The Falklands: The Remote Islands that Triggered the First Modern War

Discover the untold story of the Falklands War of 1982, where Argentina's military junta invaded the British islands. Follow the two and a half months of conflict that changed the course of history.
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[@chrisyoung9653]

cold wet windy. just like home. sounds like the UK to me

[@annenelson5656]

It is really dreary there. Wind blows all the time and the trees all lean leeward. There’s still mine fields. You can use British pound notes there but you can’t spend Falkland pound notes in Great Britain. But there’s penguins and some tiny flowers that grow there and nowhere else. Many Brits spend months there cataloguing these flowers. I had a nice time there.

[@brad5426]

​@@annenelson5656 there's no minefields anymore, the Falklands has been entirely cleared now.

[@matthewshannon6691]

Your just quoting oversimplified

[@chrisyoung9653]

@@matthewshannon6691 correct 🙂

[@annenelson5656]

@@brad5426 Glad to hear that! I was there in 2013. Thanks!

[@michaelsinger4638]

What the British pulled off here was seriously impressive. The Argentinian dictatorship gambled here and it blew up in their faces.

[@nickyleighton3766]

That's the difference the Uk armed forces get things do while the Americans make a total ness of it all

[@gullyfoyle3915]

@@nickyleighton3766 What a stupid thing to write. You can be proud of your own country without attempting to tear down your ally... an ally with the finest trained, best equipped and most logistically sound Navy in the world no less.

[@Rekuzan]

"They were sullen because they were promised a Spanish speaking population that would welcome them as liberators, only to find the exact opposite is true..." Gee, why does that sound so familiar?

[@aq5426]

@@gullyfoyle3915 Nicky is right, though. Sincerely, a USian.

[@gullyfoyle3915]

@@aq5426 Hardly. "USian"? Trying to say you're "not like the other girls"? You absolute tool.

[@HomeSlice97]

How the media continues to preemptively report on their own military’s operations to their country’s detriment will never cease to aggravate me

[@simonkevnorris]

They must have been briefed by the military in the first place.

[@HomeSlice97]

@@simonkevnorris it’s usually leaked information, not a formal brief before an operation. That’s just horrible military leadership.

[@IanG99]

Don’t get me wrong. I’m with you on this. But coming from media perspective, people want to know what’s going on. There is a demand on what’s happening on the ground that’s why stuff like this is reported.

[@ItsAVolcano]

The Argentinian claim is based on the original Spanish settlement that took over when the first British and French ones left. In other words their own claim is based off of colonization.😑

[@brad5426]

That's the funniest part of all this

[@jonadabtheunsightly]

Yes, but there's a natural de facto statute of limitations on these things: when nobody is still alive who remembers the last time anyone who had de facto control of the place or lived there considered themselves a citizen of your country, your claim is effectively obsolete in practice, regardless of what you continue drawing on your maps and teaching in your schools. Japan is going to have to give up on Etorofu for pretty much the same reason.

[@christopherwebb3517]

That, and since the islands sit well outside of Argentina's territorial waters, it would have still been a colony. It just would have switched from being a British colony to an Argentinian colony. And it still would have been occupied by non-indigenous people, because there never were indigenous people.

[@manman0006]

@@christopherwebb3517 The indigenous people were those of British Heritage that were currently lving on the island.

[@maximipe]

@@jonadabtheunsightly Argentinean here and the UN special committee for decolonization disagrees

[@shravanav993]

H982FKL : The licence plate almost started a war

[@callumlucas4444]

A Clarkson classic

[@gsampson97]

It's so stupid, you have to really look to see anything and that car had that license plate since it was made, people are stupid

[@lolz36235]

​@@callumlucas4444 dunno what your talking about was a 'complete coincidence' 😉😉

[@garethsillman]

Top gear 😂

[@mohamedimardbrucelee8829]

Nothing like a bit of argy bargy 😂

[@leshoward4570]

Thank you Simon. I was serving on HMS Coventry the day we were sunk. Very poignant memories for me. My thoughts are always with those we lost not only on my ship but throughout the conflict. Not the warmest swim I've ever had.

[@christopherbremner7493]

I had a Motorman on one of my ships who was also on the Coventry when she sank. He was telling about that day.

[@weslittlereptilefamily3418]

I'm an American but thank you for your service my English cousin. Glad you survived. Sorry for the mates you lost.

[@Anakin_Sandy_High_Ground]

Is it true that you guys sang "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" while floating in the water?

[@charliezobel511]

Respect, admiration and gratitude mate 🫡 I was only 10 at the time of the conflict but I watched the 6 o’clock news every day, whilst at school assembly we prayed for an end to the conflict and for the safe return our servicemen every week.

[@leshoward4570]

@Private Piles it is. I only have vague memories of it but it did happen.

[@Becky6638]

I will forever be proud of my Dad for his service in the Falklands. He was in 11th Field Squadron Royal Engineers. He was on the Sir Bedivire when it got hit by a bomb, which luckily didn't explode and bounced off. He helped build a Harrier and helicopter landing strip at San Carlos, which was a difficult job as they lost all their suplies when the Atlantic Conveyor was sunk. They then spent 3 weeks as infantry where he very narrowly missed being killed by a landmine, the man in front of him was blown up and Dad was knocked back. He remained in the Falklands after the war had ended as they were there to help "tidy up" after, finally returning home in July. He always said he left a piece of his heart in the Falklands and was planning to go back with some of his old quadron but the pandemic delayed it and by the time it was rescheduled he was too sick to be able to go. He passed away of cancer at the end of March and quite a few of his squardon came to the funeral which was incredibly touching. His favourite animal was penguins due to his time in the Falklands, they couldn't write home about the war so he wrote about the penguins. He had the Falklands flag draped over his coffin at his funeral, which we know he would've appreciated.

[@PerfectSense77]

Powerful to hear a personal story like that in a conflict where we mostly hear the big picture stuff.

