Sinking of the Belgrano

Sinking of the Belgrano was a pivotal event during the Falklands War, involving the Argentine Navy's General Belgrano cruiser, which was sunk by the Royal Navy's HMS Conqueror submarine on May 2, 1982. The sinking occurred in the context of the Falklands Islands dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom, with the British government led by Margaret Thatcher and the Argentine government led by Leopoldo Galtieri. The event involved key figures such as Admiral Jorge Anaya, Admiral Sir John Woodward, and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and was influenced by the Yom Kippur War and the Cold War.

Background

The Falklands War was sparked by the invasion of the Falkland Islands by Argentina on April 2, 1982, which led to a response from the United Kingdom under the leadership of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and the British government. The Argentine Navy played a significant role in the conflict, with ships like the General Belgrano cruiser, which was originally the USS Phoenix of the United States Navy and had survived the Attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II. The General Belgrano was part of the Argentine Navy's Teatro de Operaciones del Atlántico Sur (South Atlantic Theatre of Operations) and was supported by the ARA Veinticinco de Mayo aircraft carrier and the ARA Santísima Trinidad submarine. The Royal Navy's HMS Invincible and HMS Hermes aircraft carriers, along with the HMS Conqueror submarine, were key components of the British Task Force sent to the Falkland Islands.

The Sinking

On May 2, 1982, the HMS Conqueror submarine, under the command of Commander Christopher Wreford-Brown, detected the General Belgrano cruiser, which was outside the Falkland Islands' exclusion zone declared by the United Kingdom. The General Belgrano was escorted by the ARA Hipólito Bouchard and ARA Piedra Buena destroyers, but the HMS Conqueror successfully launched Mark 8 torpedoes, hitting the General Belgrano and causing significant damage. The sinking of the General Belgrano resulted in the loss of 321 lives, with only 770 survivors rescued by the ARA Bahía San Blas and ARA Bahía Paraíso ships. The event was influenced by the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Soviet Union's Baltic Fleet, and involved key figures such as Admiral Henry Leach and Admiral Sir Terence Lewin.

Aftermath

The sinking of the General Belgrano had a significant impact on the Falklands War, as it led to the Argentine Navy withdrawing from the conflict and the British Task Force gaining control of the seas around the Falkland Islands. The event was also influenced by the United States' Ronald Reagan administration, which provided support to the United Kingdom through the Lend-Lease Act and the Rio Treaty. The Peruvian President Fernando Belaúnde Terry attempted to mediate a peace agreement, but the British government and the Argentine government were unable to reach a settlement. The European Economic Community and the United Nations Security Council also played a role in the aftermath of the sinking, with the United Nations passing Resolution 502 calling for a ceasefire.

Controversy

The sinking of the General Belgrano was a controversial event, with debates surrounding the legality of the sinking and the justification for the attack. The British government argued that the General Belgrano was a legitimate target, as it was a threat to the British Task Force and the Falkland Islands. However, the Argentine government and other critics argued that the sinking was a war crime, as the General Belgrano was outside the exclusion zone and posed no immediate threat. The controversy involved key figures such as Tam Dalyell and Tony Benn, and was influenced by the Nuremberg Trials and the Geneva Conventions. The Amnesty International and the International Committee of the Red Cross also played a role in the controversy, with the United Nations Human Rights Council passing a resolution condemning the sinking.

Investigation

The sinking of the General Belgrano was investigated by the British government and the Argentine government, with both sides presenting different accounts of the event. The British government's investigation, led by Lord Franks, concluded that the sinking was justified, while the Argentine government's investigation, led by Admiral Jorge Anaya, concluded that the sinking was a war crime. The United Nations also conducted an investigation, which concluded that the sinking was a legitimate act of war. The investigation involved key figures such as Robin Cook and Clare Short, and was influenced by the Chilcot Inquiry and the Butler Review. The House of Commons and the House of Lords also played a role in the investigation, with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe passing a resolution calling for further investigation. Category:Maritime history