Falklands War l Photos
Argentine Invasion
An Argentine LVTP-7 of the Batallon de Vehiculos Anfibios (Amphibious Vehicles Battalion) on patrol in Port Stanley, shortly after Argentine forces took control of the Falklands and occupied the town April 2, 1982. The conflict derived from a dispute over the islands that continues to this day. © Crown copyright. IWM
“Conks” in the Falklands
HMS Conqueror sails alongside the frigate HMS Penelope during the Falklands War. Conqueror became the first nuclear submarine to sink another warship in combat when she torpedoed the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano, May 2, 1982. Penelope's Sea Wolf missile launcher can be seen forward of her bridge. © Crown copyright. IWM
Belgrano Sinking
The Argentine cruiser ARA General Belgrano lists heavily to port in the Atlantic Ocean, after coming under attack by the HMS Conqueror during the Falklands War, May 2, 1982. Belgrano became the only ship to ever be sunk in anger by a nuclear-powered submarine. The sinking of the Belgrano and the death of 323 Argentine sailors is still controversial today. Belgrano was the ex-USS Phoenix, which had escaped unscathed from the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941. Press Association photo
Black Buck Raids
An RAF Vulcan bomber over RAF Ascension Island, May 18, 1982. Vulcan bombers flew the marathon Black Buck Raids, that while doing little damage showed a willingness by the British to defend their territory. Covering 8,000 nautical miles with multiple refuelings, the missions at the time were the longest-ranged bomber raids in history. Photo by Griffiths911
CAP Launch
Two Sea Harriers prepare for a CAP mission during the Falklands War. The Sea Harrier and AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles shown here proved to be a deadly combination during the conflict. © Crown copyright. IWM
Super Etendards
Dassault Super Etendard "Super E" aircraft of the Argentinean Navy in 1982. A few of these aircraft with a small number of their French-made Exocet anti-ship missiles constituted a serious threat to the British task force. Aircraft 3-A-202 participated in the sinking of Sheffield and the attack on Invincible. Aircraft 3-A-204 helped sink the Atlantic Conveyor. Revista "Radiolandia 2000" photo
Shiny Sheff Ablaze
The Type 42 destroyer HMS Sheffield on fire after being struck by an AM 39 Exocet missile fired from an Argentine Super Étendard from a distance of 6 miles, May 4, 1982. Sheffield later sank with a loss of 20 sailors. The handful of Argentine Exocets posed a serious problem for the Royal Navy throughout the conflict. © Crown copyright. IWM
“Blue Beach” Landing
Landing craft from HMS Intrepid approach "Blue Beach" at San Carlos to land British troops, possibly Royal Marines of 3 Commando Brigade, in the Falkland Islands, May 21, 1982. San Carlos became the primary British bridgehead during the conflict. © Crown copyright. IWM
Skyhawk Attack
A head on view from HMS Broadsword of two Argentine A4-B Skyhawks (piloted by Capitan Pablo Carballo and Teniente Carlos Rinke of V Air Brigade) as they fly through a hail of anti aircraft fire to attack the ship north of Pebble Island on the afternoon of May 25, 1982. During this attack (which also resulted in the sinking of HMS Coventry), a bomb passed through the starboard stern of HMS Broadsword. It exited upward via the flight deck without exploding, but did destroy the ship's Lynx helicopter en route. © Crown copyright. IWM
Sinking of the Coventry
Two Sea King 4 helicopters of No. 846 Naval Air Squadron, Fleet Air Arm hover over the upturned hull of HMS Coventry searching for survivors. HMS Coventry overturned and sank after being hit by three 1,000 pound bombs in an Argentine air attack. Twenty lives were lost. © Crown copyright. IWM
Falklands “Yomp”
Heavily laden Royal Marines of HQ Company, No. 45 Commando cross a muddy field after leaving Teal Inlet on the last leg of their advance on foot to the mountains. The Royal Marines landed in the East Falklands, but because most of their helicopters had been sunk aboard the Atlantic Conveyer, they then had to "yomp" across the island in order to capture Port Stanley on June 14, 1982. © Crown copyright. IWM
Dagger Attack
An Argentine Dagger aircraft makes a low-level attack on RFA Sir Bedivere in San Carlos Water in the Falkland Islands, May 24, 1982. © Crown copyright. IWM
HMS Antelope
HMS Antelope returning to San Carlos Water, May 23, 1982, with a hole in her side left by an Argentinean 1,000-pound bomb dropped during an attack by four Argentine A-4B Skyhawks of Grupo 5. During later efforts to defuse the bomb buried deep in the ship's hull, it detonated, and Antelope had to be abandoned before exploding and sinking in San Carlos Water, where she lies today. Photo by Dmgerrard
Marching Toward Port Stanley
A column of No. 45 Royal Marine Commandos march toward Port Stanley. Royal Marine Peter Robinson, carrying the Union Jack flag on his backpack as identification, brings up the rear. © Crown copyright. IWM
Sea Harrier Landing
A Sea Harrier of 800 Naval Air Squadron, Fleet Air Arm, lands on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship HMS Intrepid during the Battle for Tumbledown on June 13, 1982. Sea Harriers served in the air defense role during the conflict and shot down more than 20 Argentine aircraft with no air-to-air losses of their own. © Crown copyright. IWM
Sustaining the Assault
A Royal Navy Westland Wessex HC5 helicopter delivers mortar ammunition to the front line during mountain battles above Port Stanley. The British victories at the battles of Mount Harriet, Two Sisters, and Mount Longdon ensured the capture of Port Stanley. © Crown copyright. IWM
Entering Port Stanley
Heavily laden Royal Marines of No. 45 Royal Marine Commando, carrying 140 pound packs, enter Port Stanley after a remarkable 40 mile march across the Island. Their route from the west coast to the east took them through marshes and mountains, included night time marching and was at that time the longest march in full kit in the history of the Commando force. © Crown copyright. IWM
Argentine Surrender
Argentine prisoners wait to hand in their weapons and other equipment at Port Stanley after the surrender. Many of the Argentine troops were conscripts with limited training. © Crown copyright. IWM
Triumphant Return
HMS Invincible returns to massive celebrations following the Falklands War in 1982. Lined up on deck are Sea King helicopters from 820 Naval Air Squadron and Sea Harrier FRS1 aircraft from 800 Naval Air Squadron. Crown Copyright
- Written by: Steven Hoarn (Associate Editor) on June 14, 2012
- Categories: Conflicts & Operations, Defense-Wide
- Tags: Foreign Military, Military History
- Comments: No Comments
June 14, 2012, marks the 30th anniversary of the end of hostilities in the Falklands War. Although June 20, 1982, marked the formal end of the conflict, the fighting ended on June 14 with the recapture of Port Stanley. Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands on April 2, 1982, but the British military was able to recapture the Falklands during a 10-week war that took place in the air, on and beneath the sea, and on the land around the Falklands. The conflict resulted in the death of around 649 Argentines and 258 British and spelled the end of the military junta that was then in control of Argentina. The underlying cause of the invasion, Argentina’s claim to the Falkland Islands, is still a source of tension between the United Kingdom and Argentina today.
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