Colonial period
Claims by Britain, Spain and France
Post-Colonial period
Napoleonic Wars liberated Argentina
Argentina made claims, settlers expelled by
British 1833
Early on May 27th British forces attacked Darwin and Goose Green
which was occupied by Argentine Infantry forces.
After a grueling two day battle British forces pushed the Argentine
forces back.The result was 961 Argentine forces were captured.
Meanwhile British Commandos and SAS were moved onto Mount Kent.
They met resistance from Argentine Commandos.
British
Argentines
British Army - 122
Navy - 392 (323 in ARA
Royal Navy - 87
Belgrano, rest most marines)
Royal Marines - 26
Army - 179 (11 officers, 30 sc,
Merchant Navy - 9
138 conscripts)
Royal Fleet Auxiliary - 7 Air Force - 55 (36 pilots)
Falkland Islanders - 3
Gendarmeria (border guard) -7
Royal Air Force - 1
Prefectura (coast guard) -2
Total 255
Total 635
Total wounded - 777
Total wounded - 1068
Debate
Mediation
Secretary of State, Alexander Haig
Intelligence Information
Military equipment
U.S. Secretary of Defense, Caspar
Weinberger
War Results
War lasted 72 days and claimed the lives
of 236 British and 655 Argentine Troops
War cost of at least $2 billion
9,800 Argentine troops were made POWS
and were repatriated to Argentina on liner
Canberra
June 25- Governor Rex Hunt returns as
Commissioner of the Falklands at Stanley
British Government decreed all classified
information would be available to public in
2002.
War Results
War helped revive and reelect Margaret
Thatcher
1990, she supplied the backbone to George
Bush and urged him to take military action when
Iraq invaded Kuwait
Military Analysis
Naval battle after WWII proved
vulnerability of surface-ships to antiship missiles
Reaffirmed effectiveness of aircraft in
naval warfare and re-emphasized the
importance of total air supremacy.
Missiles proved lethality so ships used
close-in weapons system (CIWS)
UK decided to build Harrier Aircraftcan operate from forward bases with
Political Analysis
War illustrates role of political
miscalculation and miscommunication
Both sides underestimated the
importance of the Falklands to the other
Questions
What were the causes of the Falkland Wars?
Why did the Argentine general surrender so quickly?
Did the U.S. make the correct choice in supporting the U.K.?