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#OTD in 1982, Argentina began Operation Rosario and invaded the Falkland Islands.
The infamous telex conversation between Falklands and London
FK: We have lots of new friends
LON: What about invasion rumours
FK: Those are the friends I was meaning
The Falklands War had begun
The infamous telex conversation between Falklands and London
FK: We have lots of new friends
LON: What about invasion rumours
FK: Those are the friends I was meaning
The Falklands War had begun
Over the next few months I’ll (attempt to....) recount the 1982 conflict as best as I can.
Expect pictures, notable newspaper headlines, and famous quotes. Any particular areas of interest/feedback will be appreciated
Expect pictures, notable newspaper headlines, and famous quotes. Any particular areas of interest/feedback will be appreciated
One of the best quotes from 2nd April 1982 - a Royal Marine to one of the Argentine soldiers: “Don't make yourself too comfy here mate, we'll be back"
Faced with a substantial invading force, Governor Rex Hunt surrendered.
Wearing full uniform and plume, he refused to shake the Argentine general's hand, saying "This is British property and you are not invited”.
Wearing full uniform and plume, he refused to shake the Argentine general's hand, saying "This is British property and you are not invited”.
Said general responds "It is very ungentlemanly of you to refuse to shake my hand"
Hunt replied "It is very uncivilised of you to invade my country"
Hunt was then expelled to Montevideo, Uruguay.
Hunt replied "It is very uncivilised of you to invade my country"
Hunt was then expelled to Montevideo, Uruguay.
At this stage, it is understood that UN Resolution 502 was being prepared. It was passed on April 3rd.
It paved the way for the UK to invoke Article 51 of the UN Charter and claim the right to self-defence.
It paved the way for the UK to invoke Article 51 of the UN Charter and claim the right to self-defence.
#OTD "The Government have now decided that a large task force will sail as soon as all preparations are complete. HMS Invincible will be in the lead and will leave port on Monday" - Margret Thather
HMS Invincible left Portsmouth on the 5th April.
HMS Invincible left Portsmouth on the 5th April.
Really interesting video: ITN's coverage of the departure of HMS Invincible and HMS Hermes on April 5th.
"IT'S WAR"
"Servicemen were being recalled from all over Britain to join a task force including paratroopers, SAS men, and more than 1,000 Royal Marines"
A man reads the paper queuing to enter the House of Commons public gallery, in anticipation of Thatcher's speech.
"Servicemen were being recalled from all over Britain to join a task force including paratroopers, SAS men, and more than 1,000 Royal Marines"
A man reads the paper queuing to enter the House of Commons public gallery, in anticipation of Thatcher's speech.
Some more interesting frontpages
Diplomatic stuff:
The Bank of England freezes all Argentine assets & Argentine imports are banned. Argentina freezes of British assets and a ban on imports.
France agrees to stop supplying Argentina with Exocet missiles, Super Etendard aircraft and Pucara aircraft engines.
The Bank of England freezes all Argentine assets & Argentine imports are banned. Argentina freezes of British assets and a ban on imports.
France agrees to stop supplying Argentina with Exocet missiles, Super Etendard aircraft and Pucara aircraft engines.
The United Nations Security Council adopts resolution 502, calling for a complete withdrawal of Argentine forces from the Falkland Islands.
President Reagan called Buenos Aires in an attempt to persuade Argentina to withdraw. His 50-minute telephone call was in vain. https://www.nytimes.com/1982/04/03/world/argentina-seizes-falkland-islands-british-ships-move.html
#OTD in 1982, HMS Conqueror sails for the South Atlantic.
She would return several months later flying the Jolly Roger, having become the first and only nuclear powered submarine to engage an enemy ship with torpedos.
She would return several months later flying the Jolly Roger, having become the first and only nuclear powered submarine to engage an enemy ship with torpedos.
London ordering 35 ship task force to the Falklands.
Preparations were well underway for the task force to depart.
Preparations were well underway for the task force to depart.
Also on this day Argentine soldiers arrived in Goose Green and Darwin. They proceeded to lock up over 100 islanders in the town hall.
They were there for 7 weeks, sharing just one toilet.
Back in January I met one of those who was locked up. She’s not keen on Argentina.
They were there for 7 weeks, sharing just one toilet.
Back in January I met one of those who was locked up. She’s not keen on Argentina.
And #OTD, HMS Invincible and HMS Hermes set sail for the Falklands.