[@ZATennisFan]

Thank you for his service. Having the Falkland flag over his coffin was so touching

[@michellejones5541]

My eldest daughter served in the Falklands when she was in the royal navy and knows first hand just how much the people of the Falklands want to stay as british, the British military are made welcome everywhere they go from Stanley to the smallest sheep barn. Its also very telling that both cemeteries are well tended by the inhabitants of the islands.

[@MrEnjoivolcom1]

Yeah, I saw an interview with some Falklands soldiers discussing the matter. It struck me that, they weren't really angry or bore hatred for the Brits or the British military. They essentially stated both sides made rushes to judgment and cooler heads should've prevailed.

[@michellejones5541]

@@MrEnjoivolcom1 what sticks in my memory was an interview I saw with man who was part of the Argentine air force at the time who said the vast majority of the military personnel thought they were just going to do war games, if you don't know what this is, its something all the world's military do as practice in case they have to go to war at any point basically testing their abilities. These kids didn't know what they were going into at first and many of them have developed mental health issues because of it, at least our boys knew what they were going into.. My ex partner was there at the time and talked about how frightened the captured Argentine soldiers were because they had been told if captured they would be tortured to death.

[@jamespurs]

99.80% in the most recent referendum on the issue (2013), Falklanders voted in favour of retaining their current political status as an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom (1,513 eligible votes) while 3 people, yes 3 people, said that they were not in favour. 92% of the people from the Falklands voted (1,518) and there were two invalid or blank votes. Safe to say, Falklanders definitely want to stay! Its on my bucket list to visit one day. Edited to add date of the referendum

[@benjaaguirre4143]

Just like 99% of donetsk and lugansk voted to become oficial russian territory, the rights on the island are not decided by the ones that live there thats just not how the World works

[@davidbarker7030]

@@benjaaguirre4143 Well that's comparing apples and bug spray. On the Falklands, no residents left, forced out, prevented from voting, or afraid to vote the way they wanted. All of those things were true in Russia's vote in East Ukraine. And self-determination is quite common throughout history.

[@Jayjay-qe6um]

There were wide-ranging influences on popular culture in both the UK and Argentina, from the immediate postwar period to the present. The Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges described the war as "a fight between two bald men over a comb." The words yomp and Exocet entered the British vernacular as a result of the war. The Falklands War also provided material for theater, film, and TV drama and influenced the output of musicians. In Argentina, the military government banned the broadcasting of music in the English language, giving way to the rise of local musicians.

[@westrim]

It turned out that one of those bald men had a much thicker pubic bush than the other one.

[@Shovelglove545]

Nice

[@jimmyhillschin9987]

Nice context Jayjay. A bit of a contrast from the normal to-and-fro of comments sections.

[@richardmann145]

Not to mention saving the Conservative Government & accelerating privatisation of public services, which is very much felt to this day

[@duartesimoes508]

This comment came from a Brazilian Airport clerk to a RAF crew, as I mention elsewhere. I guess the Argentine writer found it too good to be forgotten and also forgot the royalties. His name does not appear in the least Argentine but rather Portuguese, i.e. probably Brazilian.

[@TheTeeroy32]

This was Argentina's fuck around and find out moment.

[@thephantomtippler6851]

My daughters go to a small village school in Dorset a village that was considered a thankful village having lost no combatants to war in both 14-18 and 39-45. (They left and all came home) But sadly the village did lose a son on HMS Sheffield during the Falklands conflict.

[@KarrierBag]

A friend of mine lives there, he got loads of military vehicles after the military left them for scrap, I have sent him parts over the last 20 years for some of them.

[@PhoebeK]

One little-known fact that would have been very relevant is that Argentina bought up the entire British stock of maps of the Falklands Islands in the lead-up to the invasion, this was only discovered when Britain was preparing the expeditionary force (a major embarrassment for the British Overseas Survey and Ordnance Survey who do the British mapping, and a massive printing effort in Southampton as there had been no need for printing more seen when the maps were initially sold).

[@charlesburgoyne-probyn6044]

I had heard of this and again one of those tell tales that weren't realised at the time

[@ViDeOMaStErPaUl]

Didn't they have to quickly survey the Falklands again? I recall reading/hearing about how they did it in like 2 weeks or something.

[@PhoebeK]

@@ViDeOMaStErPaUl It was an emergency print run, the master data was still held it was just the printed maps which had been sold out. Surveying in the 1980's was still mostly manual and would not have been possible in the condition of war, the process for mapping from high-level photography was still a long and maul process at that point (computing has moved on a long way since then).

[@KW-qd1bi]

Simon should cover the war in greater depth on warographics

[@ScratchyYard]

indeed

[@--enyo--]

While you’re waiting for a Warographics one I think I remember a Megaprojects video on it (from before Warographics existed).

[@Chrisuperfly1]

I work with a gentleman that served in The Falklands in the British Royal Marines. Great guy, can always count in him. I spent 21 years in the U.S. Marine Corp and I feel a kindrid spirit that exists amongst Marines, no matter where they are from. Semper Fidelis.

[@expat0149]

Did two tours on the Falklands , first was 89-90 second was 99, enjoyed both ,For such a small place at the end of the world ther has been a large amount of conflict involving the place , big naval battle in WW1 and was also involved in the sinking of the Graf Spee in WW2 .The only bits of HMS Hood above water are on the Falkland Islands ...

[@Cailus3542]

Hood, the battlecruiser that was destroyed in 1941? How the heck did anything of Hood end up on the Falklands?

[@expat0149]

@The Hippy Griff some of the older guns were removed and placed on the Falklands before Hood was sunk

[@expat0149]

@The Hippy Griff I take that back the guns on the Falklands were from canopy, the hood guns are on ascension island ....getting old memory is not so good ;)

[@rongardener4142]

@@expat0149 Canopy? I smell autocorrect lol😂 Did you mean Calliope?

