Battle of San Carlos (1982)

Battle of San Carlos
Part of Falklands War
HMS Antelope explodes on 23 May
Date 21–25 May 1982 Location San Carlos Water, Falkland Islands Result British establish successful beachhead
Belligerents
United Kingdom	Argentina
Commanders and leaders
Sandy Woodward Jeremy Moore Michael Clapp	Gen. Mario Menendez Brig. Ernesto Crespo
Strength
2 destroyers 7 frigates 11 Landing ships Sea Harrier CAPs	90 fighter-bombers on mainland 2 KC-130 Hercules tankers 10 attack aircraft on the islands
Casualties and losses
1 destroyer sunk 2 frigates sunk 8 ships damaged 4 helicopters lost 49 killed	22 aircraft lost 11 pilots killed
Location within Falkland Islands

The Battle of San Carlos was a major battle between aircraft and ships that lasted from 21 to 25 May 1982 during the British landings on the shores of San Carlos Water (which became known as "Bomb Alley") in the 1982 Falklands War (Spanish: Guerra de las Malvinas). Low-flying land-based Argentine jet aircraft made repeated attacks on ships of the British Task Force.

It was the first time in history that a modern surface fleet armed with surface-to-air missiles and with air cover backed up by STOVL carrier-based aircraft defended against full-scale air strikes. The British sustained severe losses and damage, but were able to create and consolidate a beachhead and land troops.

After the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands the United Kingdom initiated Operation Corporate sending a Task Force 12000 km south in order to retake the islands. Under the codename Operation Sutton the British forces planned amphibious landings around San Carlos, on an inlet located off Falkland Sound, the strait between East Falkland and West Falkland. The location was chosen as the landing force would be protected by the terrain against Exocet and submarine attacks, and it was distant enough from Stanley to prevent a rapid reaction from Argentine land troops stationed there.

The landing took the Argentines completely by surprise; Argentine Navy officers had considered that the location was not a good choice for such an operation, and had left the zone without major defences.