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The Falkland War

The Falkland War. By Ryan "Fitz" Green Jon Zurinskas Andrew Montgomery Tara Taggart . What Are The Falklands?. Also known as the Malvinas Islands Almost 300 miles from Argentine mainland Capital: Stanley Two main islands West and East Falkland Hundreds of small islands

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The Falkland War

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  1. The Falkland War By Ryan "Fitz" Green Jon Zurinskas Andrew Montgomery Tara Taggart

  2. What Are The Falklands? • Also known as the Malvinas Islands • Almost 300 miles from Argentine mainland • Capital: Stanley • Two main islands • West and East Falkland • Hundreds of small islands • Population: 3,140

  3. Background to the Falklands • Colonial period • Claims by Britain, Spain and France • Post-Colonial period • Napoleonic Wars liberated Argentina • Argentina made claims, settlers expelled by British 1833

  4. The Cold War • British power on the decline • Decolonization is gaining momentum • However, British still believe in self-determination • Population clearly in favor of staying British possession • Argentine government tries coercive diplomacy 1976 • Fails, government becomes impatient

  5. The Junta’s Decision • New leaders come to forefront of the Junta • General Leopoldo Galtieri • Admiral Jorge Anaya • Brigadier Basilio Lami Dozo • Possible causes of the war • Popular domestic unrest • Misperceptions of motivations • Growth of Argentine military • Decline of British power

  6. The War Begins • Argentine troops set up flag on South Georgia • Seen as first event of Falklands war • Argentina invades the Islands • April 2, 1982 • Formal Declaration of War about a month later

  7. Argentina Invasion of the Falklands • April 2nd 1982 Argentina launches an amphibious landing on the Falkland Island • Argentine Marines quickly seized the capital of the Falklands, Port Stanley. • The small garrison of marines were largely outnumbered, and forced to surrender to Argentine forces. • The following day the island of South Georgia was invaded. • After a brief firefight, the small presence of Royal marines were forced to surrender to Argentine forces

  8. British Response • Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher ordered the assembly of naval task force to retake the island. In mid April Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse began moving south • On April 25th British forces recaptured South Georgia Island after sinking a Argentine Submarine. • Shortly after RAF bombers began bombing Argentine controlled airfields and radar towers. • May 2nd, HMS Conqueror sank ARA Belgrano, killing 323 and capturing over 700 seamen • May 4th A successful missile strike claimed HMS Sheffield killing 20 crew members

  9. Securing a Beachhead • May 21st British Amphibious Task group mounted operation Sutton, this led to the British securing a beachhead at Port San Carlos to conduct offensive operations. • On the same day HMS Ardent was sunk followed by HMS Antelope on the 24th and HMS Coventry on the 25th.

  10. Battle of Goose Green and Mount Kent • 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 Commando’s and SAS were moved onto Mount Kent. They met resistance from Argentine Commando’s. • On May 31st after waging an intense hit and run battle British forces defeated the Argentine Commando’s at the Battle of Top Malo House.

  11. Bluff Cove • June 1st 5000 British troops arrived to attack Port Stanley • British ships were attacked and badly damaged by Argentine bombers. • BBC television recorded this happening, which were seen around the world.

  12. The Fall of Stanley • June 11 1982 – British launch as brigade sized attack against high grounds surrounding Stanley. • The battles of Mount Harriet, Two Sisters and Mount Longdon resulted, followed by the Battle of Wireless Ridge and Mount Tumbledown

  13. Surrender of the Falklands • British Victory at Mount Tumbledown, last line of natural defense. • Argentine forces in Stanley became worried. • June 14th General Menendez surrendered to MG Jeremy Moore • June 20th British retook S. Sandwich Islands and declared an end to hostilities

  14. Casualties of Falkland War ArgentinesNavy - 392 (323 in ARA Belgrano, rest most marines)Army - 179 (11 officers, 30 sc, 138 conscripts)Air Force - 55 (36 pilots)Gendarmeria (border guard) - 7Prefectura (coast guard) - 2Total 635 Total wounded - 1068 • BritishBritish Army - 122Royal Navy - 87Royal Marines - 26Merchant Navy - 9Royal Fleet Auxiliary - 7Falkland Islanders - 3Royal Air Force - 1Total 255 Total wounded - 777

  15. U.S. Involvement • U.S. Treaty Obligations • NATO • Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance • Debate • Mediation • Secretary of State, Alexander Haig

  16. NATO Contributions • Intelligence Information • Military equipment • U.S. Secretary of Defense, Caspar Weinberger

  17. Ascension Island • Built by U.S. task force during World War II • Re-opened in 1957 • Used as staging base for RAF during Falklands War

  18. Results • Reagan and Weinberger both awarded Knight Commander of British Empire • September 2001-Vicente Fox

  19. End of the War • June 14, 1982- Commander agrees to cease fire and 9,800 argentine troops dropped their weapons • British Major Jeremy Moore flew into Port Stanley to meet with General Menendez • Menendez is allowed to strike “unconditional” from surrender document • His surrender would be with “dignity and honor” according to British podcasts • General Moore does not allow him to insert the Argentina propaganda “Las Malvinas” after “Falklands” • Document was formally signed and the war is over.

  20. 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.

  21. 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 • Defeat severely discredited the military government and forced the resignation of Leopoldo Galtieri • This paved the way for restoration of democracy in Argentina • Elections were held in October 1983 • Falkland war is made a public holiday in Argetina called: “Dia del Veterano de Guerra y los Caidos en Malvinas”

  22. Military Analysis • Naval battle after WWII proved vulnerability of surface-ships to anti-ship 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 Aircraft- can operate from forward bases with no runways

  23. Britain’s Tactical Errors • British Ministry of Defense had been accused of failing to prepare service personnel for war and for care afterwards • Ignored issue of PTSD • More veterans have committed suicide since the Falkland War ended than the number of troops killed in action

  24. Argentina’s Tactical errors • Britain had spread disinformation that their hunter-killer subs were deployed in number and this failed to be true, but the Argentinians believed the reports • The army did not use their troops effectively, majority stayed near Port Stanley

  25. Political Analysis • War illustrates role of political miscalculation and miscommunication • Both sides underestimated the importance of the Falklands to the other • Since the UK is an integral U.S. ally and important part of NATO, to permit a loss would have been a signal to the USSR that the NATO alliance was militarily and politically weak. • Victory was not over-looked by USSR and they increased troop levels facing the British Army of the Rhine

  26. Falkland Islands Today • Economic prosperity and modernization through establishment of fisheries regime • Offshore oil exploration, onshore mineral prospects are ongoing processes • Tourism is expanding quickly, especially from expedition ships • an international airport, an all-purpose jetty, the creation of a development corporation and more have all been accomplished • Now an overseas territory of the UK and a member of the Commonwealth family

  27. 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.?

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