[@expat0149]

@@rongardener4142 yep autocorrect ,meant canopus...:)

[@allrounder7003]

Galtieri needed a war to prop up his regime unaware that Thatcher needed the same

[@ReinbouDash]

A fun fact: The General Belgrano was originally the USS Phoenix, commissioned in 1938. She was at Pearl Harbour when it was attacked on 7 December, 1941.

[@kinghollywood9879]

WOW 😯 that’s crazy yo………I never knew that………thanx for the 411 my man

[@centredoorplugsthornton4112]

Built at New York shipyard in Camden, NJ in the 1930s. Decommissioned after the war, sold to Argentina in 1951 which named it the 17th of October, one of the Peronist holidays. Renamed the General Belgrano after Peron's overthrow. Ordered sunk by Margaret Thatcher.

[@multiyapples]

Rest in peace to those that passed away.

[@megansfo]

Thank you Simon for your fascinating videos! I'm one of the few Americans who has actually been to The Falklands, as part of an Antarctica/ South Georgia Island trip 20 years ago. it was somewhat bleak and still had mined areas.

[@tr1k716]

Did you know President Reagan voted/asked Prime Minister Thatcher not to go to war, Just like American 's wouldn't invade another country either ?

[@shihtzu291]

Yeah I heard that they cleared the last mine back in 2020!So the sheep should be all safe and well for grazing! The Falklands are part of the UK and that is what it's all about. 🇬🇧

[@SiVlog1989]

That sentiment about how the Argentine soldiers didn't receive the welcome they expected when they invaded the islands on April 2nd 1982, reflects what the operator of Falkland Islands Radio at the time, turned tour guide, Patrick Watts, said while participating in an Australian made documentary from 2006 about the islands and about two people from Argentina who had different experiences of the islands: Sergio Delgado, a veteran who was a teenage conscript at the time of the Falklands War, and Esteban Hubner, someone who was too young to fight in 1982, but had long been interested in the islands. Watts said, when driving to Sergio Delgado's old position on Mount Longdon with the two men from Argentina: "You know, it was okay for [General] Galtiari to be telling everybody, 'the Malvinas are ours, you boys have got to fight to the death'. But when they got here, no one was there to welcome them, no one wanted them, we didn't speak the same language. I mean they must have wondered what the hell they were doing here." Despite being on different sides of a war, the three men soon form an unlikely bond. Patrick Watts mentioned how at the time, he and other residents of the islands wanted the Argentines out of the place as quickly as possible, now, he's glad people like Sergio Delgado is alive to tell his story, it was great to meet him. However, that doesn't mean he feels any differently about Argentina as a whole: "Yes we can forgive what happened in the war, but we can't change the attitude of the present day Argentine government. That's the sad fact of this [situation], that all these men were killed and governmentally, between us, nothing's changed at all,"

[@haggis525]

I remember that day very, very well. I was serving in the RCN at that time and had worked with the RN on a few occasions. Frankly, what Great Britain pulled off was incredible! A task force built around 2 carriers plus the Royal Marines and Paras.... like a bloody rabbit out of a hat magic trick. My first thought on being told that the Falklands had been invaded by Argentina, though, was that my mate was trying to pull off an April fool's day joke a day late. Sadly it was all too real.

[@PerfectSense77]

Very true. Such a complex operation to pull off. I think a lot of people don’t realize what an incredible achievement it was.

[@davie0702]

I painted the fences and wooden plinths at the cemeteries there 10 yrs ago. Loved being there for a couple yrs

[@anthonyferris8912]

Talking with my then German brother in law at the time, he assumed like most, that the UK gove would accept the reality on the ground and give up the islands. But I pointed to the famous photo of the British marines lying on the ground with Argentine soldiers standing over them and said. 'No, there will be war as very few countries would accept that level of national humiliation' and certainly not Thatcher's Britain.

[@saldjkalskdjasldkja]

Argentine officers arrived and reportedly slapped one of the main men who held up the already surrendered soldiers like that. Now it makes sense why. It became a war of pride from that point onwards.

[@phillbarnes8513]

@@saldjkalskdjasldkja maybe, but failing to protect that ‘pride’ would’ve had real world consequences. That plus the Falkland islanders were as much UK citizens as someone living in London or Edinburgh etc.

[@saldjkalskdjasldkja]

@@phillbarnes8513 Exactly my point.

[@jkjk1212ful]

​@@phillbarnes8513 aaà

[@andycrockett6301]

Thoroughly enjoyed this, and thank you. I was on the Orkney's at the time, and my brother-in-law had to dig out his AA Road Atlas to check if I was anywhere near it. Probably worthy of an episode in it's own right was the RAF's Operation Black Buck contribution, which through a mind-boggling maze of logistics resulted in Vulcan bombers temporarily disabling the Port Stanley airfield in the early days.

[@em1osmurf]

the vulcans were a logistics and air force miracle of determination and plain guts.

[@peterstubbs5934]

Black Buck was a disaster. Placing those airmen in massive danger expending MILLIONS of pounds of fuel for infinitesimal gains for us Brits. It was just a show by the RAF headshed who were determined to steal some of the glory from the REAL flying warriors which was the NAVY pilots of the Sea Harriers down there. Read Sqn Leader Sharkey Wards book "Sea Harrier Over The Falklands" to have your eyes opened about the integrity (or lack of it) of the RAF headshed. How they needlessly put those airmen in harms way. How they FLOODED the Falklands with short term postings to "up" the amount of medals they could carry when the war was over, whilst having done NONE of the fighting. They then shit on the REAL pilots that had done the REAL fighting down there (the Fleet Air Arm boys.) Dont get me wrong, the pilots who flew the Black Buck missions were brave, but they shouldnt have been put into such a situation. And NO, I am NOT an ex sailor, I was 2 Para 74-97 and I was genuinely shocked when I read his book.

[@phillbarnes8513]

Yes! Read the pilots book on that long range bombing raid… absolutely riveting. Also remember seeing the Vulcan flyby over Plymouth city during the victory celebrations post conflict.

