Falklands-Malvinas Forum

The Falklands/Malvinas war: short chronology.

December 20, 1981. With British authorization to exploit his two-year contract, aboard the naval ice-breaker Almirante Irizar Argentine scrap dealer C. S. Davidoff visits South Georgia to inspect some purchases and plan the dismantling of the equipment of a former whaling station.

February 27, 1982. In New York, Argentina and Britain reach an agreement to establish a permanent negotiation commission.

March 18. Argentine workers contracted by Davidoff sailing in the Bahia Buen Suceso land in the Leith station in South Georgia without British authorization. Official confirmation of departure is given on March 22, but some men and equipment and a flag are left behind.

March 22. Britain protests against what was regarded as a violation of "British sovereignty," warning that if any further attempt was made to land in South Georgia without proper authorization, the British government reserved the right to take whatever action might be necessary.

March 23. The Thatcher government send the Endurance to expel the Argentines from the islands.

March 24. The Argentine navy, reluctant to comply with the removal of the party left under the threat of force, orders the Bahia Buen Suceso to South Georgia.

April 2. Argentine troops land on the Falkland/Malvinas Islands. Royal marines surrender.

April 3. Argentina takes South Georgia Island. First House of Commons sitting since Suez. United Nations Security Council passes Resolution 502 calling for the withdrawal of Argentine troops from the islands and the immediate cessation of hostilities. First RAF Transport Aircraft deploy to Ascension Island.

April 5. Lord Carrington resigns as Foreign Secretary. Task Force sails.

April 7: Britain declares a 200-mile military exclusion zone around the Falkland/Malvinas (effective April 12).

April 8. The US secretary of State, Alexander Haig, arrives in London to begin shuttle mediation.

April 10: EEC approves trade sanctions against Argentina. Haig in Buenos Aires for talks with the Junta.

April 17: Haig meets again with Argentine junta. After breakdown in mediation talks, he returns to Washington April 19.

April 23: Foreign Office advises British nationals in Argentina to leave.

April 25: Royal marines recapture South Georgia, with the surrender of Cap. Astiz. Submarine Santa Fe attacked and disabled.

April 30. Haigšs mission officially terminated. President Ronald Reagan declares US support for Britain and economic sanctions against Argentina. Total exclusion zone comes into effect.

May 1: Harriers and a Vulcan attack Port Stanley (Puerto Argentino) airfield. Three Argentine aircraft shot down.

May 2. Belaunde Terry, President of Peru, presents a peace proposal to Argentine President Leopoldo Galtieri, who gives a preliminary acceptance with some proposed modifications. Before the Argentine junta ratifies the acceptance, British submarine HMS Conqueror sinks the cruiser General Belgrano. The junta rejects the proposal.

May 4. Argentina sinks the HMS Sheffield, hit by an Exocet missile. Harrier shot down.

May 5: Peru drafts peace plan.

May 7: UN enters peace negotiations.

May 9: Islands bombarded from sea and air. Two sea Harriers sink trawler Narwal.

May 11: Argentine supply ship Cabo de los Estados sunk by HMS Alacrity.

May 14: Three Argentine Skyhawks shot down. Prime Minister Thatcher warns that peaceful settlement may not be possible. Special forces night raid on Pebble Island; 11 Argentine aircraft destroyed on the ground.

May 18. A peace proposal presented by the United Nations Secretary General, Perez de Cuellar, is rejected by Britain.

May 20: Thatcher accuses Argentina of łobduracy and delay, and bad faith.˛

May 21. British forces land on San Carlos, at East Falkland. HMS Ardent sunk by air attack. Nine Argentine aircraft shot down.

May 22: Consolidation day at bridgehead.

May 23: HMS Antelope attacked and sinks after unexploded bomb detonates. Ten Argentine aircraft destroyed.

May 24: Seven Argentine Aircraft destroyed.

May 25: HMS Coventry lost and Atlantic Conveyor hit by Exocet (sinks May 28).

May 28: Second battalion, Parachute Regiment, take Darwin and Goose Green. Death of Lt. Col. H Jones. More air-raids on Port Stanley.

May 29: Warships and Harriers bombard Argentine positions: 250 Argentines killed, 1400 captured; 17 British killed.

May 30: Shelling continues as British troops advance: 45 Commando secure Douglas settlement; 3 Para recapture Teal Inlet. May 31: Mount Kent taken by British troops.

June 1: Britain repeats cease-fire terms.

June 2: British troops take Mount Kent.

June 4: Britain vetoes Panamanian-Spanish cease-fire resolution in the UN Security Council.

June 6: Versailles summit supports British position on Falklands.

June 8: Argentine air attack on landing craft Sir Galahad and Sir Tristam at Bluff Cove, loss of 50 British.

June 12: British forces seize Mount Tumbledon.

June 14. Argentine forces, led by Gral Menendez, surrender in Port Stanley.

July. 20. Britain formally declares and end to hostilities, and the two-mile exclusion zone established around the islands during the war is replaced by a Falklands Protection Zone (FIPZ) of 150 miles.

Chronology based on Morrison, D. & Tumber, H. (1988) Journalists at War (London:Sage Pub.) and Femenia, N. (1996) National Identity in Times of Crises: the scripts of the Falklands War (N. Y. Nova Science)