by 2 Scots Guards after fierce fighting, and Wireless Ridge fell to 2 Para by dawn. Finally1/index.htm7Ghurkas took Mount William in a daylight assault which met no resistance. The British now overlooked Port Stanley and General Menedez the Argentine Governor and commander-in-chief realised his position was hopeless. Meanwhile a surrender document had been prepared, and this was taken by Lt Col (later General) Michael Rose, CO of 22 SAS, and Captain Bell, a Spanish speaker, to a meeting with General Menedez at Port Stanley. After preliminary discussions General Moore joined the meeting and the document was signed at 21.15 hours local time 14 June.
The British had recovered sovereignty of the Islands in a remarkable amphibious operation conducted over a long line of communication. In the end the Argentine forces proved to be no match for the superior professional skill of the British forces, but elements of the Argentine forces had fought bravely and well, most notably the Airforce.
The cover design shows scenes from the campaign, including Commandos at San Carlos, the TSC 502 Satellite dish of 30 Signal Regiment and Sgt Mather MM, Royal Signals, of the SAS surveillance team. The formation signs shown are of the Commando Brigade and 5 Infantry Brigade. The swan is the regimental badge of 30 Signal Regiment. The date-stamp design is based on the Falklands flag and depicts the vessel DESIRE of John Davies who discovered the Islands in 1592. |