[@RubyDoobieScoo]

It should be noted that the closest the Falklands ever came to being part of Argentina was the two and half months when they occupied it during the war, it has been a British possession longer than Argentina has existed.

[@javiermartinmehdi1914]

Si yo ROBO tu house y me quedo a vivir con mi flia los años q se me antojen tu house pasa a ser mia directamente o vos la reclamarias...

[@RubyDoobieScoo]

@@javiermartinmehdi1914 que?

[@AEARArg]

Argentina settled the islands from 1820 to 1833, and then the Argentina community was forcefully expelled by the British.

[@marksavage1108]

You cant ``settle`` on pre claimed land, When Spain allowed Argentina its independence, its then when any claims should have been made for the Islands. So 1. it was never an Argentina community, it was Argentine invaders. 2 Of course they were forcefully expelled, its what you do to squatters.

[@zigongosaurus5274]

@@AEARArg Argentines have settled the islands since 1828. Argentina itself tried to press a claim in 1829 and by 1833 had lost control twice. They gave up their claim in 1849 and didn't bring it up again until 97, nearly a century later.

[@DesertFernweh]

The Arigies forgot one of the 4 Rules of War. 1. You can never hold Afghanistan. 2. Never get into a land war in Asia. 3. Never invade Russia in the winter. 4. Never get into Naval Warfare with the British.

[@mikearmstrong8483]

You forgot #5; never go up against a Sicilian when death is on the line.

[@ignitionfrn2223]

1:20 - Chapter 1 - Who owns the place ? 3:30 - Chapter 2 - A confusing dispute 6:00 - Chapter 3 - Invasion 7:40 - Chapter 4 - A new kind of war 10:50 - Chapter 5 - Carnage on the high seas 12:50 - Chapter 6 - Cherryberries & chicos 15:35 - Chapter 7 - The battle for stanley 17:30 - Chapter 8 - Aftermath - Chapter 9 - - Chapter 10 -

[@mike03a3]

I see a parallel with today's war in Ukraine, I small but highly trained army fighting against a larger conscript army of conscripts who lack both motivation and training. During the Falklands war I was working in the USN's NAVAIR offices, where we watched very carefully the effect of the Exocets of the ships, especially the aluminum superstructures that proved tragically susceptible to the missiles. We also were keenly interested in how the Archies were using ex USN A-6's. I was especially interested in the Sea Harriers, since I was involved in the USN's development of one for our Marines. One other thing that fascinated us, but was left unmentioned, was the astounding bombing mission of the RAF Vulcans that flew over 8,000 miles to attack the airfield on West Falkland. Great presentation, as always. Thanks

[@littleshep5502]

A small thing to point out, is that HMS Sheffield didnt have aluminium superstructures, due to the UK learning how flammable they were previously

[@duartesimoes508]

A-4s, not A-6. Only the USN used the Intruder; the C.A.N.A. used the Skyhawk with great success and great losses too.

[@charleshemsley4149]

the airfield is on east Falkland,.

[@MrManBuzz]

The Falklands War saved Thatchers Government, she was incredibly unpopular until this. Given the damage she did subsequently, in a way Argentina got a few digs in, even if it was completely unintentional.

[@elijahgiter9559]

"And now she stands upon South Hampton dock, with her handkerchief and her summer frock, which clings to her wet body in the rain." Sorry the Falkland war always makes me think of that song when Maggie is brought up. The iron lady was an interesting woman for sure.

[@m.c.martin]

Ironic isn’t it? Two governments, both unpopular at the time, needed something big to boost them, and then this war happened. Funny how things go

[@TAP7a]

She’s still pretty unpopular now, remember “Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead” got to Number 1 the day she died? Or how she’s still known as the Milk Snatcher? And how you can’t mention her name more than a couple of hours’ drive north or west of the M25 without people wincing, or in the case of heading far enough north spitting, at the sound?

[@yodorob]

An improving British economy might have given her a much narrower victory in the 1983 general election even without the Falklands War.

[@literatureandgaming-yt9352]

I really love how the commentary is shown. Calm, Informative, and very clear. And the title is really catchy. It's good to binge-watch even tho I cannot grasp most of the information but it's good to have information flowing every day. Thank you, Simon!

[@notoriousdog8942]

The Empire Strikes Back, love that headline

[@stuartthornton3027]

Thank you Simon and team, that was one of your best videos. My farther was serving in the Royal Navy in a big ship that felt like it had a target on it. He and the ship came back, but one of the aircraft he'd been responsible didn't, along with its crew and I believe 16 other fine gentlmen from 22Sdn SAS. It was quite terrifying watching the news reel of attack after attack on British ships and positions around San Carlos Water or Bomb Alley as it became known as. Day after day ships were being sunk, just wiped off the board. With media at the time we knew what was going on in very quick order. As a 12 year old watching his fathers ship on the news with fighter bomber aircraft buzzing by, their brave pilots flew so low when attacking that some of their bombs didn't have time to arm before imacting the ships, there were many UXB''s. Nobody who was old enough to remember could forget the images of HMS Antelope as her magazines exploded. Those are the images that stick with you. God rest all those men and women who lived and died on either side, and thank you for service and sacrifice.

[@danielkarmy4893]

Thank you for giving the Falkland Islands their correct - and only - name. My grandfather was a marine engineer aboard HMS Coventry on 25 May 1982, and seeing the way he and his shipmates gathered each year on that date to remember those they left behind, and hearing his stories throughout my life, seeing how it affected him throughout his, I want to say this: nobody on the British side has ever said the islands 'belong' to 'us'. The Argentine view has always been that 'you belong to us, not them' - which is why they needed the people they actually chose to associate with to defend them against this barbaric foreign threat. It doesn't matter how close they are to that godforsaken nation. They have voted overwhelmingly to associate themselves with the United Kingdom, and have nothing whatsoever to do with Argentina. That is the end of the debate. They have the right to self-determination, and they have exercised that time, and time again. When an arrogant military power sought to overrule them, they were defended appropriately.

