The Falklands War - Timeline

Prelude to The Falklands War, March 19th 1982

10 Argentine worker slipped quietly into the port of Leith on South Georgia Island from the transport ship Bahia Buen Suceso, which means Bay of Good Success. They wore fur-lined coats to stave off the icy South Atlantic autumn cold.

Their announced task was to dismantle the rusting, unused whale rendering factory in the port, a British Overseas Territory that is barely a speck on map 1,350 miles southeast of the Argentine mainland.

From their small tent camp, they hoisted an Argentine flag and sang their national anthem. For food, they hunted reindeer and cooked stew over an open fire.

Fifteen miles away, in Grytviken, a team of British scientists heard of their arrival and decided to pay a chilled, but diplomatic visit. They informed the Argentines they were on the island without permission and had no business raising an Argentine flag.

They also pointed out it was illegal to hunt reindeer.

Stationed at the port of Stanley in the Falkland Islands 900 miles to the east was a lone Royal Navy ship, the Endurance -- with two 20 mm guns, two small Wasp helicopters and 21 Royal Marines aboard.

In London, 8,000 miles to the north, more pressing matters occupied the newpapers and politicians, including a by-election and a European summit.

Photo: ARA Bahía Buen Suceso

Prelude to The Falklands War, March 21st 1982

Captain Adolfo Gaffoglio, the LADE representative at Stanley, informs Buenos Aires of the departure of Endurance. He also reports that his office has been broken into and the Argentine flag covered with a Union Jack. “Tit for tat you buggers,” is written on the desk in toothpaste and “UK OK” on the office windows.

Foreign ministers of Argentina Costa Mendez tells Williams that the ARA Bahia Buen Suceso is not in South Georgia officially; that it has no militar personnel on board and that the ship will depart that day. He expresses the hope that the significance of the affair will not be exaggerated. Ambassador Williams makes it clear; “.. that if the party left without regularising their conduct at Gryviken they would have made an illegal landing and be liable to arrest..”

In London, the FCO informs Argentina's charge d'affairs that they accept the explanations provided by Minister Mendez and trust that the ship will depart with the landing party.
A BAS observation point is established overlooking Stromness Bay.

Prelude to The Falklands War, March 23rd 1982

In Buenos Aires, Williams copies HMS Endurance's orders to Argentina's Foreign Ministry. On receipt Costa Mendez expresses surprise that the British are proceeding so rapidly to such very grave action, without exhausting the diplomatic options. He gives a warning that, if the action to remove the party on South Georgia is not postponed, those like himself, who are trying to deal with the dispute in a moderate way, will lose control of events. Mendez threatens that harsh action will precipitate a harsh response, and that perhaps the men should be removed by an Argentine vessel in order to take some heat out of the situation.

Ambassador Williams, conveying this to the FCO, adds that he considers the events at South Georgia as “trivial and low-level misbehaviour.” The FCO respond.

“Our intention is to conduct this operation correctly, peacefully and in as low a key as possible. We hope that the Argentine Government will, if they are able to do so, advise the Argentine workmen at Leith to co-operate. … any lesser action than we are now taking would not be defensible to public and parliamentary opinion.”

In Britain, a statement is made to Parliament.

“We were informed on 20 March by the Commander of the British Antarctic Survey based at Grytviken on South Georgia that a party of Argentines had landed at Leith nearby. The Base Commander informed the Argentine party that its presence was illegal as it had not obtained his prior authority for the landing. We immediately took the matter up with the Argentine authorities in Buenos Aires and the Argentine Embassy in London and, following our approach, the ship and most of the personnel left... However, the base Commander has reported that a small number of men and some equipment remain. We are therefore making arrangements to ensure their early departure.”

There is uproar in the House of Commons; “... if she [Mrs Thatcher] doesn’t get the Argentines out by next week there will be a major disturbance.”

HMS Endurance is ordered to 'hold' off Grytviken.

“In view of continued diplomatic activity at ministerial level aimed at allowing Argentine authorities an opportunity to remove party and equipment by Argentine vessel, HMS Endurance should proceed to Grytviken and await further instructions. Pending these instructions, HMS Endurance should not, repeat not, enter nor conduct any Naval operations in the vicinity of Leith harbour.”

Lord Carrington sends a message to Costa Mendez.

“.. it is now essential for the Argentine personnel that still remains in South Georgia to be evacuated promptly. If the Argentine Government can order the immediate return of the Bahia Buen Suceso to Leith Harbour to carry out this action, the use of HMS Endurance will not be necessary. If this is not done, we would have no alternative but to proceed. … ”

Argentina's Navy Command orders the ice-breaker Bahia Paraiso to take its marines as quickly as possible to Leith to protect the Argentine workers there. Vice-Admiral Juan Lombardo is; “.. directed by the junta to accelerate planning so that an invasion force could launch within 48-72 hours of notification.”

A message is sent from the US Embassy in Buenos Aires to the US State Department reporting a conversation between the Argentine Foreign Ministry and the US Ambassador.

