The Falklands War - 25 years ago

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21st April 1982

South Georgia operation begins with failed landing by SAS on Fortuna Glacier

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22nd April 1982

Pym visits Washington with the British response to Haig's proposals;

Britain warns all British nationals to leave Argentina;

British task force arrives in Falklands waters;

Galtieri visits Islands;

Argentine navy commandeers trawler Narwhal for intelligence purposes

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23rd April 1982

Britain warns Argentina that any military or civilian ship or aircraft representing a threat to the task force will be destroyed

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24th April 1982

Admiral Woodward's task group rendezvous with mid-Atlantic destroyers

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25th April 1982

South Georgia recaptured by Royal Marines - Thatcher tells Britain to "rejoice";

Argentine submarine Santa Fe is beached on South Georgia after British attack

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26th April 1982

'Defence area' declared around British fleet;

Thatcher declares time for diplomacy is running out;

Argentines occupy Port Howard

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27th April 1982

Chiefs of staff present San Carlos landing proposals (Operation Sutton) to War cabinet;

Haig's 'final package' is sent to London and Buenos Aires;

14 Stanley residents regarded by the Argentines as potential troublemakers are sent to Fox Bay East

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28th April 1982

Organisation of American States supports Argentina's sovereignty claim but calls for peaceful negotiations

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29th April 1982

Task force arrives at exclusion zone;

Vulcan bombers arrive at Ascension Island;

Argentina rejects Haig proposals

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30th April 1982

Maritime exclusion zone is declared a total exclusion zone, applicable to all ships and aircraft supporting the Argentine occupation of the Islands;

General Sir Jeremy Moore flies to Ascension for conference with Brigadier Thompson;

Reagan terminates Haig's peace mission, declares US support for Britain, imposes economic sanctions on Argentina, and offers Britain materiel and other aid

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1st May 1982

Initial SAS and SBS landings on the Islands;

First Vulcan bomber raid on Stanley airport;

Sea harrier aircraft attack Stanley airport and Goose Green;

3 Argentine aircraft are shot down;

Naval bombardment of Stanley begins;

114 inhabitants of Goose Green are imprisoned in the settlement's Recreation Club for the next 4 weeks;

14 Stanley residents previously sent to Fox Bay East are placed under house arrest;

Pym returns to Washington

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2nd May 1982

UN and Peru both try to initiate peace talks;

Pym meets UN Secretary General Perez de Cuellar in New York;

Peruvian President Belaunde Terry presents a peace proposal to Galtieri who gives preliminary acceptance with some modifications;

General Belgrano sunk 30 miles outside exclusion zone by submarine Conqueror on orders of War Cabinet who claim self-defence - 368 Argentines die

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3rd May 1982

British forces sink one Argentine patrol boat and seriously damage another;

Argentine navy vessels are recalled to shallow waters off Argentine coastline out of reach of submarines;

Galtieri rejects Peruvian peace plan, citing General Belgrano

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4th May 1982

British destroyer Sheffield hit by an exocet missile, and subsequently sinks - 20 die;

First British sea harrier piloted by Lt Nick Taylor is shot down over Goose Green;

British forces begin bombarding Argentine positions around Stanley

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5th May 1982

Emergency meeting of full British cabinet approves Peruvian peace plan