Permanent historical factsheet

Argentine Invasion of Falklands

Great Britain · Warfare / Falklands War. Chronological records rendered directly from the World History Database.

47Records
1982Date range
11Named people
6Places

Chronological records

1982

Margaret Hilda Thatcher2 February 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

Thatcher in a private letter to a Conservative Party activist makes clear that she regards the Royal Marine presence in Stanley as sufficient to prevent an Argentine invasion

Margaret Hilda Thatcher9 February 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

Thatcher confirms the retirement of HMS Endurance

Julian Amery3 March 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

MP Julian Amery asks if all necessary steps are in hand to ensure the protection of the Islands against unexpected attack but receives an evasive reply

Margaret Hilda Thatcher3 March 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

MP Julian Amery asks if all necessary steps are in hand to ensure the protection of the Islands against unexpected attack but receives an evasive reply

Margaret Hilda Thatcher5 March 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

Foreign Secretary Lord Carrington refuses to send a submarine to patrol off the Islands and South Georgia

Margaret Hilda Thatcher6 March 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

Hercules aircraft operated by Argentine military airline LADE,on a mail run to an Antarctic base, lands at Stanley Airport, falsely claiming a fuel leak, and carrying senior Argentine officers who survey Stanley

Margaret Hilda Thatcher8 March 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

Thatcher asks the Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence for contingency plans in case of an Argentine blockade or invasion of the Islands

Margaret Hilda Thatcher19 March 1982

South Georgia · Warfare / Falklands War

Davidoff sends 40 workmen on naval vessel Bahia Buen Suceso to dismantle Leith whaling station, the workmen fail to ask permission to land from the British Antarctic Survey base at Grytviken and hoist the Argentine flag

Peter Alexander Rupert Carrington Carrington, 6th20 March 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

Carrington says a diplomatic solution is being pursued

Peter Alexander Rupert Carrington Carrington, 6th28 March 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

British Foreign Secretary Carrington asks US Secretary of State Alexander Haig to intercede with the Argentine junta in an attempt to avoid military action

Margaret Hilda Thatcher28 March 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

Britain begins contingency planning for the sending of a task force to the Islands

Margaret Hilda Thatcher29 March 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

The Joint Intelligence Committee reports an invasion seems imminent, Thatcher orders 3 nuclear submarines south to the Islands

Rex Hunt31 March 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

Governor Rex Hunt is informed Britain believes Argentina is planning a submarine landing on the Islands as a means of increasing pressure over South Georgia

Henry Leach31 March 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sir Henry Leach advises a crisis meeting headed by Margaret Thatcher that Britain could and should send a task force if the islands are invaded.

Margaret Hilda Thatcher31 March 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

At a crisis meeting headed by Thatcher, First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Henry Leach advises that Britain can and should send a task force if the islands are invaded.

John FieldhouseMarch 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

Operation Corporate is the codename given to the British military operations in the Falklands War, the commander of task force operations is Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse

Rex HuntMarch 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

The invasion met a nominal defence organised by the Falkland Islands Governor Sir Rex Hunt, giving command to Major Mike Norman of the Royal Marines

Laurie MargolisMarch 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

BBC journalist Laurie Margolis was able to speak with an islander at Goose Green via amateur radio, who confirmed the presence of a large Argentine fleet and that Argentine forces had taken control of the island

Mike NormanMarch 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

The invasion met a nominal defence organised by the Falkland Islands Governor Sir Rex Hunt, giving command to Major Mike Norman of the Royal Marines

Rex Hunt1 April 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

Governor Hunt is informed at 3.30pm FI time that Britain now believes a full invasion is planned and summons an immediate meeting of Government heads of department.

Peter Alexander Rupert Carrington Carrington, 6th2 April 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

Galtieri hails the "recovery" of the Malvinas, saying Argentina had been left no option other than military action, while Carrington tells Parliament "Port Stanley is now occupied by Argentine military forces"

Mike Clapp2 April 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

Commodore Mike Clapp is in charge of the amphibious ships

John Fieldhouse2 April 1982

Northwood · Warfare / Falklands War

In overall command is Commander in Chief Fleet, Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse at his headquarters at Northwood near London

Rex Hunt2 April 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

Governor Hunt orders the surrender at 9.15am - by now the whole town other than Government House is under Argentine control.

