Galtieri now had to think about his next move. He would soon realise that winning the battle is just the opening action of any aggressive intervention. Winning the war ultimately defines success and a name in history. Argentina’s Navy was a mixture of modern and ageing warships, but nevertheless, they presented a significant capability. Likewise, the air force included some upgraded aircraft and weapons. Buenos Aires had ordered new Exocet missiles from France to be launched from Super Etendard fighters. But only a handful had arrived. As in any conflict, the ability to deliver success would be down to the determination and resilience of individual sailors, soldiers and airmen to overcome in adversity. More importantly, it would test the quality of their equipment and their Officers’ ability to motivate and lead their men into action. On paper, the Argentine plan presented commanders with the opportunity for early victories. But then in the early days of April, the junta had not considered the British would mount a counter-attack.
In late March 1982, a number of Argentine warships had been taking part in routine exercises with Uruguay. Now they had been sent orders to move south and by 1 April had moved into Task Groups and formed up 150 miles off the Falklands. Then in darkness they made their final approach to the islands on Thursday evening 1 April. The Argentines were about to launch the invasion of the Falklands which they had planned for so long. The Royal Navy ice patrol ship HMS had deployed to South Georgia the only opposition the junta faced was the small Royal Marines detachment. Fully aware – after London had sent a signal to the had embarked a 20 strong team of Special Forces commandos while the destroyer ARA was carrying more than 80 Special Force soldiers. The 2,300 tonne a Balao-class sub, had been purchased from the United States in 1971, after having been built in 1944 and then served a long career as the USS was a 4,100 tonne Type 42 destroyer which was one of two UK designed warships built outside Britain. Built-in 1974 and commissioned in 1981, the vessel was one of the fleet’s newest assets and ironically, she had spent time in the UK in the year before the war as her crew learned how to fire the Sea Dart antiair system and 4.5in gun. The was also fitted with the capability to launch MM38 Exocet missiles. These two vessels had been assigned the vital task of spearheading the first phase of the invasion, codenamed Operation Rosario.
