From dawn Maritime Exclusion Zone replaced by Total Exclusion Zone (TEZ).

Task force arrived in exclusion zone.

USA declared support for Britain.

Major General Moore flew to Ascension to brief Commodore Clapp and Brigadier Thompson

HM Hospital Ship Uganda left Ascension.

HMS Argonaut, HMS Ardent, RFA Regent and RFA Plumleaf arrived at Ascension.

Forward Repair Ship Stena Seaspread arrived at Ascension.

HMS Brilliant and Plymouth met with Carrier Battle Group.

Antrim Group departed South Georgia leaving HMS Endurance on patrol.

Norland, with 2 PARA embarked, and RFA Sir Bedivere sailed from UK.

LSL Sir Bedivere sailed from Marchwood for Ascension.

RFA Blue Rover reached Ascension.

HMS Intrepid and RFA Bayleaf departed UK for Ascension.

The Santa Fe, was moved form King Edward Point Jetty to the whaling station.

Sir Bedivere arrived in Marchwood from Vancover for loading and re-storing.

Argentine submarine Santa Fe damaged by helicopter attacks off South Georgia
Assault launched on Grytviken
South Georgia recaptured more ->

Carrier Group met with Sheffield Group.

Atlantic Conveyor and Europic Ferry departed for the South Atlantic.

British Tamar reached Ascension

Tug Irishman reached Ascension

Atlantic Conveyor completed fitting out at Devonport.

HMS Brilliant joined Antrim Group off South Georgia.

Argentine submarine Santa Fe arrived at South Georgia.

Hospital ships HMS Hydra and Herald left Portsmouth.

RFA Brambleleaf headed for England.

A Sea King helicopter from HMS Hermes crashed into the sea after dark - killed in action: PO K S Casey.

Carrier Group went from local time to GMT.

British Tay reached Ascension

Two Wessex helicopters recovering forces lost during abortive landing on South Georgia glacier. All rescued under atrocious weather conditions by HMS Antrim's Wessex.

RFA Brambleleaf joined the Antrim Group.

HMS Brilliant detached from Brilliant Group with her two helicopters to support Antrim Group at South Georgia. Captain J F T G Salt, commanding HMS Sheffield deputed to lead the 'Brilliant' Group.

Antrim Group arrived off South Georgia and began reconnaissance.

Hospital ship Uganda sailed from Gibraltar

Hospital ship HM Hecla left Gibraltar.

Canberra and Elk arrived at Ascension.

The tug Salvageman anchored off Ascension.

Prime Minister ordered the recapture of South Georgia. Operation "Paraquet".
Led by Antrim group
HMS Antrim
HMS Plymouth
RFA Tidespring

Carrier Group went into a routine of "defence watches".

Carrier Group left Ascension
HMS Hermes
HMS Broadsword
HMS Glamorgan
HMS Yarmouth
HMS Alacrity
RFA Olmeda
RFA Resource

HMS Invincible was delayed in leaving Ascension, awaiting urgently-required stores but having sailed later in the day, caught up with the main group with ease.

Six RAF Victor tanker aircraft arrived at Ascension.

C-in-C Fleet, Admiral Fieldhouse, and Major General Moore flew to Ascension to brief Admiral Woodward, Commodore Clapp and Brigadier Thompson and flew back to Britain on the same day. It was decided that after a period of "blockade" and precursor operations an assault would be mounted in San Carlos water before 24 May.

The Amphibious Force began to arrive at Ascension
HMS Fearless
RFA Stromness and the five LSLs

HMS Hermes arrived at Ascension.

Main Task Force departed Ascension.

Admiral Woodward flew north to HMS Fearless for talks with Commodore Clapp and Brigadier Thompson and returned to HMS Hermes the same day.

HMS Invincible arrived at Ascension.

Wideawake airfield on Ascension busiest in world that day.

Stenna Seaspread departed Portsmouth after being refitted to act as a repair ship.

Fitting out of the Cunard container ship Atlantic Conveyor began at Devonport.

RFA Tidepool on passage for delivery to Chilean navy summoned back.

HMS Glamorgan met with HMS Hermes. Admiral Woodward transferred his flag to the carrier.

HMS Hermes was now in company with HMS Alacrity, Broadsword and Yarmouth.

Intelligence assessment puts Argentine strength on Falklands at 7,000 men.

Brilliant Group left Ascension.
HMS Brilliant, commanded by Captain John Coward,
HMS Glasgow
HMS Sheffield
HMS Coventry
HMS Arrow
The group was to take up a position 1,200 miles south of Ascension.

Rear Admiral Woodward left Ascension in HMS Glamorgan.

HMS Endurance joined by Antrim Group and RFA Fort Austin.

Once replenished, the Antrim Group and HMS Endurance headed for South Georgia.

RFA Fort Austin headed north for a rendezvous with the Brilliant Group.

RFA Appleleaf left Ascension following the Brilliant Group.

HMS Falmouth brought forward off the sales list and was recommissioned nine days later.

Antrim Group departed Ascension with M Coy 42 Commando embarked.

Admiral Woodward reached Ascension with his other ships and was joined on passage by RFA Apppleleaf.

EEC banned imports from Argentina in support of Britain.

Antrim Group arrived Ascension.

P&O liner Uganda taken up. At the time she was on an educational cruise in the Mediterranean. Her passengers were put ashore in Naples and she was taken to Gibraltar for conversion to a hospital ship.

Canberra, with 40 and 42 Commando RM, and 3 PARA embarked, and Elk, with 2000 tons of ammunition, departed Southampton.

RFA Fort Austin departed Gibraltar in order to meet HMS Endurance

HMS Ambuscade left Devonport for Gibraltar carrying extra ammunition.

American Sectretary of State Alexander Haig arrived in London.

HM Ships Broadsword and Yarmouth departed Gibraltar

Antrim Group crossed the Equator.

Britain declared 200 miles maritime exclusion zone around Falkland Islands.

Antrim Group - HMS Antrim, HMS Plymouth and RFA Tidespring ordered to "proceed with despatch" to Ascension in order to accompany RFA Fort Austin which was due to replenish HMS Endurance.

Canberra arrived in Southampton for conversion and to embark stores and troops

Maj-Gen Mario Menendez appointed Commander-in-Chief as well as Military Governor.

Francis Pym appointed Foreign Secretary

US Secretary of State, Alexander Haig, begins peace shuttle. Arrived in London on 7th April. The basis of this and all peace plans are threefold - both sides' forces to withdraw from the islands, an interim administration to be set up, and a long term settlement to be negotiated.

HMS Fearless departed Portsmouth

Lord Carrington resigned as Foreign Secretary

First Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft arrived on Ascension Island. more->

United Nations condemned invasion.

3 Commando Brigade reinforced by 3 PARA and other Army units. more->

The 'important message' was passed from the Bahia Paraiso to Lieutenant Keith Mills by VHF radio at 1030. It was an invitation to follow the Govenor and surrender. more->

Warships of the First Flotilla, under the command of Rear Admiral Woodward were in Gibraltar for Operation 'Springtrain'. more->

By the 31st March, British intelligence had led to the belief that an invasion of the Falkland Islands was imminent. more->