Invasion of South Georgia

The invasion of South Georgia, also known as the Battle of Grytviken or Operation Georgias, took place on 3 April 1982, when Argentine Navy forces seized control of the east coast of South Georgia after overpowering a small group of Royal Marines at Grytviken. Though outnumbered, the Royal Marines shot down a helicopter and hit the Argentine corvette ARA Guerrico several times before being forced to surrender. It was one of the first episodes of the Falklands War, immediately succeeding the invasion on the Falkland Islands the day before.

Battle of Grytviken
Part of the Falklands War

Grytviken, 3 April 1982
Date3 April 1982 (1982-04-03)
Location
Grytviken, South Georgia Island
Result Argentine victory
Belligerents
 United Kingdom  Argentina
Commanders and leaders
Lt. Keith Mills (POW) Carlos Trombetta
Strength
  • 22 marines
  • 1 survey ship
  • 60 marines
  • 1 corvette
  • 1 survey ship
  • 2 helicopters
Casualties and losses
  • 1 wounded
  • 22 captured
  • 3 killed
  • 9 wounded
  • 1 corvette damaged
  • 1 helicopter shot down

The operation had been prepared on 19 March, when a group of Argentine civilian scrap metal workers arrived at Leith Harbour on board the transport ship ARA Bahía Buen Suceso without the required landing clearance and then raised the Argentine flag. The scrap workers had been infiltrated by Argentine marines posing as civilian scientists.

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