Thread by @hthjones

#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

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

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”.

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.

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.

#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.

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.

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 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.

nytimes.com/1982/04/03/wor…

#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.

London ordering 35 ship task force to the Falklands.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.....

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.

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.

More info on that here:

dailymail.co.uk/g00/news/artic…

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.

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.

@falklands_utd - you may like some of the above

@falklands_utd 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.

HMS Fearless leaves Portsmouth.

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.

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.

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 👇👇