The Falklands War - 25 years ago

[SO19]

24th May 1982

Antelope explodes and sinks when a bomb disposal officer attempts to defuse the bomb;

Landing craft Sir Galahad and Sir Lancelot hit by Argentine bombs which fail to explode while Sir Bedivere is damaged by a bomb exploding in water nearby;

7 Argentine aircraft are shot down

[SO19]

25th May 1982

British destroyer Coventry sunk by air attack - 20 die;

British container ship Atlantic Conveyor is abandoned with 3 vital chinook helicopters aboard after an exocet missile hit sets the ship ablaze - 12 die;

8 Argentine aircraft are shot down;

SAS unit reconnoitre Mount Kent

[SO19]

26th May 1982

War cabinet questions lack of movement out of bridgehead at San Carlos;

London makes the retaking of Goose Green a priority;

2 Para set out for Goose Green;

UN Security Council Resolution 505 instructs de Cuellar to seek negotiated settlement

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27th May 1982

45 Commando and 3 Para set out for Douglas and Teal Inlet;

SAS land in strength on Mount Kent;

Sea harriers attack Goose Green - one plane is shot down;

British forces furious when BBC World Service report 2 Para are advancing on Darwin but Argentine commander believes this is deliberate misinformation

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28th May 1982

2 Para launch attack early in the morning, and by evening surround Goose Green - 17 British and 250 Argentines die;

Colonel H Jones is killed during the attack and subsequently awarded Victoria Cross;

5 Infantry Brigade trans-ship from QE2 to Norland and Canberra at South Georgia;

British shelling by air and sea of Stanley recommences and continues for the next 16 days

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29th May 1982

Argentines surrender Goose Green, British take 1,400 prisoners, and the Islanders imprisoned at Goose Green by the Argentines are released;

Organisation of American States condemns Britain's military action and calls on the US to stop helping Britain - only the US, Chile, Columbia and Trinidad & Tobago abstain

[SO19]

30th May 1982

45 Commando take Douglas and 3 Para take Teal Inlet;

42 Commando advance on Mount Kent and Mount Challenger;

General Moore arrives at San Carlos;

Pope John Paul II preaches anti-war message in Coventry Cathedral

[SO19]

31st May 1982

42 Commando take Mount Kent and Mount Challenger;

19 men from the Royal Marines Mountain and Arctic Warfare Cadre capture Top Malo House after a firefight;

Reagan asks Thatcher not to inflict too serious a defeat on the Argentines

[SO19]

1st June 1982

5 Infantry Brigade begins disembarkation at San Carlos;

War cabinet debate further peace proposals;

Britain repeats its ceasefire terms;

Updated Shackleton Report ordered

[SO19]

2nd June 1982

2 Para reach Bluff Cove;

Argentine military envoys arrive in New York offering to surrender to the UN

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3rd June 1982

Versailles summit opens;

Reagan's 5-point plan given to Britain

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4th June 1982

Britain and US veto Panamanian-Spanish immediate ceasefire resolution in UN Security Council;

Spain criticises Britain's military action, becoming the only NATO country not to support Britain

2 Para occupy the undefended Bluff Cove and Fitzroy

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5th June 1982

Scots Guards depart San Carlos at night on board Intrepid heading for Fitzroy

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6th June 1982

Scots Guards land at Fitzroy in early morning;

Versailles summit supports British position on the conflict;

Welsh Guards depart San Carlos at night on board Fearless heading for Fitzroy

[SO19]

7th June 1982

A shortage of landing craft mean half the Welsh Guards land at Fitzroy in early morning but the rest return to San Carlos, which they leave again at night on board landing craft Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram;

President Reagan pays official visit to Britain