Timeline of Conflict
1945 - World War II ends. Britain realises that her colonies are too expensive to rule and grants most self determination. - Argentina claim ownership of the Falklands. Britain offers to take this claim to the International Court of Justice, however Argentina refuse. 1964 - Argentine government raised the issue of the islanders nationality to a sub committe of the United Nations. This court specialised in granting nations independence from colonial rule. This council finds that the British rule of the islands was 'not negotiable.' 1966 - British foriegn secretary Michael Stewart visits Argentina to formally reject Argentine claims that the islands occupation is illegal. - Armed, suspected Argentinte sympathisers capture Port Stanley, only to return it after successfully taking it. 1968 - British government looks to hand over the Falkland Island's to Argentina as a sign of friendship. The islanders hated this idea so much that they formed a lobby group, The Annual Reception of the Falkland Islands Association to put pressure on parliament for them to remain British. 1973 - Argentina reintroduces claims to ownership of the Falklands wih the UN - Britain rejects Falkland islanders demand for a Royal Navy frigate to defend them 1977 - Argentine navy cuts the fuel supply to Port Stanley airport - Argentine navy performs a landing of South Sandwhich island, part of the Falklands, for 'scientific reearch,' sparking new talks into soverignty. 2nd April - Argentina invades the Falklands - British cabinet approves sending a Task Force to the South Atlantic 3rd April - UN passes Resolution 502 demanding Argentine withdrawal 5th April - Task Force leaves Britain 9th April - 3 Commando Brigade sail aboard Canberra, a converted cruise ship - Sanctions against Argentina are approved and introduced 12th April - Maritime 200 mile exclusion zone introduced around the Falkland Islands by the British 14th April - Argentinean fleet leaves Puerto Belgrano to engage the Task Force 15th April - British Task Foce takes up positions in the Mid Atlantic 18th April - Argentina's aircraft carrier returns to port with engine trouble 21st April - Britain begins recapture of South Georgia 24th April - British Task Force is now at full strength (100+ ships) 25th April - South Georgia recaptured by British soldiers 29th April - Task Force arrives at the exclusion zone. Vulcan bombers preparing for Black Buck Raids arrive at Ascention Island 30th April - Total exclusion zone put into force - President Raigen declares US support to Britain, promising 'martial aid' 1st May - Initial SAS (Special Air Service) and SBS (Special Boat Service) landings on the Falklands - First Black Buck raid on Port Stanley airport - Sea Harrier raids and naval bombardment 2nd May - ARA Belgrano sunk on orders of War Cabinet, killing 323 of her crew - Peace negotiations begin in New York, supervised by the UN 3rd May - Argentine patrol boats repeatedly attacked by Task Force. - Galtieri rejects peace plans citing the sinking of the Belgrano 4th May - HMS Sheffield sunk - First Sea Harrier shot down 5th May - British War Cabinet approve the UN peace plans 6th May - Military Junta rejects peace plans for a second time 8th May - British Task Force has secured sufficient territory to send the landing forces 12th May - Queen Elizabeth 2 leaves Southampton with 5 Brigade 18th May - San Carlos landing plan goes to full cabinet - Landing party regroups with Admiral Woodwards Task Force |
19th May - War Cabinet gives Woodward the go ahead for landing
20th May - Thatcher informs Houses of Parliament that peace talks have failed 21st May - Landings at San Carlos begin - HMS Ardent sunk - 16 Argentine aircraft lost 23rd May - 7 Argentine aircraft lost 24th May - HMS Antelope sunk 25th May - HMS Coventry and the Atlantic Conveyer (a supply ship) sunk 26th May - War Cabinet questions the lack of movement out of the San Carlos bridgehead 27th May - SAS set out in strength to assault Mount Kent - 2 Para set out for an assault on Goose Green 28th May - Battle on Goose Green won by British 31st May - 42 Commando begin attack on Mount Kent 2nd June - 2 Para leapfrog 42 Commando to attack Bluff Cove - Argentine military envoys arrive at the UN in prepartion to surrender 6th June - Scots Guard land at Fitzroy with the Welsh Guards close behind 8th June - HMS Gallahad and HMS Tristram bombed landing troops. 51 died. 11th June - British advance towards Port Stanley begins - Assault of Mount Longdon - Assault of Mount Harriet - Assault of Two Sisters 13th June - Battle of Tumbledown - Battle for Wireless Ridge 14th June - Argentine surrender at Port Stanley |