APRIL 1982

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1st April Thursday

2nd April Friday
  • Argentina invades the Falkland Islands.
  • 3 Commando Brigade put on alert.
  • UN Security Council adopts Resolution 502 ordering Argentina to withdraw.

    3rd April Saturday
  • RN ships on Exercise SPRINGTRAIN under command of Rear Admiral Woodward ordered south from Gibraltar.
  • Emergency session of the House of Commons.
  • More...   

    4th April Sunday
  • United Nations condemns invasion.
  • South Georgia captured by Argentine forces.
  • 3 Commando Brigade reinforced by 3 PARA and other Army units.
  • More...   

    5th April Monday
  • Lord Carrington resigns as Foreign Secretary.
  • HM Ships Hermes and Invincible depart Portsmouth.
  • HMSs Alacrity and Antelope, and RFAs Olmeda, Pearleaf and Resource make unannounced departures from other ports.
  • First Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft arrive on Ascension Island.
  • More...   

    6th April Tuesday
  • Francis Pym appointed Foreign Secretary.
  • US Secretary of State, Alexander Haig, begins peace shuttle.
  • HMS Fearless departs Portsmouth.
  • More...   

    7th April Wednesday
  • Britain declares 200 mile exclusion zone around Falkland Islands.
  • Canberra arrives at Southampton for conversion and to embark stores and troops.

    8th April Thursday
  • HM Ships Broadsword and Yarmouth depart Gibraltar.

    9th April Friday
  • Canberra, with 40 and 42 Commando RM, and 3 PARA embarked, and Elk, with 2000 tons of ammunition, depart Southampton.

    10th April Saturday
  • EEC bans imports from Argentina in support of Britain.
  • Antrim Group arrives off Ascension.

    11th April Sunday
  • Antrim Group departs Ascension with M Coy 42 Commando embarked.

    12th April Monday


    13th April Tuesday


    14th April Wednesday
  • Intelligence assessment puts Argentine strength on Falklands at 7,000 men.
  • Brilliant Group leaves Ascension.
  • Rear Admiral Woodward leaves Ascension in HMS Glamorgan, with HM Ships Alacrity, Broadsword and Yarmouth.
  • HMS Endurance joins Antrim Group and heads for South Georgia.

    15th April Thursday


    16th April Friday
  • Main Task Force departs Ascension.
  • HMS Hermes arrives Ascension.
  • Admiral Woodward flies to HMS Fearless for talks with Commodore Clapp and Brigadier Thompson.
  • Wideawake airfield on Ascension busiest in world that day.

    17th April Saturday
  • C-in-C Fleet, Admiral Fieldhouse, and Major General Moore fly to Ascension to brief Admiral Woodward, Commodore Clapp and Brigadier Thompson.

    18th April Sunday
  • Hermes Group leaves Ascension.
  • Six RAF Victor tanker aircraft arrive Ascension.

    19th April Monday
  • Newly-converted HM Hospital Ship Uganda departs Gibraltar.

    20th April Tuesday
  • Canberra arrives Ascension.

    21st April Wednesday
  • Antrim Group arrives off South Georgia and begins reconnaissance.

    22nd April Thursday
  • Two Wessex helicopters recovering special forces lost during abortive landing on South Georgia glacier. All rescued under atrocious weather conditions by HMS Antrim's Wessex.

    23rd April Friday
  • A Sea King helicopter from HMS Hermes crashes into the sea after dark.
    Killed in Action: PO K S Casey

    24th April Saturday
  • Atlantic Conveyor completes fitting of helicopter decks at Devonport.
  • HMS Brilliant joins Antrim Group off South Georgia.

    25th April Sunday
  • Argentine submarine Santa Fe damaged by helicopter attacks off South Georgia.
  • RM and SAS assault on Grytviken; South Georgia recaptured.
  • HMS Intrepid, Atlantic Conveyor and Europic Ferry depart for the South Atlantic.

    26th April Monday


    27th April Tuesday
  • Norland, with 2 PARA embarked, and RFA Sir Bedivere sail from UK.

    28th April Wednesday
  • Antrim Group departs South Georgia leaving HMS Endurance on patrol.

    29th April Thursday
  • Major General Moore flies to Ascension to brief Commodore Clapp and Brigadier Thompson.
  • HM Hospital Ship Uganda leaves Ascension.

    30th April Friday

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