ORIGINAL
INTRODUCTION
The definitive battlefield
atlas of the Falklands War will have to wait some years
or even decades for the release of full British
information and the publication and analysis of much
more from Argentina (written in the 1980's, most of
this information has now been released and much
published). In the meantime, this one pulls
together much of the data published in the U.K., not so
much in greater detail, but as an accurate-as-possible,
step-by-step picture of how the war progressed from
incident to Argentine invasion and on to British
response and victory.
Like many human events, the
Falklands War can best be treated like a jigsaw puzzle,
but one neither so big that most of the ships, land
forces and aircraft squadrons taking part, gallantry
awards earned and British deaths suffered, cannot be
included, nor so specialised that it cannot be treated
as a total war of the conventional variety. In telling
the story in the battlefield atlas form, the build-up is
slow as the British Task force progresses south, but as
the great logistics success the South Atlantic campaign
was, it perhaps deserves to be told in this way. And
like any jigsaw, a lot of pieces have to be sorted, so
that first the border can be established before a small
group is collected together here, and another there,
until a fuller picture emerges.
Appendices - The
appendices are included more for the sake of
completeness, and thought was given to an additional one
listing the British war dead by date and action. However
many families and servicemen will not want to see their
men and comrades listed yet again. So even though the
dead and the wounded are a major part of the price paid
for the liberation of the Falklands, it was decided to
omit this information. However it should be remembered
that what to many readers may be a fascinating military
and logistics story, is, to more than 250 families in
Britain (and over a thousand in Argentina) still a cause
for mourning.
Information Sources -
An early decision was taken to rely as far as possible
on existing publications, and those used are listed in
the Bibliography, but for some, a special word of
appreciation is due.
Books - For the most
comprehensive accounts of the war, "The Battle for the
Falklands" by Max Hastings and Simon Jenkins and the
later "Task Force" by Martin Middlebrook can not be
bettered. "No Picnic" by Brigadier Julian Thompson
covers the land campaign with both depth and feeling at
all levels. "The Forces Postal History of the Falklands
Islands and the Task Force" by John Davies, perhaps not
surprisingly when it is realised that most participants
received letters, is a real mine of information, and the
more recently published "The Royal Navy and the
Falklands War" by David Brown was most timely and
helpful. But the all-round accolade for basic
information on the air and to a slightly lesser extent,
the sea and some land actions, and for its scholarship
and helpfulness must go to "Falklands: The Air War" by
members of the British Aviation Research Group. These
include Rodney Burden, Michael Draper, Douglas Rough,
Colin Smith and David Wilton. To them I am particularly
grateful.
Other Publications -
Some of the publications used as well as other sources
of information were supplied by a number of people who I
would like to thank, including Bill Burkett, Mr A L
Carter, BP Shipping Ltd, Bosun R Cartwright RFA, Captain
S J Crowsley, Gurkha Rifles, Colonel W T Dennison RE,
Mardie Esterkin, P & O Group, Philip Forbes, Major
(Retd) J I Grant, Scots Guards, Brigadier R J Lewendon
(Retd) RA, John Miller, Captain A G Newing RM and Chris
Newman.
Photographs - And for
the photographs and permission to use them, Mr F R
Andrews, Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service, Lieutenant
Commander C W Beattie RN, RNAS Yeovilton, Matthew
Little, Royal Marines Museum, Major (Retd) G Norton,
Airborne Forces Museum, Alison Pickard, United Towing
Ltd., Brigadier J F Rickett, Welsh Guards, Commander T J
K Sloane RN, MOD (Navy), Group Captain G Thorburn RAF
(Retd), MOD (RAF) and Major D R d'A Willis, 7th Duke of
Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles.
Special Thanks - Most
importantly, my sincere thanks to Nicholas Smith,
Michael Smith, Alex and Jane Welby, and David and Betty
Chapman. Without their support at crucial stages, the
book would not have been completed.
Gordon Smith,
Penarth 1988
NOTE TO
INTERNET SITE
No further research or
checking has been carried out on the original version
published in 1989. Ideally the facts and figures and
events should be cross-checked against more recent
British publications and even more importantly,
Argentine sources that are now available. Particularly
recommended reading to bring you more up-to-date
includes:
"Sea Harrier over the
Falklands" by Commander Nigel Ward, 1992
"Amphibious Assault Falklands" by Commodore Mike
Clapp, 1996
"No Picnic", 3rd edition by Brigadier Julian
Thompson, 2001
"100 Days", 2nd edition by Admiral Sandy Woodward,
2003
As for the original work,
reviews received included the following comments:
"contributed tremendously
to my knowledge of the war" - Francois Heisbourg,
Director, The International Institute for Strategic
Studies, London, November 1989
"a concise and meticulous
handbook describing the strategy, tactics and
logistics ....." - "Navy News", June 1989
"may prove to be a most
useful source .... maps are well presented .... (there
are no) inconsistencies between text and maps -
additional corroboration of the general accuracy and
thoroughness of the author's research and collation.
.... So far as .... the Official Secrets Act permits -
the detail is remarkably accurate" - Commander James
McCoy RN, "Naval Review"
and in 1999
..... from a
British born journalist/researcher/writer in Argentina
who has specialised in the Falklands Conflict, was
recently editor of the English-language "Buenos Aires
Herald", and was writing a PhD thesis on the
diplomatic side of the war:
"since 1982 I have visited
the Falkland Islands over 15 times and on every
occasion your book has been in my rucksack and has
become something of my bible on the war. Over the
years of research I have also had numerous
opportunities to crosscheck the information there
contained against the Argentine versions of the same
events and have usually found that is stands up as a
fair appraisal of the war even 17 years later."
and in 2000
"Battle of
the Falkland's War" headed the list of recommended
British-published books, described as "a very useful
and detailed guide to the day-by-day development of
the war", Argentine Army journal "Soldados", April
2000