Between them they sailed with 20 Sea Harriers and 30 Sea King. These airgroups grew in the coming weeks
The government had no contingency for the war: a task force was put together based on what was available.
Between them they sailed with 20 Sea Harriers and 30 Sea King. These airgroups grew in the coming weeks
The government had no contingency for the war: a task force was put together based on what was available.
For some context: both Hermes and Invincible had been at sea during February and March 1982. Hermes was now mid way through maintenance. And Invincible’s crew was on leave....
RFA Sir Tristram was in Belize.
RFA Sir Bedivere was in Vancouver.
RFA Sir Tristram was in Belize.
RFA Sir Bedivere was in Vancouver.
On 4th April an Order in Council was issued by the government, allowing any civilian ship to be requisitioned.
This became known as STUFT (Ship Taken Up From Trade).
This became known as STUFT (Ship Taken Up From Trade).
Also on this day, Lord Carrington resigned as Foreign Secretary, taking full responsibility for the complacency of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in its failure to foresee the invasion.
He would later become the Secretary General of NATO.
He would later become the Secretary General of NATO.
John Nott also offered his resignation as Secretary of State for Defence, but Margret Thatcher refused to accept it.
Nott would remain Defence Secretary until 1983.
Nott would remain Defence Secretary until 1983.
Two Royal Air Force Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft arrived at RAF Wideawake on Ascension Island.
Fun fact: during the war, Wideawake was at times the busiest airfield in the world by air movements.....
Fun fact: during the war, Wideawake was at times the busiest airfield in the world by air movements.....
HMS Glasgow leaving Portsmouth on 5th April, armed with the Sea Dart long range anti-aircraft missile system
She was one of the first ships to arrive inside the 200 mile exclusion zone on 27th April, alongside HMS Glamorgan, Coventry, Arrow and Sheffield.
She was one of the first ships to arrive inside the 200 mile exclusion zone on 27th April, alongside HMS Glamorgan, Coventry, Arrow and Sheffield.
President Reagan made a press statement, saying the invasion "has put the United States in a very difficult position because it is friendly with both countries".
Having said that, he planned to loan Britain USS Iwo Jima should either HMS Invincible or HMS Hermes be damaged.
Having said that, he planned to loan Britain USS Iwo Jima should either HMS Invincible or HMS Hermes be damaged.
Also on this day, Portuguese Foreign Secretary, Dr. Leonardo Mathias said British aircraft could use Lajes Air Base in the Azores to refuel if necessary.
New Zealand, Canada, Australia, and Chile all broke off diplomatic ties with Argentina.
New Zealand, Canada, Australia, and Chile all broke off diplomatic ties with Argentina.
That’s all for April 5th (I think).
Just a side note - I’m currently relying on the internet alone for this. All my books at at home and I’m abroad at the moment. More extensive coverage will begin next week.
Henry out.
Just a side note - I’m currently relying on the internet alone for this. All my books at at home and I’m abroad at the moment. More extensive coverage will begin next week.
Henry out.
@falklands_utd - you may like some of the above
And #OTD: the Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie, sent his envoy, Terry Waite, to The Vatican to ask the Pope to appeal to Argentina to withdraw.
It was thought that, given that Argentina is a strongly Catholic country, the Pope could sway Argentine opinion.
It was thought that, given that Argentina is a strongly Catholic country, the Pope could sway Argentine opinion.
HMS Fearless leaves Portsmouth.
Equipped with the most modern satellite communications equipment, she was home to Brigadier Julian Thompson and Commodore Michael Clapp.
Equipped with the most modern satellite communications equipment, she was home to Brigadier Julian Thompson and Commodore Michael Clapp.
RFA Sir Galahad embarking stores in Plymouth on 6th April. She left later that day with 350 Royal Marines.
On 8th June, she was attacked by three Argentine A-4 Skyhawks in Bluff Cove. 48 were killed.
I’ll tell that full story when we get to June 8th.
On 8th June, she was attacked by three Argentine A-4 Skyhawks in Bluff Cove. 48 were killed.
I’ll tell that full story when we get to June 8th.
Also today, Margret Thatcher met with former Prime Minister Harold Macmillan (pictured here with JFK), who advised her to exclude the Chancellor of the Exchequer Geoffrey Howe from her war cabinet.
It was thought vital to keep the Treasury away from defence.
It was thought vital to keep the Treasury away from defence.
Lord Bramall (Chief of the General Staff during 1982) has since remarked "One of the reasons why we won the war is that there was no one from the Treasury on the War Cabinet!"
