Falkland Islands: Gunboats in the South Atlantic

Argentina invades and dares Britannia to rule the waves

At first the incident seemed mischievous, what British political aides in London were calling a "little local difficulty." But suddenly the fight became all too real. Some 2,500 Argentine troops, backed by an aircraft carrier, three missile destroyers and other warships, swooped down on a scattering of chilly South Atlantic islands. Waiting helplessly near the settlement of Port Stanley was a defense force consisting of a mere 40 British Royal Marines. After three hours of sporadic gunfire, in which one invader was killed and two others were wounded, the battle was over....