Margaret Hilda Thatcher2 April 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

Galtieri hails the "recovery" of the Malvinas, saying Argentina had been left no option other than military action, while Carrington tells Parliament "Port Stanley is now occupied by Argentine military forces"

Margaret Hilda Thatcher2 April 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

Galtieri hails the "recovery" of the Malvinas, saying Argentina had been left no option other than military action, while Carrington tells Parliament "Port Stanley is now occupied by Argentine military forces".

Margaret Hilda Thatcher2 April 1982

South Georgia · Warfare / Falklands War

MPs are recalled for an emergency Saturday sitting after the invasion.

Sandy Woodward2 April 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

Destroyers and frigates exercising off Gibraltar under Rear Admiral Sandy Woodward were ordered south. They were joined by the carriers Hermes and Invincible, loaded with Sea Harrier fighters as well as amphibious ships and merchant ships

Margaret Hilda Thatcher3 April 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

UN Security Council passes Resolution 502 by 10 votes to 1 (with 4 abstentions) demanding immediate Argentine withdrawal from the Islands - Argentina refuses to comply

Margaret Hilda Thatcher5 April 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

British Government announces it will impose a 200-mile exclusion zone around the Islands on 26 April

Margaret Hilda Thatcher5 April 1982

Portsmouth · Warfare / Falklands War

Aircraft carriers Hermes and Invincible set sail from Portsmouth

Margaret Hilda Thatcher7 April 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

A task force is sent by Britain to recapture the Falkland Islands from Argentina

Margaret Hilda Thatcher15 April 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

Reagan terminates Haig's peace mission, declares US support for Britain, imposes economic sanctions on Argentina, and offers Britain materiel and other aid. British destroyer group takes up holding position in mid-Atlantic

John Fieldhouse17 April 1982

Ascension Island · Warfare / Falklands War

The main task force sails south from Ascension Island. Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse chairs conference at Ascension Island with Admiral Sandy Woodward and 3 Commando Brigade which sets out detailed plans for the retaking of the Islands by force

Margaret Hilda Thatcher17 April 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse chairs conference at Ascension Island with Admiral Sandy Woodward and 3 Commando Brigade which sets out detailed plans for the retaking of the Islands by force

Sandy Woodward17 April 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse chairs conference at Ascension Island with Admiral Sandy Woodward and 3 Commando Brigade which sets out detailed plans for the retaking of the Islands by force

Margaret Hilda Thatcher20 April 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

British War Cabinet orders repossession of Islands

Margaret Hilda Thatcher22 April 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

British task force arrives in Falklands waters

Margaret Hilda Thatcher23 April 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

Britain warns Argentina that any military or civilian ship or aircraft representing a threat to the task force will be destroyed

Margaret Hilda Thatcher12 May 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

QE2 leaves Southampton with 5 Infantry Brigade comprising Scots Guards, Welsh Guards and Gurkhas

Sandy Woodward19 May 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

War cabinet gives Admiral Woodward the go ahead for landing plan

Margaret Hilda Thatcher20 May 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

Thatcher accuses Argentina of obduracy and delay, deception and bad faith, tells Commons of collapse of peace process, and orders task force into battle

Peter Blaker16 June 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

Peter Blaker, Minister of State for Defence, announces that the official count of British military and civilian war dead is 255, with approximately 300 wounded

Margaret Hilda Thatcher16 June 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

Peter Blaker, Minister of State for Defence, announces that the official count of British military and civilian war dead is 255, with approximately 300 wounded

Margaret Hilda Thatcher20 June 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

British forces land on Southern Thule (South Sandwich Islands) - Argentines surrender without a fight. Britain formally declares an end to hostilities

Rex Hunt25 June 1982

Port Stanley · Warfare / Falklands War

Governor Rex Hunt returns to Stanley as Civil Commissioner

Margaret Hilda Thatcher26 June 1982

Falkland Islands · Warfare / Falklands War

Thatcher appoints an official commission headed by Lord Franks to examine the causes of Britain's failure to prevent Argentine capture of the Islands

Names involved

Henry LeachJohn FieldhouseJulian AmeryLaurie MargolisMargaret Hilda ThatcherMike ClappMike NormanPeter Alexander Rupert Carrington Carrington, 6thPeter BlakerRex HuntSandy Woodward

Provenance

This factsheet is generated from stored World History Database records matching the country, broad category, detailed category and exact Event value shown above. Duplicate display records are collapsed; database wording is otherwise preserved. Source provenance varies by record, so formal academic citation should be checked against the relevant primary source, archive or specialist historical reference.