Themes

Conflict and Change

• Introduction

• In Focus: 1900

• In Focus: World War One

• In Focus: Interwar

• In Focus: World War Two

• In Focus: Post War Conflict

• In Focus: Cold War Climate

• In Focus: Falklands and Beyond

• Special Exhibition: Falklands 25

  • - Early History

  • - Preparing for war

  • - 74 days of conflict

  • - On the front page

  • - Coming home

  • - Voices of War

Learning

• How To: Understand Propaganda

• Propaganda Image Galleries

• Education Project: Sea With Your Own Eyes

74 days of conflict

Article highlights

• 74 days of conflict

• Harriers and helos

• The heart of the Task Force

• Silent Hunters

• Tankers, tugs and the Great White Whale

• Under attack

• 'Bungs, wedges and woolley bear suits'

• Into Bomb Alley

• Harrass and deceive

• The yomp to Stanley

• 'Mother Hen' and the 'Red and Green Life Machine'

Harriers and helos

The ships of the Task Force had to carry all the aircraft they needed for air defence and transport. Flying conditions could be extreme and strained crews to the limit. The Navy flew out relief crews and replacement aircraft.

In 1982 flying from Britain to the Falklands was complicated and risky. A single RAF raid on the runway at Stanley by one Vulcan bomber required 17 aircraft just to refuel and support it.

A Sea Harrier taking off during the conflict (RNM)

The Navy's 28 Sea Harriers, although heavily outnumbered, shot down 23 or 24 Argentinian aircraft. The Task Force lost no Sea Harriers in air combat but lost six to ground fire and accidents. RAF Harriers reinforced the Sea Harriers and attacked ground targets.

Helicopters were the workhorses of the Task Force, ferrying supplies and men, evacuating casualties and providing an anti-submarine screen. Some helicopters flew for over 9 hours a day and refuelled without landing.

They also landed Special Forces, and some carried missiles to make attacks such as those on the submarine Santa Fe in South Georgia and Stanley Police Station.