May 22nd 1982: John Nott makes a statement: 'Tactical surprise was achieved and our troops landed safely with almost no interference from Argentine forces. We are now ashore on British sovereign territory in considerable force... We intend to ensure that aggression does not pay.'

May 22nd 1982: At around 14.30, British Harriers make a low-level raid against the BAM Condor runway at Goose Green. Argentine anti-aircraft artillery blazes away as the Harriers escape, and their gunners wrongly believe that they have hit one of them.

May 22nd 1982: At 14.40, four Argentine Skyhawks take off from San Julian and head out over San Carlos. In bad weather, they cannot identify exactly where they are, and see no ships except for the stricken Rio Iguazu, so head for home.

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May 22nd 1982: Rapier batteries now line the bluffs above San Carlos, although many of them have had their gyroscopes damaged at sea, whilst some face power issues, and interference from ships radars is another issue. They are augmented by Blowpipe air defence units and GPMGs.

May 22nd 1982: The weather in the Falklands starts bright, with frost overnight, but soon deteriorates with heavy cloud cover and patchy rain. It is ideal weather for the task force, as it means no air raids, and the job of unloading men & equipment goes on in earnest...

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May 21st 1982: The Argentine Air Force suspends its attacks for the day. Their losses in aircraft this day amount to:

5 X Daggers
5 X Skyhawks
2 X Pucaras
1 X Chinook
1 X Bell-212
1 X Puma

Total: 15 Aircraft, with 4 pilots killed and 8 ejected safely.

(continues)

May 21st 1982: As the sun goes down the British are ashore at San Carlos. They have survived the first day of the battle, but with 24 men killed & many wounded. In Stanley, Gen. Menendez announces only 200 British ashore, surrounded & ready to surrender: it is already over 5,000.

May 21st 1982: In other news, RAF Nimrod MR2 XV232 conducts the longest reconnaissance flight in history, breaking its previous record, set May 15th. Scouting the South Atlantic for naval activity, it covers 8,453 miles (13,604km) in 18 hours, 50 minutes.

The calving of #A83 poses a real threat to the stability of the re-formed Halley bay emperor penguin colony. This colony was originally the second largest in the world, but several years of bad sea ice and iceberg calving events have hit it hard British Antarctic Survey 🐧

May 21st 1982: By night, HMS Glamorgan hits Argentine positions around Stanley with 57 shells, enough to keep them guessing; believing that San Carlos was a raid and the main landing will still be at Stanley. Operation Tornado works like a charm, and Gen Menendez believes it...

May 20th 1982: The word spreads as people start to prepare. Here, in this photo, HMS Broadsword is approaching MV Norland to give the news that Operation Sutton is commencing....

May 20th 1982: As the counter invasion of the #Falklands begins, the Amphibious Landing Group and support ships form up in defensive formation and prepare to enter the TEZ, with HMS Antrim leading the way, Ardent, Plymouth and Yarmouth in support.....

May 20th 1982: The Task Force is on the edge of the TEZ and the news from London is that Argentina has rejected the final offer for peace. It is time to take back the Falklands by force. At 23.25 Brigadier Julian Thompson gives the order to begin the attack: 'Gentlemen, we go'.

May 20th 1982: At a meeting of the War Cabinet, and with Argentina not accepting the UK's final offer of peace, Operation Sutton - The Amphibious landing in the Falklands headed for San Carlos - is given the go-ahead for tomorrow, at the Landing Force Commander's discretion...

In the end, both HMNZS Canterbury and HMNZS Waikato (pictured) will cover the Armilla Patrol in order to free up RN ships for the Falklands War.

May 20th 1982: New Zealand's PM Robert Muldoon offers to send Leander Class Frigate HMNZS Canterbury to the Falklands to join the task force. London politely declines, but suggest that New Zealand might help free up the RN Frigate Squadron in the Persian Gulf instead... (cont's)

Of the 29 men on board, 21 are killed (18 men from the SAS, some fresh from the Pebble Island raid) an Aircrewman, one from the RAF and one Royal Signals, and 8 survive. A tragic loss.

Roll of Honour below:

May 19th 1982: At 19.15 a Sea King of 846 squadron crashes cross-decking SAS of D & G Squadrons, 22 SAS from Hermes to Intrepid. Bird strike with an albatross is presumed to be the cause.....