Falklands War · permanent subject timeline
British carrier battle group commander in the South Atlantic. This page combines historical context with 20 matching records drawn directly from the World History Database Falklands War archive.
Historical context
Rear Admiral Sandy Woodward commanded the British carrier battle group during the Falklands campaign. His responsibilities included fleet positioning, air defense, naval operations and coordination with the wider task force command structure.
Woodward's command illustrates the operational complexity of fighting at extreme range from home bases while protecting scarce aircraft carriers and amphibious forces against submarine, surface and air threats.
World History Database records
The records below are selected from the 481-record Falklands War archive using this page's subject criteria and are ordered chronologically.
Argentine Invasion of Falklands
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
Carrier Battle Group
Orders his ships south to join the task force.
Falklands Task Force
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
Argentine Invasion of Falklands
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
Argentine Invasion of Falklands
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
Argentine Invasion of Falklands
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
Ascension Conference
Chairs planning talks with Woodward and Thompson.
Falklands Task Force
Admiral Woodward's task group rendezvous with mid-Atlantic destroyers
Task Group Rendezvous
Rendezvous with destroyers moving south.
Naval Losses
Vulnerable to Argentine aircraft, both carrier and land based, missile armed surface ships and submarines Woodward's approval is given to sink any Argentine warships outside Argentine territorial waters
Naval Losses
General Belgrano sunk 30 miles outside exclusion zone by submarine Conqueror on orders of War Cabinet who claim self-defence - 368 Argentines die
Sinking of General Belgrano
The cruiser sinking changes Argentine naval operations.
Loss of HMS Sheffield
Loses HMS Sheffield to Argentine air attack.
Argentine Invasion of Falklands
War cabinet gives Admiral Woodward the go ahead for landing plan
Falklands Task Force
War cabinet gives Admiral Woodward the go ahead for landing plan
Landing Approved
Receives approval for the San Carlos landing.
Naval Losses
British frigate Ardent sunk in San Carlos Water by air attack - 22 die
Operation Corporate
Two brigades of troops had been transported 8,000 miles and one of the most successful amphibious landings was conducted in San Carlos Water when 3,000 troops are put ashore without casualties
Operation Sutton
San Carlos landings begin, codenamed Operation Sutton. British frigate Ardent sunk in San Carlos Water by air attack - 22 die
Naval Losses
British destroyer Coventry sunk by air attack - 20 die. British container ship Atlantic Conveyor is abandoned with 3 vital chinook helicopters aboard after an exocet missile hit sets the ship ablaze - 12 die
Editorial provenance
Compiled and edited by World History Database
Historical context is editorial material; the chronology is generated from the World History Database Falklands War records.
Last reviewed: September 2026.
Reference points: Imperial War Museums · National Army Museum · The National Archives
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