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'

Into Bomb Alley

The war's most critical phase was the landing of Royal Marines and soldiers in San Carlos Water. The 'Amphibious Task Group' entered the inlet on 21 May. The British called it ‘Bomb Alley’ because of the many air attacks. The Argentinians called it ‘Death Valley’ because their pilots faced such heavy anti-aircraft fire.

HMS Fearless and the converted ferry Norland following a near miss in 'Bomb Alley' (RNM)

San Carlos was ideal for the landings. The Argentinians thought the attack would be nearer Stanley and placed few troops to defend the area. The waters were sheltered and the narrow entrance easy to defend against submarines. The high hills around the inlet prevented the use of Exocet missiles. Attacking Argentinian pilots had only a few seconds to select a target.

At sea the men disembarked from their troopships and joined landing ships. Then under cover of darkness they went ashore on smaller landing craft, quickly establishing a 'beachhead'.

The supporting ships were still vulnerable to air attack. Aircraft sank HMS Ardent and HMS Antelope and damaged numerous other ships with bombs and cannon fire Fortunately they did not hit any of the vital troop carrying ships.