1982 14th April
Invasion of Falklands
The Argentine fleet leaves Puerto Belgrano
Falklands War · permanent subject timeline
Sinking of ARA General Belgrano
2 May 1982 and the major Argentine naval loss. This page combines historical context with 21 matching records drawn directly from the World History Database Falklands War archive.
Historical context
Sinking of ARA General Belgrano: overview and significance
What happened?
The Argentine cruiser ARA General Belgrano was torpedoed and sunk by the British nuclear-powered submarine HMS Conqueror on 2 May 1982. The loss was the deadliest single event of the war for Argentina.
Why was it important?
The sinking became one of the conflict's most debated episodes and had major operational consequences. The Argentine surface fleet thereafter played a much more limited role, while the controversy surrounding the ship's position and the exclusion zone continued long after the war.
World History Database records
Sinking of ARA General Belgrano timeline
The records below are selected from the 481-record Falklands War archive using this page's subject criteria and are ordered chronologically.
1982
1982 14th April
Mobilization
The Argentine fleet leaves Puerto Belgrano
1982 2nd May
Abandon Ship
Orders evacuation as flooding and damage make it impossible to save General Belgrano.
1982 2nd May
Belgrano Torpedoed
Is commanding General Belgrano when HMS Conqueror torpedoes the cruiser.
1982 2nd May
General Belgrano Patrol
Commands the cruiser ARA General Belgrano while it operates southwest of the Falkland Islands.
1982 2nd May
Naval Losses
The General Belgrano is sunk outside the Exclusion Zone demarcated by the British. After the loss of the Belgrano, the entire Argentine fleet returns to port and do not leave again for the duration of hostilities
1982 2nd May
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
1982 2nd May
Naval Losses
HMS Conqueror sinks the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano.
1982 2nd May
Sinking
The General Belgrano is sunk outside the Exclusion Zone demarcated by the British. Over 700 men are rescued from the open ocean despite cold seas and stormy weather, the 368 losses from the Belgrano total just over half of Argentine deaths in the Falklands conflict
1982 2nd May
Sinking of General Belgrano
The cruiser sinking changes Argentine naval operations.
1982 2nd May
Sinking of General Belgrano
HMS Conqueror sinks the cruiser General Belgrano.
1982 3rd May
Diplomacy
Rejects the Peruvian peace plan, cites the sinking of the Belgrano. Galtieri rejects Peruvian peace plan, citing General Belgrano
1982 3rd May
Naval Losses
Galtieri rejects Peruvian peace plan, citing General Belgrano
1982 3rd May
Sinking
Galtieri rejects Peruvian peace plan, citing General Belgrano. After the loss of the Belgrano, the entire Argentine fleet returns to port and do not leave again for the duration of hostilities
1982 May
Belgrano Survivors
Survives the sinking with members of his crew; 323 Argentine sailors are killed in the loss of the cruiser.
1985
1985 11th February
Ponting Acquittal
Is acquitted after the Belgrano documents case.
1985 11th February
Ponting Trial
Faces trial over leaked Belgrano documents.
1985 16th February
Resignation
Ministry of Defence assistant secretary Clive Ponting resigns from his post over the Belgrano affair
1985
Belgrano Affair
Pursues questions about the sinking of General Belgrano.
1985
Naval Losses
The Ponting case follows leaked documents about the Belgrano sinking.
1985
Trial
The Ponting case follows leaked documents about the Belgrano sinking.
Editorial provenance
Sources and editorial review
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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