[@russellfitzpatrick503]

Pity Russia hasn't taken note of that point

[@--enyo--]

@@russellfitzpatrick503 Or China.

[@zimriel]

@@--enyo-- Or the US. The South will rise again

[@javiermartinmehdi1914]

Los PIRATAS eso son fueron y seran toda su vida los ingleses siempre tienen alma de Piratas y tu comentario es la demoatracion mas cabal de eso...

[@thunderhaze8500]

Nice video mate..

[@13thravenpurple94]

Great video Thank you

[@charliebigbear1630]

And The Iron Lady reminded the world that England still knows how to kick ass

[@flavioc5389]

As a Brazilian, long live to the Falklands! 🇬🇧

[@charliezobel511]

😂 you love your neighbour, I can tell

[@Sirsethtaggart3505]

I was on the fort , at Portsmouth docks, waving the fleet out and back home again. Those pictures bought it all back .

[@liambethell2584]

My Dad lost a friend at Goose Green. Corparal Paul 'Sully' Sullivan of 2 Para. He has been repatriated back to the UK. May his sacrifice and all the others lost in this conflict never be forgotten. Long may the island remain as the Falklands.

[@gordonlumbert9861]

I was a junior high school student when this happened. (USA) I understood enough to know if UK could project their forces efficiently that far they would win because generally speaking UKs forces were more modern and I expected they had more money for training. Frankly I always saw Argentina's claim as debatable at best... Base on Argentina's theory it seems UKs claim is better.

[@paulmcdonough1093]

argfies had a lot more troops more planes uk we had less planes troops 8,000 miles from uk no proper air cover and WON

[@nvrvnjv6362]

@@paulmcdonough1093 Argentinian here (not gonna debate the claim). The problem with troops size and equipment is that most (if not all, besides a small platoon) were forced conscripts (young people between 18 and 21 years old) without proper training: Army doctrine here at the time was focused on countersurgency operations in jungle territory because the small groups of "radicalized left" elements (using quote marks because most of this groups were really small on size and mostly defeated by the time), and most of the conscripts were from provinces with weather and geography vastly different from the islands. Equipment was really really bad, and the planes were mostly A4 and A4 variations (besides some IA-58 ground attack planes) who were operating at maximum range. In terms of military force, Argentina never stood a chance against the UK.

[@roberteugene7295]

​@@nvrvnjv6362 The FAA had modern (as of 1982) French jets, as well.

[@nvrvnjv6362]

@@roberteugene7295 I said "mostly" because that. They had five Super Etendar, but they didn't have the range to support actions on the islands itself and were used on air to sea missions.

[@baneofbanes]

@@paulmcdonough1093and none of that matters given that Argentina’s military was of way lower quality.

[@WizzardJC]

Brezhnev took Afghanistan. Begin took Beirut. Galtieri took the Union Jack. And Maggie, over lunch one day, Took a cruiser with all hands. Apparently, to make him give it back

[@barryb5155]

Great video mate

[@bradlevantis913]

Amazing episode.

[@The_Daily_Tomato]

We can both argue who it does or doesn't belong to but at the end of the day we must respect the will of the living population. And time and time again they have voted in favor of Britain. So the issue is settled.

[@danielkarmy4893]

The Islands belong to the Islanders. The British understand this; the Argentinians do not...

[@francismunozcoll4490]

@@danielkarmy4893 we understand something, this is our land, ours only. Period

[@resileaf9501]

Most importantly, this is one of the extremely rare situations in which the settlers did not displace anyone to claim this land. It was completely, 100% unused. Argentina seems to claim the islands only by virtue of it being close to them but the British were the actual first people to ever colonize it.

[@danielkarmy4893]

@@francismunozcoll4490 Are you a resident of the Falkland Islands, Francis? If you are, then you are absolutely right, and I'll support you to the nth degree if anyone dares say otherwise. 🙂 (I know you're not, let's not pretend...why is it that grapes from any other part of the world are so sweet, yet from yours they're always so sour?)

[@--enyo--]

@@francismunozcoll4490 Do you live on the islands? If yes then use your vote. If no then it’s clearly not.

[@KariHaruka]

My Father served aboard HMS Antrim during the Falklands War. The helicopters aboard her were responsible for detecting and disabling the Sante Fe submarine. Later on, she would also see action in the waters around San Carlos (Bomb Alley. 12 bombs just narrowly missed her, but a 1000lb bomb did penetrate. Luckily, the bomb didn't explore nor kill anyone onboard. The war would eventually end on my Father's 20th birthday and his ship would sail back into the waters of Portsmouth Harbour. I wasn't born for another 8 years, but I have been shown the photos of my family welcoming my Father home at the docks and the birthday/welcome home party. It's always filled me with pride for my Father and those that he served alongside.

[@sgeskinner]

You mis-characterize the exclusion zone. It is a warning for neutral shipping that anyone will be attacked. In war any enemy ship that is a threat to your forces or civilians may be attacked anywhere

[@aliksanderj9729]

Good morning Simon!

[@dwaynehicks6838]

The people who live there should determine themselves who is their head of state and what culture they belong to , Argentina wasn't even a country when the Falklands were colonized.

[@MassEffect1988]

Exactly! And the residents have continuously voted to remain British, Argentina should just shut up and accept the will of the people 👍

[@resileaf9501]

Most importantly, this is one of the extremely rare situations in which the settlers did not displace anyone to claim this land. It was completely, 100% unused. Argentina seems to claim the islands only by virtue of it being close to them but the British were the actual first people to ever colonize it.

