Episode 9 – A Vulcan bombs Stanley Airport after an epic flight from Ascension Island and Argentina orders out the fleet

It’s late April 1982 and the British have retaken the island of South Georgia after a sharp fight against the Argentinians who’d seized the frozen outcrop the day after the Falklands were invaded. 

The Argentine fleet had returned to its base after the initial landing on 2nd April, its welcome as the force which had regained the islands muted by the United Nations resolution calling for a withdrawal and the news that the British had dispatched a task force. 

It would be at least two weeks before the British arrived so the Argentinians spent the time replenishing their ships and fixing a few mechanical defects. After London had declared a Maritime Exclusion Zone of 200 nautical miles from the centre of the Falklands, any Argentinian ship entering this area was likely to be sunk by the British submarines that were already in the area.

At least, that’s what the Argentinians believed. 

Submarines Spartan and the Splendid had headed off to the South Atlantic on the 1st April when it suddenly dawned on the cabinet and the Ministry of Defence that Buenos Aires was serious about invading the islands. By the 12 April these two nuclear submarines were on station – but what the Argentinians didn’t know was that the British sub commanders had not yet received permission to attack ships. 

The first of May dawned, and for Argentinians this was known as the start of the Falklands, although the British had believed that was the day of invasion – 2nd April. 

The bombing of Port Stanley airport by the British was an extraordinary feat of aviation endurance. First the action of the Aircraft Carriers Hermes and Invincible each with a squadron of Sea Harriers and many helicopters, along with ten destroyers and frigates supported by three supply ships gave the impression of an imminent attack. Operation Blackbuck was so unbelievably difficult, it’s difficult to believe that it was successful. 

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