Front pages from 6th April 
Back in the UK, I’m now surrounded by Falklands books (we have many).
Better coverage shall begin now.
#Falklands82
Better coverage shall begin now.
#Falklands82
First, some catching up to do:
The requisition order for SS Canberra (pictured here on her return), which was to become one of the main troopships.
Canberra had been on a cruise in the Mediterranean at the time of the invasion. She hastily returned to Portsmouth.
The requisition order for SS Canberra (pictured here on her return), which was to become one of the main troopships.
Canberra had been on a cruise in the Mediterranean at the time of the invasion. She hastily returned to Portsmouth.
Canberra’s modifications included the addition of two helicopter landing pads.
These weren’t finished in time for the 9th April departure date, so Canberra just left anyway.
The construction workers were flown off near Gibraltar once the work was done.
These weren’t finished in time for the 9th April departure date, so Canberra just left anyway.
The construction workers were flown off near Gibraltar once the work was done.
Sea Harriers on the deck of HMS Hermes prior to departure.
Once at sea, the white undersides and white part of the roundels were painted over to reduce conspicuousness.
Once at sea, the white undersides and white part of the roundels were painted over to reduce conspicuousness.
One of 3 Para’s Wombat 120mm anti-tank guns being loaded on to Canberra’s forward deck (construction work is ongoing in the background).
Scenes from the departures.
One BBC reporter remarked as Hemes sailed from Portsmouth: "This is a sight I suppose most of us never thought to see in our lifetimes".
One BBC reporter remarked as Hemes sailed from Portsmouth: "This is a sight I suppose most of us never thought to see in our lifetimes".
The front page from today: the Daily Mail criticises the government for knowing an invasion was imminent but doing little to stop it.
#OTD
#OTD
8th April #OTD
Aerolíneas Argentinas flights to the UK are suspended.
Australia freezes all imports from Argentina, saying it "would not have done this for any other country in the world. They had done so because it was Britain and Mrs Thatcher who were concerned".
Aerolíneas Argentinas flights to the UK are suspended.
Australia freezes all imports from Argentina, saying it "would not have done this for any other country in the world. They had done so because it was Britain and Mrs Thatcher who were concerned".
Alexander Haig, then U.S. Secretary of State arrives in London to begin 'shuttle diplomacy' with Buenos Aires.
Haig admitted to Thatcher that the U.S. had failed to see the invasion coming. He then reports back to Washington: "She [Thatcher] is clearly prepared to use force"
![Alexander Haig, then U.S. Secretary of State arrives in London to begin 'shuttle diplomacy' with Buenos Aires. Haig admitted to Thatcher that the U.S. had failed to see the invasion coming. He then reports back to Washington: "She [Thatcher] is clearly prepared to use force"](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D3qbZvdWwAEhztv.jpg "Alexander Haig, then U.S. Secretary of State arrives in London to begin 'shuttle diplomacy' with Buenos Aires. Haig admitted to Thatcher that the U.S. had failed to see the invasion coming. He then reports back to Washington: \"She [Thatcher] is clearly prepared to use force\"")
Haig admitted to Thatcher that the U.S. had failed to see the invasion coming. He then reports back to Washington: "She [Thatcher] is clearly prepared to use force"
Few things I’ve missed:
HMS Alacrity departed Devonport on 5th April. She’d been on exercise on April 1st, and was ordered to 'make all preparations for war' on April 2nd.
HMS Alacrity departed Devonport on 5th April. She’d been on exercise on April 1st, and was ordered to 'make all preparations for war' on April 2nd.
I’m struggling with ship departure dates, but definitely by now most of the group that would support the carriers had left.
By 8th April:
Antrim
Arrow
Brilliant
Coventry
Glamorgan
Glasgow
Plymouth
Sheffield
Conqueror
Spartan
Splendid
had all left. Plus some RFA vessels
By 8th April:
Antrim
Arrow
Brilliant
Coventry
Glamorgan
Glasgow
Plymouth
Sheffield
Conqueror
Spartan
Splendid
had all left. Plus some RFA vessels
Ascension Island was also beginning to get a bit busier....
Just realised I’ve accidentally managed to split my Falklands thread in two. I’m trying to keep it all togther....
Here’s where it continues https://twitter.com/hthjones/status/1115735347286159361
Here’s where it continues
https://twitter.com/hthjones/status/1115735347286159361