[@zimriel]

ehh Ireland wasn't a country when Ulster was colonised

[@jonadabtheunsightly]

@@resileaf9501 On paper, they're claiming to be the successor state to Spain and therefore inheritors of the Spanish colony that was ejected way back when, before Argentina was an independent country. The problem with this claim is obvious: just try to imagine what global politics would be like if every country was allowed to claim every place that was ever colonized by any power that they themselves used to belong to before gaining independence long ago. Cuba was also colonized by Spain, so they have just as much claim to the Falklands, as Argentina does. So does Mexico. So do the Philippines. Indonesia could claim New York. Cameroon could claim Louisiana. Ireland could claim India. Ukraine could claim Korea. Where would it end? The list of territorial disputes would take hours to download. At some point, when there is no one left alive who remembers a time when anyone who had de facto control of the place or lived there claimed allegiance to your country, you have to let go. The past is gone.

[@neilturner6749]

@@zimriel exactly. Therefore Irish Nationalists should stop asking for it back when they never had it to begin with!

[@montyollie]

Never forget... it's where Randy Andy lost the ability to sweat!! LOL

[@PerfectSense77]

One of your best videos.

[@TheMagsterize]

I've been there and it is GORGEOUS! I'll be back one day.

[@GlasgowCeltic88]

13:48 you forgot to mention D and G Squadrons of 22 SAS, a gaggle of SBS bods and "Scaley Backs" from 264 SAS Signals Squadron. G Squadron's Overwatch, in the wreck of "Lady Elizabeth", in Stanley Harbour provided much needed intel for the TF. And the lads of D Squadron's assault on the airfield, on Pebble Island, meant Argentine Air Support was severly limited.

[@neilturner6749]

I don’t think he forgot to mention it any more than not mentioning every other small unit that fought

[@uzoma112]

Stanley is now officially a city following the platinum jubilee city status declaration by the HM the Queen Elizabeth 2 last year.

[@bryangillihan1345]

This one was a banger! 🎉

[@t.robinson4774]

18:11 “the Iron Lady” nickname came about due to Thatcher publicly stating that she saw the Soviet Union as a controlling influence to prevent any prospective reunification of Germany. Helmut Schmidt repeated the term coined by a soviet journalist in the EEC conferences two years before the Falklands War. Thatcher herself enjoyed it, adding “the lady’s not for turning” 18 months into her premiership in October 1980 and upon becoming German Chancellor Helmut Kohl repeated it in 1982, before the war in question. It had nothing to with the conflict.

[@marksavage1108]

They refused to take home their own dead, That is just dirty.

[@AEARArg]

Because we consider Malvinas OUR soil. There's nothing dirty.

[@marksavage1108]

@@AEARArg Bullshit ,,,,you dignify their sacrifice for their country by taking them back to their country and the family they fought for. There is ``everything`` dirty about it. and that soil was never yours so stop trying to make excuses for the disgusting disrespect shown to your own fallen. For the sake of embarrassment, there is no bigger shame. Your loser military government did not want their failure dragged out with endless funerals, the act of denying the grieving families the ability to have a grave to mourn at, I will always see that as dirty, The English offered the lost souls a final dignity, a dignity denied to them by those who sent them to fight. DIRTY.

[@marksavage1108]

@@AEARArg It was never your soil. my second response as youtube is not showing my first. The English offered your lost souls a final dignity, that final dignity of being returned to the country they fought for and for their families to grieve at a grave was denied. For the sake of embarrassment, there is no bigger shame. Your loser military government did not want to suffer the political shame of endless funerals. there is NO honour, they sent them to fight then refused to bring them home. So everything about how your fallen were treated was DIRTY.

[@marksavage1108]

@@AEARArg It was Spanish soil, then when they abandoned it, and did NOT reaffirm their claim when the English declared it as an English colony. All claims were then lost, This was all ``before`` Spain granted Argentina the right to exist independently. So it was NEVER your soil.

[@bobbybj69231]

Sir, you really need to spend some time in Argentina and the Falklands. Having spent 2 weeks travelling all around Argentina and 2 days in the Falklands this last January I wouldn’t say it’s “friendly” between the people. Both sides are still angry.

[@kbm2055]

And the islands aren't even that valuable or useful for the amount of feelings that they produce.

[@littleshep5502]

To be fair, the Islanders have fair reason to be. anyone older than 40 experienced the brutality the Argentine troops subjected them to

[@thomashayhurst6547]

​@@kbm2055 you say that but they discovered oil in the Falklands territory a few years ago

[@saintgaving]

I am fortunate enough to visit the falklands 2 times a year being a mod contractor. It is a beautiful place, so raw and untouched, harsh environment for what these guys went through. I can assure you the locals want and identify as british. They live a very simple and hard life with the environment they have to endure. The road to stanley from mpc is now fully tarmacd which is a huge improvement from the rubble road it was jist a few years ago. It is one of my favourite places in the world. The wildlife there is like something off an Attenborough show, and i have been fortunate to experience alot of what it has to offer over the last 14 years i have travelled there. The flight is killer though...me and the lads always pay our respect to the monuments we visit and polish them up ready for the next visitor, this also includes any Argentinian monuments we visit. Respect to both sides, especially as the Argentinians were just conscripts against our trained boys, in that type of environment it is hard to comprehend what they both went through. Simon you should do some research into Mr Mike Mckay, who is a local, who was awarded military medals for his efforts in misleading the Argentinian soliders during the war. I am fortunate to be friends with him, and the stories i have been told by him deserve a podcast alone. He is a hero of that war with his daily tussels and relaying movements back to the british, whilst being a very young man. He was doing this on horse back as the Argentinians commandeered all of the vehicles in stanley. Like i said he has some crazy stories which i look foward to hearing each time i am there!

[@dpcnreactions7062]

I remember watching that conflict on tv!

[@justandy333]

Im surprised you didnt mention operation Black Buck. The only way the RAF could participate was to send 1 lonesome Vulcan Bomber to bomb the airfield at port stanley. It required the use of 11 refueling tankers to get 1 bomber down there and back again. 11 tankers! The logisitics of this operation are mind boggling and well worth a read. It suceeded and forced the Argentines to pull all of their fast jets back to the mainland. The physical impact of this strike was limited but the psychological impact was immense.

