On this day 40 years ago, more than 100 Royal Navy ships and support vessels departed Portsmouth for the Falkland Islands to respond to the Argentine invasion.
Discover more about the conflict as we remember all those who served and died to defend the islands. #Falklands40 🧵
🗓 2 April 1982
Argentine troops land on the Falkland Islands near the capital Stanley. The small garrison there is quickly outnumbered.
🗓 3 April 1982
The UN Security Council votes to demand an immediate withdrawal of Argentine forces from the Falkland Islands.
🗓 5 April 1982
A fleet of more than 100 warships and support vessels departs for the Falkland Islands. Royal Navy ship HMS Invincible leads the task force.
🗓 25 April 1982
Despite appalling weather conditions, the Royal Marines successfully recapture South Georgia.
🗓 2 May 1982
The Argentine cruiser Belgrano is sunk by Royal Navy submarine HMS Conqueror. It led to the first major loss of life of the conflict.
🗓 25 May 1982
Royal Navy destroyer HMS Coventry is bombed. 20 members of UK service personnel are killed.
🗓 28 May 1982
17 British troops are killed in the brutal Battle for Goose Green, including Lt Col Herbert Jones of The Parachute Regiment. He was later awarded the Victoria Cross.
🗓 14 June 1982
Argentine forces surrender as the UK forces march into Stanley unopposed. 14 June, Liberation Day, is now the national day of the Falkland Islands.
We will never forget the sacrifices made to protect the Falkland Islands.
The UK Armed Forces continue to protect the islands and their people. #Falklands40
📷 With thanks to IWM.
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Between the 18-19 November 2023 Russia launched around 50 Iranian-designed Shahed one way-attack uncrewed aerial vehicles, primarily towards Kyiv. These were launched in waves on two axes – from the Kursk to the east, and from Krasnodar to the south-east. (1/4)
One of Russia’s objectives was likely to degrade Ukraine’s air defences, to shape the battlespace ahead of any concerted winter campaign of strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. (2/4)
(1/5) As of late October 2023, large elements of the Wagner Group private military company had likely been assimilated into the command structure of Russia’s National Guard (Rosgvardiya) and resumed active recruitment.
(2/5) This Wagner arm under Rosgvardiya is likely led by Pavel Prigozhin, son of the late Wagner owner Yevgeny Prigozhin.
(1/5) Over the past three weeks, Russia has likely lost around 200 armoured vehicles during its assaults on the Donbas town of Avdiivka.
(2/5) This is likely due to a combination of relative effectiveness of Ukraine’s modern hand-held anti-armour weapons, mines, uncrewed aerial vehicle-dropped munitions, and precision artillery systems.
(1/5) Recent Russian assaults in Avdiivka have contributed to a 90% increase in Russian casualties recorded by the Ukrainian MoD.
(2/5) Since February 2022, Russia has significantly increased its force footprint on the ground in Ukraine by intensifying recruitment using financial incentives and the partial mobilisation conducted in Autumn 2022.
The UK is committed to our relationship with the Philippines and we’re increasing our maritime engagement with the nation to support peace and security in the Indo-Pacific. Defence Minister Baroness Goldie visited the country this week (1/4)
HMS SPEY, part of our permanent presence in the region, has been taking part in Exercise SAMA SAMA, and the Minister visited the ship and met the crew onboard to find out about their experiences and cooperation with regional partners. (2/4)
Discussing Filipino priorities and shared security concerns, the Minister met with Philippine Navy and Coastguard. The Minister also met Secretary of National Defence Gilbert Teodoro, Vice Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Arthuro Cordura and Rear Admiral Caesar Valencia. (3/4)
(1/6) Since suffering a series of strikes in August and September, the Russian Black Sea Fleet (BSF) has highly likely doubled down on its defensive and reactive posture.
(2/6) It has relocated many of its prestige assets – including cruise missile capable ships and submarines – from Sevastopol to operating and basing areas further east, such as Novorossiysk.