Falklands War facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Falklands War
Top row: Argentine forces at Port Stanley, 2 April 1982; HMS Hermes and HMS Broadsword of the British Task Force Middle row: two Super Étendards of the Argentine Navy; Argentine ARA General Belgrano sinking Bottom row: British HMS Antelope after being hit (she later sank); Argentine Army POWs in Stanley
Date 2 April – 14 June 1982 (1982-04-02 – 1982-06-14) Location Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Result British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom	Argentina
Commanders and leaders
Margaret Thatcher Terence Lewin John Fieldhouse Sandy Woodward Jeremy Moore Julian Thompson Tony Wilson	Leopoldo Galtieri Jorge Anaya Basilio Lami Dozo Juan Lombardo Ernesto Horacio Crespo Mario Menéndez
Casualties and losses
Casualties 255 killed 775 wounded 115 captured Losses 2 destroyers 2 frigates 1 landing ship 1 landing craft 1 container ship 24 helicopters 10 fighters 1 bomber interned	Casualties 649 killed 1,657 wounded 11,313 captured Losses 1 cruiser 1 submarine 4 cargo vessels 2 patrol boats 1 naval trawler 25 helicopters 35 fighters 2 bombers 4 cargo aircraft 25 COIN aircraft 9 armed trainers
3 Falkland Islanders killed by friendly fire

The Falklands War was a short war in 1982 between the United Kingdom and Argentina. It was fought over who owned the Falkland Islands. These islands are about 480 kilometres (300 miles) from Argentina in the southern Atlantic Ocean.

Why the War Started

For a long time, Argentina and the United Kingdom disagreed about who owned the Falkland Islands. Both countries believed the islands belonged to them.

Early Claims to the Islands

In the 1700s, both Britain and Spain had settlements on the islands. This caused some tension between them. Later, Argentina became an independent country from Spain in 1817. Argentina then set up its own settlement on the islands in 1820.

An American warship later destroyed this settlement. After that, the British took control of the islands again in 1833. They kept control for many years.

Argentina Invades the Islands

On April 2, 1982, Argentina invaded and took over the Falkland Islands. The next day, they also took South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. Argentina did this to try and claim the islands as their own.

The British government quickly responded. On April 5, they sent a large group of navy ships, called a task force, to the South Atlantic. Their goal was to fight the Argentine Navy and Air Force. After that, they planned to launch an attack from the sea to take back the islands.

The British ship HMS Antelope after it was hit by Argentine weapons

What Happened After the War

The Falklands War had a big impact on both Argentina and the United Kingdom. Many books, articles, films, and songs have been made about it.

Impact in Argentina

In Argentina, people felt very patriotic during the war. However, when the war ended, there were large protests against the military government that was in charge. This quickly led to the government losing power. The war is still a very common topic of discussion in Argentina.

Impact in the United Kingdom

The cultural and political impact of the war was less in Britain than in Argentina. However, it was still an important event.

Restoring Relations

Diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and Argentina were restarted in 1989. This happened after a meeting in Madrid, where both governments made a joint statement. In 1994, Argentina added its claim to the Falkland Islands to its constitution.

Images for kids

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  A map showing distances to bases during the Falklands Campaign.

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  The Argentine destroyer ARA Santísima Trinidad landed special forces south of Stanley.

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  Argentinian soldiers and Falklanders in 1982.

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  Vandalism of a Falkland Islander's home by Argentine soldiers. The message reads Inglese puto, an insult.

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  Margaret Thatcher meets Alexander Haig in London.

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  HMS Invincible, one of two aircraft carriers for the British task force.

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  A Royal Navy FAA Sea Harrier FRS1 jet.

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  ARA Santa Fe.

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  An RAF Avro Vulcan B.Mk.2 strategic bomber.

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  A French-built Super Étendard of the Argentine Naval Aviation.

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  ARA General Belgrano sinking.

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  Alferez Sobral.

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  HMS Sheffield.

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  HMS Coventry in 1981.

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  Argentinean A4 SkyHawk Attack on HMS Brilliant and HMS Glasgow, 12 May 1982.

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  Atlantic Conveyor approaching the Falklands, around May 19, 1982.

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  HMS Broadsword and HMS Hermes during the war.

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  British sailors in anti-flash gear at action stations on HMS Cardiff near San Carlos, June 1982.

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  HMS Cardiff anchored outside Port Stanley at the end of hostilities in 1982.

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  Argentine prisoners of war in Port Stanley.

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  A pile of discarded Argentine weapons in Port Stanley.

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  The Argentine Thule Garrison at the Corbeta Uruguay base.

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  The Argentine Military Cemetery on East Falkland.

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  The British Military Cemetery at San Carlos on East Falkland.

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  Hecla at HM Naval Base Gibraltar, converted to a hospital ship for the Falklands War.

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  The Monumento a los Caídos en Malvinas ("Monument for the Fallen in the Falklands") in Plaza San Martín, Buenos Aires. A member of the historic Patricios regiment stands guard.

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  Two RAF Tornado F3 fighters flying over the Falkland Islands in 2007.

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  The 1982 Liberation Memorial in Stanley.

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  Gente's "Estamos ganando" headline ("We're winning").

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  The Sun's famous "Gotcha" headline.

See also

In Spanish: Guerra de las Malvinas para niños