XBradTC

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

Timeline of significant events

Here is a barebones outline of significant events during the war. In the next couple of entries, we’ll take a look at the operational significance of these events.

All Dates 1982

2 April– Argentinian forces invade the Falkland Islands.

3 April- Argentinian forces occupy South Georgia- UN Security Council condemns invasion, removal of Argentinian forces, calls for peaceful solution.

4 April– HMS Conqueror, a nuclear attack submarine, sorties from England toward the Falklands. Two more sail within days.

5 April– HMS Invincible and Hermes sail from England toward the Falklands. The carriers form the core of the British task force.

9 April– SS Canberra, a civilian passenger liner “taken up into service” as a troopship, sails with the first wave of ground forces.

12 April– Britain announces a 200 mile “Total Exclusion Zone” or TEZ around the Falkland Islands.

18 April– The main body of the British task force sails from Ascension Island, roughly 2000 miles from the Falkland Islands.

April 25/26– Royal Marines and SAS from a small, two-ship task group retake South Georgia from a token Argentine force.

1 May– The war begins in earnest. The main body of the task force arrives on station in the TEZ. Large scale Argentinian air raids attack the task force. Two British Vulcan bombers, staged out of Ascension Island make the first “Black Buck” air raid on Port Stanley airfield in the islands. Harriers from the task force’s carriers make their first raids on the Falklands. Small parties of SAS and SBS troops are landed in the Falklands for reconnaissance missions.

2 May– Deadliest single day of the war. ARA General Belgrano sunk by torpedoes from HMS Conqueror.

4 May– HMS Sheffield struck by Exocet missile. Burns, abandoned, later sinks.

14 May– SAS troops raid Pebble Island

19 May– 21 SAS troopers killed in helicopter crash.

21 May– First landings of the main body at San Carlos Bay. Large Argentinian air raids. HMS Ardent sunk.

23 May– HMS Antelope lost

24 May– British amphibious ships RFA* Sir Galahad and Sir Lancelot damaged by bombs.

25 May– HMS Coventry sunk, HMS Broadsword damaged, MV Atlantic Conveyor struck by Exocet missile.

27/28 May– Battle of Goose Green/Darwin. MV Atlantic Conveyor sinks.

8 June– RFA Sir Galahad destroyed, RFA Sir Tristam damaged in landings at Bluff Cove

12 June– HMS Glamorgan damaged by shore launched Exocet missile.

14 June– British forces occupy Stanley, effective end of hostilities.

*RFA=Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Invasion begins in part 6.