Sunday, October 6, 2013

Falklands - Untold Stories of the War in the South Atlantic

Just minutes after midnight Argentina put Operation Rosario into action by bringing ships into position off the islands. At 03.25 hours Governor Hunt declared a State of Emergency. Argentine Special Forces landed at Mullet Creek (south of Stanley) at 04.30 hours, more troops landed at York Bay at 05.30, and by 06.00 were engaged in fighting with the Royal Marines - three Argentines were killed. The main Argentine landing force began disembarking at Stanley at 08.00, by which time the airstrip had been cleared and the 25th Regiment had started to be flown in. Governor Hunt ordered the surrender at 09.15 hours - by now the whole town, other than Government House, was under Argentine control. Lord Carrington told Parliament that "Stanley is now occupied by Argentine military forces". Brigadier General Mario Menendez was appointed governor of Islas Malvinas and Stanley was renamed Puerto Argentino. Royal Marines on South Georgia attacked the Argentine forces at 12.30 hours, but after inflicting heavy damage surrendered to a far superior force two hours later.

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