[@derekowens1817]

RAF Harriers flew from the aircraft carriers, RAF pilots flew RN Sea Harriers, Nimrod's flew surveillance missions, and the RAF was involved in the running of the airfield at Ascension Island in support of the operation (Wide-awake Airfield), supposed to have been the busiest airfield in the world during the war. An RAF Hercules also transported SAS, who parachuted down to the fleet in the South Atlantic. D

[@Anakin_Sandy_High_Ground]

The RAF didn't have any maps of the South Atlantic, so the navigator had to improvise by using a map of the North Atlantic and flipping it upside down. He then renamed the Azores, the Falkland Islands. It was such a jury-rigged operation.

[@jeronimofrancia8472]

i thinked that you had already done a video about this subject, saludos desde argentina¡¡¡

[@H1LOL]

Historiograph made a very good video about the naval side of things

[@SiVlog1989]

I remember when I first heard of the islands, in Peter and Dan Snow's series 20th Century Battlefields, the way Peter Snow described the scene from Port Stanley on the introduction that made clear how the local population felt: "This may look like a sleepy little seaside town somewhere on the British Isles, in fact, the United Kingdom is 8,000 miles away. These are the Falkland Islands, a remote British territory in the South Atlantic."

[@mitchellneu]

🎵Orders from the Iron Maiden: “Get the islands back! Failure will not be accepted, Call for artillery strike, Launch attack!” We are Back In Control Force them to surrender Take what is ours Restore law and order Back In Control Push them further out to sea Falklands in our hands Back under British reign🎵 - “Back In Control” by Sabaton

[@michellemire8462]

Iron maiden also did a song as a a tribute to the soldiers on both sides Como Estais Amigos in the Blaze Bayley era. Many ppl dont like him because he is not Bruce but still a few good songs in those 2 albums in my opinion!

[@Gregnier]

I'm disappointed you didn't mention Operation Black Buck. Of the whole Falklands War that's the most amazing bit of it.

[@AnyoneCanSee]

He has an entire video dedicated to it called "Operation Black Buck: The UK's Mega Bombing Runs in the Falklands War".

[@intruder313]

Argentina should really thank the UK for essentially ending the junta - not constantly banging on about islands to which they have literally no claim

[@peterstubbs5934]

Black Buck was a disaster. Placing those airmen in massive danger expending MILLIONS of pounds of fuel for infinitesimal gains for us Brits. It was just a show by the RAF headshed who were determined to steal some of the glory from the REAL flying warriors which was the NAVY pilots of the Sea Harriers down there. Read Sqn Leader Sharkey Wards book "Sea Harrier Over The Falklands" to have your eyes opened about the integrity (or lack of it) of the RAF headshed. How they needlessly put those airmen in harms way. How they FLOODED the Falklands with short term postings to "up" the amount of medals they could carry when the war was over, whilst having done NONE of the fighting. They then shit on the REAL pilots that had done the REAL fighting down there (the Fleet Air Arm boys.) Dont get me wrong, the pilots who flew the Black Buck missions were brave, but they shouldnt have been put into such a situation. And NO, I am NOT an ex sailor, I was 2 Para 74-97 and I was genuinely shocked when I read his book.

[@NicoRodri]

​@@intruder313 before or after thanking them for setting everything to get there in the first place? history is not white and black, and the day europeans and northamericans start to own up to everything they fuck up on other countries to get their way we will all be more happy and peaceful

[@neilturner6749]

Yes, but one easily-fixed bomb crater made on Stanley runway had no impact on the war - it was largely just a propaganda coup.

[@Mathemagical55]

Argentina was desperate to buy more Exocet missiles which France was eager to supply. Apparently it was Helmut Kohl - not known for his love of Britain - who had to put his foot down and tell the frogs they weren't selling weapons to the enemy of a NATO ally during an active conflict.

[@jamiegray6931]

France wasn't willing to sell, in fact Mitterand withdrew French specialists sent to Argentina to get the missiles working in the Argentine aircraft. He also allowed French AIr Force Mirage IIIs to train with Harrier pilots going to the Falklands.

[@flyboy152]

A few battle maps would be helpful, just to get an idea of the layout.

[@Itsmellsfishy]

But that would be geograph…. Oh

[@HypervoxelRBX]

How can you confidently label this the first modern war? that subject is something which deserves its own evaluation.

[@jacobhughes1976]

I would love to see a video about Vanport Oregon and the floods of 1948!

[@davids2314]

I think this should be on your warographics channel

[@rejvaik00]

I just loved the Magazine headline in the 1980s that read: _THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK_ that perfect opportunity wasn't wasted ☺️

[@marksavage1108]

Apart from the facts that the British Empire was disbanded after world war 2 and only UK troops were deployed and no troops from any nation in the Commonwealth.

[@ScratchyYard]

there were a raid on pebbel island by SAS to secure a british landing at a airbase destroying 11 aircraft in 30 minutes

[@andrewroberts4736]

An excellent documentary. Just one small note, Mrs Thatcher was already known as The Iron Lady. She was given the name in an article in a Soviet publication in 1975 just after she became leader of the opposition and was already in common use well before the 1982 war.

[@jonchambers3163]

Missing out the Vulcan attacks

[@marksavage1108]

They were on 1st May, The landings and the strike back only started 21st May.

[@infidelcastro5129]

You could do an entire episode on Operation Black Buck.

[@infidelcastro5129]

Oh wait. You have. I should’ve known 😂

[@ScratchyYard]

he did

[@alanfisher9316]

Why has there not been an Mega Projects episode on the building of Mount Pleasant Airfield? It’s an old tale of outstanding British engineering?

[@okcmaverick]

My CSM when I was in South Korea was in the British Army when he was young fought in the Falklands War.

[@gillisbrown2118]

My uncle worked as a chef on the Qe2.He was there! !It was turned it to a troup carrier!

