1/5
(Imperial War Museum) 23rd March 2022
2/5To the people who live there and to Britain they are the Falkland Islands but to their closest neighbour across the sea Argentina and its people, they are las Islas Malvinas. The debate over what to call the islands is a symbol of a much larger dispute which has raged for hundreds of years and continues to this day. On the Argentinian side a claim based on territorial integrity and a perceived historical injustice. And on the British side, a claim based on historical precedent and the right to self-determination.
In April of 1982, that debate became a conflict. One which would take the lives of nearly 1,000 people. But for Argentina, it was never meant to be that way. In fact, when Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands they believed that Britain wouldn't even respond.
In this first episode of our five-part Falklands series IWM Curator Carl Warner looks at why the Falklands Conflict happened. Why did Argentina believe they could take the Falklands without a fight? What was the invasion like? And why did Britain choose to fight for these islands 8,000 miles from home?
(Imperial War Museum) 6th April 2022
3/5On 2nd April 1982 Argentinian Marines occupied Stanley in the Falklands, in Argentina news of the invasion was met with celebrations. To General Leopaldo Galtieri all information seemed to indicate that London would not go to war over these islands. But by the 5th April, a British Task Force was already on its way. It had taken just days to fully load and equip both aircraft carriers, HMS Invincible and HMS Hermes and their escorts. They were on their way south ahead of other ships to enforce the total exclusion zone. But with the Royal Navy more prepared for cutbacks and the Cold War than a conflict 8,000 miles away, what kind of force had they been able to pull together? In fact, the Argentine Navy would be forced to withdraw just a few weeks after the arrival of the British Task force, following the sinking of the major surface combatant the General Belgrano. The Argentine focus switched to their Air Force - and with this, posed a great threat to the Royal Navy. IWM Curator Alan Jeffreys tells us more about this topic, looks at an Exocet Missile on display at IWM London and some objects that belonged to commander of a naval bomb disposal team, Nigel 'Bernie' Bruen including a scorched alarm bell from RFA Sir Tristram.
(Imperial War Museum) 20th April 2022
Parts 4 & 5 to follow....When the Falklands Conflict began Argentina seemingly had a massive advantage in the skies. They had over 100 aircraft of varying types. Some could operate from the Argentinian mainland and others could operate from airstrips on the Falklands themselves. Meanwhile, the British Task Force initially had only 20 Sea Harriers which could fit on its two aircraft carriers, HMS Hermes and HMS Invincible. It was up to them to protect the Task Force at sea as well as the troops on the ground, but to many that seemed like an impossible task.
In this 3rd episode of our Falklands series IWM Curator Paris Agar examines the conflict in the air. Just how big was the Argentinian advantage? How did each side change their strategy? And how did British pilots beat the odds and take control of the skies? To answer those questions and more Agar takes an in-depth look at the aircraft of the Falklands Conflict including the Vulcan, Pucará, Wessex and Harrier.