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The Falklands War
By Lt Col P
On 2 April, 1982, the armed forces of Argentina invaded and seized the Falkland Islands, compelling the surrender of its British governor and small garrison. Thus began a short, sharp, decisive little war that few saw coming and many did not believe would happen even as it was happening. Yet it ended as abruptly (and decisively) as it began, and as with all mlitary history, offers us some important lessons.
I was in the 9th grade at the time, and was even then a keen student of military history. I remember some of the editorial cartoons published right after the Argentine invasion-- puns on "The Empire Strikes Back!" and another showing a gaucho on horseback, perched on the edge of an island, grinning at a figure in pith helmet and monocle rowing a patched rubber boat away from the shore. "I'll be back," says the figure in the boat, "And when I do, you're in for a bloody thrashing!"
That was all pretty funny, but also very prophetic. The empire did strike back; it was bloody on both sides, and Argentina did indeed get a thrashing. More importantly, the resolve and military capability displayed by Great Britain and her iron-willed Prime Minister, gave a critical boost to the NATO alliance and showed the Soviets that a Western power could and would fight to the finish, and could project power across the globe.
We at Op-For will be examining the Falklands War over the next few weeks, and presenting analysis of some of the more important actions. I suggest referring to this site, Honour Regained, for an excellent series of articles and photographs.
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Comments
I suggest that if Argentina had any smarts that they would invade again. Britain does not have a leader with enough spine to do Maggie did.
yup, I think it'd be very....very difficult for the Brits to pull off a similiar operation today.
The Royal Navy, the flotilla that once made the world tremble, can barely be called "blue water" these days.
Shame.
I applaud the effort, and I'm looking forward to more in the series. Later in the month I'll be writing a bit about General Belgrano and HMS Sheffield. But, you can't seriously mean this, can you?
"More importantly, the resolve and military capability displayed by Great Britain and her iron-willed Prime Minister, gave a critical boost to the NATO alliance and showed the Soviets that a Western power could and would fight to the finish, and could project power across the globe."
So, you're arguing that a war that the United State failed to manage between two of its own allies (and, indeed, that was met with considerable diplomatic dithering in Washington) was a net positive for the NATO alliance and the West in general? You would have me believe that the Falklands War left the Russians quaking in their boots rather than chuckling that two American client states had gone to war over a fairly trivial manner? Do you have any evidence for this claim?
And mustang, the "west was fighting back" comment is kind of curious; Argentina was a Western, staunchly anti-communist state, and ally of the United States at the time... Which is not to say that we ought to have supported Argentina (the British claims were more compelling, and Britain a more important ally), but the war was clearly an intra-West conflict.
Rob:
I think you're confused; "west" in jingoistic lingo means "white, English-speaking."
"East" clearly refers to those darker-hued folks that we can't understand.
I doubt it would matter if the British could put together another naval task force like in 1982. Back then, the Argentine invaders had to overcome about 40 Royal Marines. Unlike then, today there's a UK military base, a 500-man garrison, and a lot of supporting naval and air assets on hand.
The Argentines, on the other hand, have pretty much the same military and equipment as they did in '82. They'd never pull off an opposed amphibious assault. It would be a slaughter.
ROB,
I think you are forgetting what was going on then and now. The British did not care that Argentina was a anti-communist country, they invaded a British teritorry and they put their foot down and reacted. Unlike today where even the USA has to ask for permision to defend its self when attacked. Such as a embassy getting bombed or a warship bombed in a nuetral port! And now the Brits have troops captured!
And to you Jadegold, it is apparant you dont have a leg to stand on in this debat when you inject race into this.
The Argintines are caucasian!
aw just ignore Jade, mustang. He's harmless.
And kind of an idiot.
But a harmless idiot. Like the dude from Of Mice and Men.
Well, the British tried for quite a while to defuse the conflict, but yes, they did respond when attacked. But my question to you was what this had to do with "the west fighting back"; Argentina was, by any definition, part of the West. Was the "west also launching land grabs"?
2 Para's Battle for Darwin Hill and Goose Green by David J Kenney isbn 0966071719 Oak Square Press 2005. The real story! The good! The bad and the Ugly!
2 Para's Battle for Darwin Hill was exhaustively researched. But, new or contradictary data would be welcomed. There will be a second edition. That edition will contain the story of Sheridan's retaking of Leith etc. and will expand upon the article in Honor Regained. Again any comments are welcome. Thanks. David J. Kenney
Try reading my book, "2 Para's Battle for Darwin Hill and Goose Green" by David J Kenney Oak Square Press. 2006. A lot there that the British press declined to touch. DJK.
im looking for an argentine person that was involved in the war for an interview via email for a state history fair project
any help would be appreciated
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In 25 years Great Briton has been reduced to a pleading, weak kneed country. Will the British people wake the hell up now? Or has political correctness destroyed them like it is destroying us?
I remember being stationed at Carswell AFB TX at the time of the Falklands war and how our morale shot up, cause the west was fighting back!