“During a meeting March 23, the Foreign Minister and Under Secretary Ros at their initiative briefed the Ambassador on the Argentine version of this affair. They said a local entrepreneur had entered into a contract in London to take the scrap from the whale “factory.” He then hired a crew of workmen (four they thought) and bought passage for them on the “Bahia Buen Suceso” which deposited them in Leith. Ros emphasized that the ship regularly plies those waters, is unarmed and crewed entirely by civilians. .. HMG protested because permission was not sought to land the workmen. As indicated in the press, the ship has departed; but, contrary to the impression left by the press accounts, the workmen are still there, according to Ros. He was unable to say how long they might remain, that presumably depending on the time required to finish the scrap job and on when the ship might come around again. It would seem, at least, that the incident may not be closed.”

Prelude to The Falklands War, March 25th 1982

In Buenos Aires, Dr. Méndez suggests to Britain's Ambassador that the impasse could be broken if it is accepted that the workers at Leith now comply with the landing formalities by going to Grytviken and having their 'white cards' stamped before returning to work on the whaling stations. Informed of Méndez's proposal, Foreign Secretary Carrington's responds that; “only passports will do.” This is passed on to the Junta.

“A series of progressive demands culminated in the imposition that the Argentine workers of the Davidoff company – who were on land that we consider under a sovereignty dispute – should seal their passports at Grytviken, as if they were entering a foreign territory… “

“Britain's escalation of the dispute – especially its demand about passports – came as a complete surprise … There was unanimous agreement that we could not permit it.”
Well informed, America's Embassy in Buenos Aires reports to Washington.

“It appears likely that the Argentine Navy will in fact act if the Endurance attempts to remove the working party.”

Prelude to The Falklands War, March 27th 1982

Ambassador Williams reports his fears that Dr. Costa Mendez has been less than honest with him; that Argentina had been “playing us along” and that the Bahia Paraiso had armed marines on board; “ .. I cannot, however, discount the possibility that any action on our part to disrupt the Argentine working party at Leith will be taken as a trigger for armed action by the Argentines.”

Naval vessels, accompanied by a submarine, are seen to sail from Buenos Aires by the British defence attaché, Stephen Love.

Margaret Thatcher considers taking the sovereignty issue to the ICJ; ”if we win or if we lose, at least we know where we are.’

Prelude to The Falklands War, March 29th 1982

The Admiralty in London direct a nuclear powered submarine, HMS Spartan, to embark stores and weapons at Gibraltar and send the support vessel, RFA Fort Austin from Gibraltar to resupply HMS Endurance. Defence Secretary John Nott advises the Prime Minister that it will take a week to ready a “viable” naval force, then three more weeks to get them to the Islands; although a group of 7 destroyers and frigates, on exercises near Gibraltar, could be in the South Atlantic in two weeks.

Argentine press reports refer to the cancellation of all military leave, and announce that 5 Argentine warships are now heading towards South Georgia. Clarin says that all of Davidoff's working party had been issued with white cards before departure.

Ambassador Williams, in Buenos Aires, writes to London; “I am receiving gestures of sympathy … but I fear that in general, the Argentine Government will not only gain in popularity by playing the jingoist drum, but be accepted as doing the right thing in taking even the most extreme measures.”

Prelude to The Falklands War, March 31st 1982

Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse is ordered to make covert preparations for a military reaction if there is an invasion.

The defence attaché in Buenos Aires reports that all the Argentine fleet is now at sea.

After articles appear in the British press, publishing the departure of the nuclear submarines, Dr. Mendez is widely quoted as saying that; “Argentina would not give way to threats of force ..” that the workers at Leith are; “.. Argentine workers working on Argentine soil.”

Intelligence suggests that April 2nd is the day of 'action' and that a marine infantry brigade is being prepared for an invasion. There is evidence of an unusual level of co-operation between the three Argentine military services.

GCHQ Cheltenham reports Argentine radio traffic ordering the submarine, Sante Fe, to take reconnaissance troops to Mullet Creek, near Stanley.

Prime Minister Thatcher speaks to President Reagan on the 'hot-line' requesting his immediate intervention with General Galtieri.

Admiral Sir Henry Leach advises Margaret Thatcher that Britain could, and should, send a task force if any of the Islands are invaded; ”Because if we do not, or if we pussyfoot in our actions and do not achieve complete success, in another few months we shall be living in a different country whose word counts for little.”

Governor Hunt, informed of the probability of an invasion, reviews his options. At his immediate disposal are the marines of NP 8901, their replacements, 11 Royal Navy personnel onshore from HMS Endurance and one Islanders who was an ex-Royal Marine and who promptly re-enlisted: a total of 69. Of the Falklands Defence Force, 21 men report for duty.

“Major Gary R H Noot, the outgoing commanding officer, and his replacement, major Mike J Norman, were halfway through the administrative handover when the first hints of the impending invasion were received. The handover meant that the defending force was about twice what might otherwise have been expected, ...”