Falklands War: 40 years on In 1982 Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands, having long claimed sovereignty over the territory. Britain saw it as an invasion of a British dependency and recaptured the islands within 74 days --------------------------------------------------------- Apr 2, 1982: Argentine troops invade Falkland Islands on orders of head of military junta, General Leopoldo Galtieri Apr 3: Argentine troops seize island of South Georgia Apr 5: British naval task force sets sail with 65 ships and 15,000 personnel Apr 12: Britain declares 200-mile exclusion zone around Falkland Islands Apr 22: British warships, including aircraft carriers Hermes and Invincible, reach Falkland waters Apr 25: Small British force retakes South Georgia. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher calls on Britain to “rejoice” Apr 26: President Ronald Reagan declares U.S. support for Britain May 1: British Vulcan bombers attack Stanley airport after 4,000-mile flight from Ascension Island May 3: In most controversial action of war, submarine HMS Conqueror torpedoes Argentine cruiser General Belgrano (right), 30 miles outside war zone. 323 crewmen die. Britain claims hit was made in self- defence May 4: Argentine Exocet missile sinks British destroyer HMS Sheffield (above), killing 22 May 14: SAS raid on Pebble Island destroys 11 enemy aircraft May 20: UN peace talks fail May 21: British troops establish beachhead at San Carlos – HMS Ardent sunk May 23: HMS Antelope bombed, detonating ship’s magazines (left). 22 Argentine aircraft destroyed in three days May 25: HMS Coventry and container ship MV Atlantic Conveyor sunk May 28: British 2nd Parachute Regiment takes Goose Green. 150 Argentine and 18 British troops – including Lt. Colonel “H” Jones – killed in assault Jun 8: Around 200 British soldiers killed or injured as supply ships Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram bombed Jun 11-13: British forces take Mount Longdon and Mount Tumbledown after hand-to-hand fighting Jun 14: Argentine garrison at Port Stanley surrenders Jun 17: Galtieri resigns Jun 20: Hostilities formally cease -------------------------------------------------------- BRITAIN 649 Argentinian and 255 British troops, and three islanders lost their lives Gibraltar Ascension Island ARGENTINA South Georgia Falkland Islands Avro Vulcan Carried out longest bombing mission then on record -------------------------------------------------------- FALKLAND ISLANDS Islas Malvinas Pebble Island Goose Green Super Etendard Exocet missile Mount Longdon San Carlos Port Stanley Mount Tumbledown Falkland Sound 30km 20 miles -------------------------------------------------------- Sources: MoD, Gen. Belgrano Association Pictures: Getty Images, Royal Navy © GRAPHIC NEWS