The Royal Navy was the lynchpin of the 1982 Falklands War, swiftly deploying a massive Task Force 8,000 miles to the South Atlantic to retake the islands from Argentine forces. Built around the aircraft carriers HMS Hermes and HMS Invincible, the fleet successfully achieved sea control and executed the challenging amphibious landing at San Carlos Water (dubbed ‘Bomb Alley’).
Despite suffering heavy losses to Argentine air attacks including the destruction of HMS Sheffield by an Exocet missile the Royal Navy’s successful projection of power, supported by Sea Harrier air cover and the sinking of the cruiser ARA General Belgrano by HMS Conqueror, proved decisive in securing the beachhead for the victorious land campaign.