[@j.s.c.4355]

That war was the reason I turned down my exchange student opportunity. They wanted to send me to Argentina in 1986, and I thought it was still ruled by a junta that disappearing their own people using death squads.

[@colinr1960]

Love him or hate him - and there’s a lot to hate - Prince Andrew flew helicopters in action here. His job was to draw missiles away from ships and to work as a radar post. For all of his later faults he is rightly being “punished”, but he should not be stopped from wearing his medals. Like Harry, they earns theirs.

[@zimriel]

I am grinding my teeth but as the scion of a military family, you are right. Same reason Germany can't deny Schiklgruber his claim to the Iron Cross.

[@sgeskinner]

At 19:15 it is stated oil has not been found. Oil has been found but commercial drilling has not started yet for various reasons

[@johnmassey1016]

A video of Operation Black Buck 1 to 7 would be great.

[@noahlogue]

A warographics episode in disguise!😂

[@resileaf9501]

I feel like this was intended to be a Warographics video but got turned into a Geographics one because they needed a Geo vid lol

[@yodorob]

Fun fact: I was born on the very same day that the Falklands War ended! If the British had won their 1806-07 invasions in Buenos Aires, then Argentina would have become a British dominion much like Canada, Australia, South Africa, etc., and Argentina would have taken over the then-Crown Colony of the Falklands in 1949, much as Canada took over the previously-separate Newfoundland. In that universe, the Falklands would have ten times as many people as in our own universe - namely, about 30,000 people (still sparsely populated even so). Most importantly, there would have been no Falklands War!

[@DM-dn7rf]

The "First Modern War" is a relative term. WW 1 was the first modern war because of heavier-than-air aircrafts, aircraft carriers, tanks, and the extensive use of submarines. WW 2 was the first modern war because of radar, computers, the V-2 was the first long-range ballistic missile, had the first night vision devices, and the atomic bomb. Vietnam War was the first modern war because of the first extensive use of helicopters in combat and logistics. GPS was first used in the 1991 Persian Gulf War. Get the drift. Every war is going to bring new ways of conducting a war. So, in some sense, every war is the "First Modern War".

[@Petriefied0246]

I've had the privilege to have been to the Falklands twice, in 2002 and 2007. It's bleak, beautiful and I love it.

[@MrFateorfaith]

Funny how I use Simon's beard to guage the age of the video.

[@robertsisson4]

Excellent video, but what about operation Black Buck. The only time the Vulcan bomber was used in anger.

[@chrisbentleywalkingandrambling]

A very sombre but true outro.

[@24934637]

I used to work with a couple of guys who served in the Falklands Conflict, one had taken an Argie bullet to the guts, and the other was a total mess from PTSD. Over 40 years later, the effects of the conflict are still being felt. Still Argentina has the ludicrous claims on the islands who are populated by people who want nothing to do with Argentina.

[@javiermartinmehdi1914]

A nosotros en Argentina nos intetesa muy poco lo q piensen o digan los parasitos usuroadores q habitan las Islas Malvinas ( x la fuerza...) hace 190 años y seguiremos reclamando siempre q nos devuelvan LO ROBADO ya sea q les guste o no al gobierno PIRATA de Gran Bretaña...

[@usonumabeach300]

And then Jeremy Clarkson had to put 82 FLK on a license plate when he journeyed across Argentina, lol

[@theelectricindian]

IIRC he didn't do it on purpose, the car had that plate since it was manufactured in 1991.

[@littleshep5502]

@@theelectricindian And the outrage was fabricated, the "veterans" that responded were all in their 20s

[@salomonflanders1824]

I have been in the Falk's Island in. 2002 UK. made a good job

[@marekohampton8477]

You again!

[@russellfitzpatrick503]

I think that the efforts of the RAF, to at least reduce the effects of the Argentinian air force could have been mentioned (as this did help the navy considerably). As for the media's role in the Falklands incident the least said the better (bearing in mind their 'efforts' during the later Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns)

[@Werrf1]

The RAF were heavily involved, with RAF Harriers flying from the carriers being the primary ground attack assets, and four RAF pilots being selected to fly Sea Harriers as the RN didn't have enough fully qualified pilots.

[@peterstubbs5934]

@@Werrf1 RUBBISH. The Harriers were manned by NAVY pilots. RAF heavily involved my arse. There was a few RAF pilots, MASSIVELY in the MINORITY.

[@Werrf1]

@@littleshep5502 You want to tell that to Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire, who commanded 1(F) Squadron and personally flew twenty-four Harrier sorties during the conflict?

[@Werrf1]

@@peterstubbs5934 The Sea Harriers were (mostly) flown by Navy pilots. One was a chap who had originally joined the navy, then transferred to the RAF, then was in the process of transferring back to the Navy when the war started. The GR3 harriers of 1(F) sqn were flown by their RAF pilots.

[@neilturner6749]

The Harriers on the British carriers were a mixture of Navy Sea Harriers and regular RAF Harriers, with a consequential mix of flight crews from both service.

[@mary-janejenkins9560]

My hubbies first posting being in the army ❤

[@dsxa918]

Whistling Simon's in the army, now?!? Whoa!!

[@TOMLINBISH]

Aarrrgh, yet another channel from him! Where can I go to escape from Simon? 🤣

[@masterchinese28]

I was a young kid when the Falklands War happened. It was talked about on the TV, but I did not really appreciate or understand it at the time. Now I find it fascinating all that went in to that conflict, as 8,000 miles is a long ways away to fight.

[@nickbannister775]

As mentioned in a comment earlier had the Argentinians waited the high echelons in our wonderful civil service had already started to run down British interests in the Falklands, with a view of possibly doing a Hong Kong on it. Even the Royal Naval artic ships were going to be decommissioned. We won because we are the most highly trained fighting force in the world at the time, we took a few knocks but came back fighting. I could say more I just treasure my medal and think of my friends who are still there R.I.P.