The Falklands War (1982)
The ten-week war between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), fought in the South Atlantic in 1982, which ended in Argentine surrender, the fall of Argentina's military junta, and an enduring sovereignty dispute.
Events
Argentina Invades the Falkland Islands
Argentine forces launched amphibious landings at Stanley and overwhelmed the small British garrison in Operation Rosario, occupying the islands. Argentina's military government said it acted on its long-standing claim to sovereignty over the Malvinas, inherited from the Spanish empire; Britain, which had administered the islands since 1833, considered the inhabitants' self-determination decisive.
Location: Stanley, Falkland Islands
The UN Demands Withdrawal as South Georgia Is Seized
Argentine troops also occupied South Georgia on 3 April. The UN Security Council passed Resolution 502 the same day, calling for the cessation of hostilities and Argentine withdrawal — a demand Buenos Aires rejected, and the diplomatic window that US Secretary of State Alexander Haig spent weeks shuttling between capitals to preserve collapsed.
Location: New York / South Georgia
The British Task Force Sails
Britain dispatched a naval task force — over 100 ships, including two aircraft carriers — to retake the islands, 8,000 nautical miles (about 14,800 kilometers) from home. It marked the first time since Suez that Britain committed major forces overseas, and the operation placed strict limits on how long ships could sustain the fight near the islands.
Location: Portsmouth, England
The Sinking of the ARA General Belgrano
The British nuclear submarine HMS Conqueror torpedoed the Argentine cruiser ARA General Belgrano, killing 323 Argentine sailors — nearly half of all Argentine casualties in the war. The attack took place outside the 200-nautical-mile (370-kilometer) exclusion zone Britain had declared, sparking a controversy that continues: Britain argued the ship posed a threat as part of a pincer movement; critics questioned the timing. The Argentine surface fleet stayed in port for the rest of the war.
Location: South Atlantic
HMS Sheffield Hit by Exocet
Two days after the Belgrano sinking, an Argentine Super Etendard aircraft fired an Exocet missile that struck HMS Sheffield, killing 20 sailors and forcing the ship's abandonment. The loss demonstrated the effectiveness of sea-skimming anti-ship missiles and influenced naval warfare doctrine worldwide.
Location: South Atlantic
British Forces Land at San Carlos
British forces landed at San Carlos Water on the west coast of East Falkland, in the campaign's turning point. Argentine aircraft repeatedly attacked the beachhead, sinking two ships and damaging others, but failed to stop the buildup of 5,000 troops and supplies for the advance across the island.
Location: San Carlos Water, East Falkland
The Battle of Goose Green
British paratroopers attacked and captured the Argentine garrison at Goose Green after a night battle in which commanding officer Lieutenant-Colonel H. Jones was killed, later awarded the Victoria Cross. The victory secured the southern flank of the British advance toward Stanley.
Location: Goose Green, East Falkland
Argentine Forces Surrender at Stanley
British forces captured the heights around Stanley after the battles of Two Sisters, Mount Longdon, and Wireless Ridge, and Argentine forces surrendered on 14 June, ending the 74-day war. The conflict killed 255 British and 649 Argentine personnel, along with three Falkland Islander civilians.
Location: Stanley, Falkland Islands
The Fall of Argentina's Military Junta
The defeat discredited Argentina's military government, which had launched the invasion in part to rally domestic support during an economic crisis. Mass demonstrations followed the surrender, General Leopoldo Galtieri resigned within days, and the junta's collapse paved the way for Argentina's return to democratic elections in 1983.
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina