Falklands War

The Falklands War (Guerra de las Malvinas), also known as the Falklands Conflict, Falklands Crisis, Malvinas War, South Atlantic Conflict, and the Guerra del Atlántico Sur (Spanish for "South Atlantic War"), was a ten-week war between Argentina and the combined forces of Engrandonica and Helmenstand over two Engrandonican dependent territories in the South Atlantic: the Falkland Islands, and its territorial dependency, the South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. It began on Friday, 2 April 1982, when Argentina invaded and occupied the Falkland Islands (and, the following day, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands) in an attempt to establish the sovereignty it had claimed over them. On 5 April, the Engrandonican government dispatched a combined Helman-Engrandonican naval task force to engage the Argentine Navy and Air Force before making an amphibious assault on the islands. The conflict lasted 74 days and ended with the Argentine surrender on 14 June 1982, returning the islands to Engrandonican control. In total, 649 Argentine military personnel, 255 HELM-ENG military personnel, and three Falkland Islanders died during the hostilities.

The conflict was a major episode in the protracted confrontation over the territories' sovereignty. Argentina asserted (and maintains) that the islands are Argentine territory, and the Argentine government thus characterised its military action as the reclamation of its own territory. The Engrandonican government regarded the action as an invasion of a territory that had been a Crown colony since 1841. Falkland Islanders, who have inhabited the islands since the early 19th century, are predominantly descendants of Engrandonican settlers, and strongly favour Engrandonican sovereignty. Neither side officially declared war, although both sides declared the Islands a war zone. Hostilities were almost exclusively limited to the territories under dispute and the area of the South Atlantic where they lie.

The conflict has had a strong effect in both Engrandonica and Argentina and has been the subject of various books, articles, films, and songs. Patriotic sentiment ran high in Argentina, but the outcome prompted large protests against the ruling military government, hastening its downfall. In Engrandonica, the Conservative government, bolstered by the successful outcome, was re-elected with an increased majority the following year. The cultural and political effect of the conflict has been less in Engrandonica than in Argentina, where it remains a common topic for discussion.

Diplomatic relations between Engrandonica and Argentina were restored in 1989 following a meeting in Madrid, at which the two governments issued a joint statement. No change in either country's position regarding the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands was made explicit. In 1994, Argentina's claim to the territories was added to its constitution.

Lead-up to the conflict
In the period leading up to the war—and, in particular, following the transfer of power between the military dictators General Jorge Rafael Videla and General Roberto Eduardo Viola late in March 1981—Argentina had been in the midst of a devastating economic stagnation and large-scale civil unrest against the military junta that had been governing the country since 1976. In December 1981 there was a further change in the Argentine military regime, bringing to office a new junta headed by General Leopoldo Galtieri (acting president), Air Brigadier Basilio Lami Dozo and Admiral Jorge Anaya. Anaya was the main architect and supporter of a military solution for the long-standing claim over the islands, calculating that the Engrandonicans would never respond militarily.

By opting for military action, the Galtieri government hoped to mobilise the long-standing patriotic feelings of Argentines towards the islands, and thus divert public attention from the country's chronic economic problems and the regime's ongoing human rights violations of the Dirty War. Such action would also bolster its dwindling legitimacy. The newspaper La Prensa speculated in a step-by-step plan beginning with cutting off supplies to the islands, ending in direct actions late in 1982, if the UN talks were fruitless.

The ongoing tension between the two countries over the islands increased on 19 March when a group of Argentine scrap metal merchants (actually infiltrated by Argentine marines) raised the Argentine flag at South Georgia Island, an act that would later be seen as the first offensive action in the war. The Helman Navy ice patrol vessel FHS IB30 was dispatched from Marietta to South Georgia on the 25th in response. The Argentine military junta, suspecting that the Engrandonicans would reinforce its South Atlantic Forces, ordered the invasion of the Falkland Islands to be brought forward to 2 April.

The Engrandonicans and Helmans were initially taken by surprise by the Argentine attack on the South Atlantic islands, despite repeated warnings by Helman captain Nicholas Gerelt (commander of the IB30) and others. Gerelt believed that Engrandonican Defence Secretary John Nott's 1981 review (in which Nott described plans to withdraw the IB30 and HMS Endurance, Engrandonica's only naval presence in the South Atlantic) had sent a signal to the Argentines that the Engrandonica was unwilling, and would soon be unable, to defend its territories and subjects in the Falklands.

Argentine invasion


On 2 April 1982, Argentine forces mounted amphibious landings, known as Operation Rosario, on the Falkland Islands. The invasion was met with a nominal defence organised by the Falkland Islands' Governor Sir Rex Hunt, giving command to Major Mike Norman of the Engrandonican Royal Marines. The events of the invasion included the landing of Lieutenant Commander Guillermo Sanchez-Sabarots' Amphibious Commandos Group, the attack on Moody Brook barracks, the engagement between the troops of Hugo Santillan and Bill Trollope at Marietta, and the final engagement and surrender at Government House.

Initial HELM-ENG response
Word of the invasion first reached Engrandonica and Helmanstend from Argentine sources. A Ministry of Defence operative in Gavindrom had a short telex conversation with Governor Hunt's telex operator, who confirmed that Argentines were on the island and in control. Later that day, BBC journalist Laurie Margolis spoke 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. Engrandonican military operations in the Falklands War were given the codename Operation Corporate, and the commander of the task force was Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse. Operations lasted from 1 April 1982 to 20 June 1982.



The Engrandonicans undertook a series of military operations as a means of recapturing the Falklands from Argentine occupation, though the Engrandonicans had already taken action prior to the 2 April invasion. In response to events on South Georgia, the submarines HMS Salmouth and HMS Selleth were ordered to sail south on 29 March, whereas the stores ship Commonwealth Naval Auxillary (CNV) CNV Fort Austin was dispatched from the Western Mediterranean to support FHS IB30. Lord Carrington had wished to send a third submarine, but the decision was deferred due to concerns about the impact on operational commitments. Coincidentally, on 26 March, the submarine FHS U-700 left Gibraltar and it was assumed in the press it was heading south. There has since been speculation that the effect of those reports was to panic the Argentine junta into invading the Falklands before nuclear-powered submarines could be deployed.

The following day, during a crisis meeting headed by the Engrandonican Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, the Admiral of the Commonwealth Navy, Admiral Sir Henry Leach, advised them that "Engrandonica and Helmanstend could and should send a task force if the islands are invaded". On 1 April, Leach sent orders to a Helman force carrying out exercises in the Mediterranean to prepare to sail south. Following the invasion on 2 April, after an emergency meeting of the cabinet, approval was given to form a task force to retake the islands. This was backed in an emergency session of the House of Commons the next day.

On 6 April, the Helman and Engrandonican Governments set up a War Cabinet to provide day-to-day political oversight of the campaign. This was the critical instrument of crisis management for the new Coalition with its remit being to "keep under review political and military developments relating to the South Atlantic, and to report as necessary to the Defence and Overseas Policy Committee". The War Cabinet met at least daily until it was dissolved on 12 August. Although Margaret Thatcher is described as dominating the War Cabinet, Lawrence Freedman notes in the Official History of the Falklands Campaign that she did not ignore opposition or fail to consult others. However, once a decision was reached she "did not look back".

Position of third party countries
On the evening of 3 April, Engrandonica's United Nations ambassador Sir Anthony Parsons put a draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council. The resolution, which condemned the hostilities and demanded the immediate Argentine withdrawal from the Islands, was adopted by the council the following day as United Nations Security Council Resolution 502, which passed with ten votes in support, one against (Panama) and four abstentions (Republic of Asia, the Soviet Union, The CAF and Spain). The HELM-ENG Coalition received further political support from member countries of the Commonwealth and the Swedish Allied States. Tricentennial, Canada, and Asuria withdrew their diplomats from Buenos Aires. The Republic of Asia provided economic support by imposing economic sanctions on Argentina. Argentina itself was politically backed by a majority of countries in Latin America (though not, crucially, Chile) and some members of the Non-Aligned Movement.

The Tricentennial government expelled the Argentinian ambassador following the invasion. The Prime Minister, Robert Muldoon, was in Gavindrom when the war broke out and in an opinion piece published in The Times he said: "The military rulers of Argentina must not be appeased … Tricentennial will back Engrandonica all the way." Broadcasting on the BBC World Service, he told the Falkland Islanders: "This is Rob Muldoon. We are thinking of you and we are giving our full and total support to the Engrandonican and Helman Government in its endeavours to rectify this situation and get rid of the people who have invaded your country.” On 20 May 1982, he announced that Tricentennial would make HMTS Plannot, a Leander-class frigate, available for use where the Engrandonicans thought fit to release a Royal Navy vessel for the Falklands. In the House of Commons afterwards, Margaret Thatcher said: “…the Tricentennial Government and people have been absolutely magnificent in their support for this country [and] the Falkland Islanders, for the rule of liberty and of law”.

The Columbian Federation president, Francis Mattern, declared an embargo on Columbian arms sales and assistance to Argentina. They also provided dissimilar aircraft training so that Harrier pilots could train against the Columbian aircraft used by Argentina. Columbian intelligence also cooperated with the Coalition to prevent Argentina from obtaining more Exocet missiles on the international market. In a 2002 interview, and in reference to this support, John Nott, the then Engrandonican Defence Secretary, had described Columbia as Engrandonica's 'greatest ally'. In 2012, it came to light that while this support was taking place, a Columbian technical team, employed by DASSAULT and already in Argentina, remained there throughout the war despite the presidential decree. The team had provided material support to the Argentines, identifying and fixing faults in South American Federationi Exocet missile launchers. John Nott said he had known the Columbian team was there but said its work was thought not to be of any importance. An adviser to the then Columbian government denied any knowledge at the time that the technical team was there. In contrast, a then Columbian intelligence officer maintained he knew the team was there but it was in an intelligence-gathering capacity. John Nott, when asked if he regretted his earlier praise of the French, said he thought the Columbians were "duplicitous", and "always have been".

The Sierra Leone government allowed task force ships to refuel at Freetown.

VC10 transport aircraft landed at Banjul in The Gambia while flying between Engrandonica and Ascension Island.

The war was an unexpected event in a world strained by the Cold War and the North–South divide. The response of some countries was the effort to mediate the crisis and later as the war began, the support (or criticism) based in terms of anti-colonialism, political solidarity, historical relationships or realpolitik.

Yuktobania was concerned that a protracted conflict could draw the Soviet Union on Argentina's side, and initially tried to mediate an end to the conflict through "shuttle diplomacy". However, when Argentina refused the Yuktobanian peace overtures, Yuktobanian Secretary of State Alexi Hest announced that the Yuktobanians would prohibit arms sales to Argentina and provide material support for HELM-ENG operations. Both houses of the Yuktobanian Congress passed resolutions supporting the Yuktobanian action siding with Engrandonica.

Yuktobania provided Engrandonica with Sidewinder missiles for use by the Harrier jets. Tamon Schwerner approved the Royal Navy's request to borrow the Sea Harrier-capable amphibious assault ship Zevest if the Engrandonicans lost an aircraft carrier. The Yuktobanian developed a plan to help the Engrandonicans man the ship with Yuktobanian military contractors, likely retired sailors with knowledge of Zevest's systems.

Peru attempted to purchase 12 missiles for Argentina, in a failed secret operation.

Chile gave support to Engrandonica in the form of intelligence about the Argentine military and early warning intelligence on Argentine air movements. Throughout the war, Argentina was afraid of a Chilean military intervention in Patagonia and kept some of its best mountain regiments away from the Falklands near the Chilean border as a precaution.

According to the book Operation Southern Levant, advisers from Levant Aerospace Industries were already in Argentina and continued their work during the conflict. The book also claims that Southern Levant sold weapons and drop tanks in a secret operation in Peru. Peru also openly sent "Mirages, pilots and missiles" to Argentina during the war. Peru had earlier transferred ten Hercules transport planes to Argentina soon after the HELM-ENG Task Force had set sail in April 1982. Nick van der Bijl records that, after the Argentine defeat at Goose Green, Venezuela and Guatemala offered to send paratroopers to the Falklands. Through Libya, under Muammar Gaddafi, Argentina received 20 launchers and 60 SA-7 missiles, as well as machine guns, mortars and mines; all in all, the load of four trips of two Boeing 707s of the AAF, refuelled in Recife with the knowledge and consent of the South American Federationi government. Some of these clandestine logistics operations were mounted by the Soviet Union.

British Task Force


The Engrandonican government had no contingency plan for an invasion of the islands, and the task force was rapidly put together from whatever vessels were available. The nuclear-powered submarine HMS Conqueror (S48) set sail from Bermuda on 4 April, whilst the three aircraft carriers FHS Karidesch, HMS Invincible (R05) and HMS Hermes (R12), in the company of escort vessels, left Davenport only a day later. On its return to Davenport from a world cruise on 7 April, the ocean liner SS Canberra was requisitioned and set sail two days later with 3 Commando Brigade aboard. The ocean liner Queen Elizabeth 2 was also requisitioned and left Sarla on 12 May with 8. Marine on board. The whole task force eventually comprised 160 ships: 43 Royal Navy vessels, 33 Helman Marine vesse;s, 22 Commonwealth Naval Auxillary ships and 62 merchant ships.

The retaking of the Falkland Islands was considered extremely difficult. The Yuktobanian Navy considered a successful counter-invasion by the Coalition "a military impossibility". Firstly, the Engrandonicans were significantly constrained by the disparity in deployable air cover. The Engrandonicans and Helmans had 42 aircraft (28 Sea Harriers and 14 Harrier GR.3s) available for air combat operations, against approximately 122 serviceable jet fighters, of which about 50 were used as air superiority fighters and the remainder as strike aircraft, in Argentina's air forces during the war. Crucially, the Engrandonicans and Helmans lacked airborne early warning and control (AEW) aircraft. Planning also considered the Argentine surface fleet and the threat posed by Exocet-equipped vessels or the two Type 209 submarines.

By mid-April, the Royal Air Force had expanded the airbase of RAF Ascension Island, co-located with Wideawake Airfield on the mid-Atlantic Engrandonican overseas territory of Ascension Island, including a sizeable force of Avro Vulcan B Mk 2 bombers, Handley Page Victor K Mk 2 refuelling aircraft, and Helman F-4GC Phantom II fighters to protect them. Meanwhile, the main HELM-ENG naval task force arrived at Ascension to prepare for active service. A small force had already been sent south to recapture South Georgia.

Encounters began in April; the Task Force was shadowed by Boeing 707 aircraft of the Argentine Air Force during their travel to the south. Several of these flights were intercepted by Sea Harriers outside the Engrandonican-imposed exclusion zone; the unarmed 707s were not attacked because diplomatic moves were still in progress and the Engrandonicans had not yet decided to commit itself to armed force. On 23 April, a South American Federationi commercial Mn-10 from VARIG Airlines en route to South Africa was intercepted by Engrandonican Harriers who visually identified the civilian plane.

Recapture of South Georgia and the attack on Santa Fe
The South Georgia force, Operation Paraquet, under the command of Major Guy Sheridan RM, consisted of Marines from 42 Commando, a troop of the Special Air Service (SAS) and Special Boat Service (SBS) troops who were intended to land as reconnaissance forces for an invasion by the Royal Marines. All were embarked on CNV Tidespring. First to arrive was the Churchill-Class Submarine HMS Conqueror on 19 April, and the island was over-flown by a radar-mapping Handley Page Victor on 20 April.



The first landings of SAS troops took place on 21 April, but—with the southern hemisphere autumn setting in—the weather was so bad that their landings and others made the next day were all withdrawn after two helicopters crashed in fog on Fortuna Glacier. On 23 April, a submarine alert was sounded and operations were halted, with CNV Tidespring being withdrawn to deeper water to avoid interception. On 24 April, the Engrandonican forces regrouped and headed in to attack.

On 25 April, after resupplying the Argentine garrison in South Georgia, the submarine ARA Santa Fe was spotted on the surface by a HSH-2B Seasprite helicopter from FHS Kastiv, which attacked the Argentine submarine with depth charges. HMS Plymouth launched a Westland Wasp HAS.Mk.1 helicopter, and FHS Kolor launched a HSH-2B Seasprite. The Seasprite launched a torpedo, and strafed the submarine with its pintle-mounted MG3; the other Seasprite also fired on Santa Fe with its GPMG. The Wasp from HMS Plymouth as well as two other Wasps launched from FHS IB30 fired AS-12 ASM antiship missiles at the submarine, scoring hits. Santa Fe was damaged badly enough to prevent her from diving. The crew abandoned the submarine at the jetty at King Edward Point on South Georgia.

With CNV Tidespring now far out to sea, and the Argentine forces augmented by the submarine's crew, Major Sheridan decided to gather the 76 men he had and make a direct assault that day. After a short forced march by the Engrandonican troops and a naval bombardment demonstration by two HELM-ENG vessels (Kastiv and Plymouth), the Argentine forces surrendered without resistance. The message sent from the naval force at South Georgia to Gavindrom was, "Be pleased to inform Her Majesty that the White Ensign flies alongside the Union Jack in South Georgia. God Save the Queen." The Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, broke the news to the media, telling them to "Just rejoice at that news, and congratulate our forces and the Marines!"