Timeline April

Friday 2nd April 1982

UN Security Council adopts Resolution 502 ordering Argentina to withdraw.
Argentina invades the Falkland Islands.
NP8901 and Falkland Island Defence Force overwhelmed by larger force.

Saturday 3rd April 1982

The United Nations approved resolution 502.
RN & RFA ships on Exercise Springtrain 82 ordered south from Gibraltar.
Argentine forces attack British Antarctic Survey scientists and Royal Marine Detachment at Grytviken, South Georgia.
Fifty-two school children are evacuated from Stanley.

Sunday 4th April 1982

United Nations condemns invasion.
Argentine forces occupy Goose Green and Darwin. One hundred civilians imprisoned in the community centre.
British Submarine sails for South Atlantic tasking.

Monday 5th April 1982

British carrier group deploys.
Maritime Patrol Aircraft arrive on Ascension Island.

Tuesday 6th April 1982

US Secretary of State, Alexander Haig, begins peace shuttle.
British Amphibious Support ship deploys.

Wednesday 7th April 1982

Britain declares 200-mile exclusion zone around Falkland Islands.

Thursday 8th April 1982

Royal Navy ships depart Gibraltar.

Friday 9th April 1982

SS Canberra, with 40 and 42 Commando RM, and 3 PARA embarked, and MV Elk, with 2000 tons of ammunition, sail from Southampton.

Saturday 10th April 1982

EEC bans imports from Argentina in support of Britain.
British Task Force gather at Ascension Island.

Sunday 11th April 1982

First elements of British Task Force leave Ascension.

Wednesday 14th April 1982

Intelligence assessment puts Argentine strength on Falklands at 7,000 men.
HMS Endurance joins Antrim Group and heads for South Georgia.

Friday 16th April 1982

Main Task Force departs Ascension.
HMS Hermes arrives Ascension.

Sunday 18th April 1982

Hermes Group leaves Ascension.
RAF tanker aircraft arrive Ascension.

Monday 19th April 1982

Hospital Ship SS Uganda departs Gibraltar.

Tuesday 20th April 1982

SS Canberra arrives Ascension.

Wednesday 21st April 1982

Antrim Group arrives off South Georgia and begins reconnaissance.

Thursday 22nd April 1982

Two Wessex helicopters recovering special forces lost during abortive landing on South Georgia glacier.

Friday 23rd April 1982

A Sea King helicopter from HMS Hermes crashes into the sea after dark.
HMS Invincible rendezvous with the other destroyers HMS Sheffield, HMS Glasgow and HMS Coventry.
HMS Yarmouth detached with RFA Resource deployed to search for survivors.

Killed In Action

PO K S Casey

Saturday 24th April 1982

Atlantic Conveyor completes fitting of helicopter decks at Devonport.
HMS Brilliant joins Antrim Group off South Georgia
HMS Hydra & HMS Herald set sail from Portsmouth heading to the Falkland Islands.

Sunday 25th April 1982

Submarine Santa Fe damaged by helicopter attacks, at South Georgia.
RM and SAS assault on Grytviken; South Georgia recaptured.
HMS Intrepid, Atlantic Conveyor and MV Europic Ferry depart for the South Atlantic.
HMS Arrow, RFA Plumleaf, RFA Olmeda & RFA Resource join the destroyer ships sailing towards the Falkland Islands.

Tuesday 27th April 1982

MV Norland, with 2 PARA embarked, and RFA Sir Bedivere sail from UK.

Wednesday 28th April 1982

Antrim Group including HMS Brilliant & HMS Plymouth departs South Georgia leaving HMS Endurance on patrol.
The British Government announces the introduction of an Air Exclusion Zone around the Falkland Islands, in addition to the existing maritime exclusion zone. This came into force at 1100GMT on 30th April.

Thursday 29th April 1982

HM Hospital Ship Uganda leaves Ascension.

Friday 30th April 1982

Operation Black Buck begun as Vulcan XM607 departs Ascension Island heading to the Falkland Islands.
The US Government announces attempts to produce a peaceful solution with Argentina have failed and that the US will aid the UK in any way necessary except with direct military action.

South Atlantic Medal Association 1982

South Atlantic Medal Association 1982

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