The sinking of ARA General Belgrano by a nuclear submarine marked the deadliest single action of the Falklands War, killing 323 Argentine sailors.
Key Facts
- Argentine sailors killed
- 323
- Share of Argentine casualties
- Almost half of all Argentine casualties
- Attacking vessel
- HMS Conqueror (British nuclear submarine)
- First of its kind
- First warship sunk by a nuclear submarine in combat
- Location context
- Outside the British-declared exclusion zone
- Date of sinking
- 2 May 1982
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
During the Falklands War between Argentina and the United Kingdom, British forces established an exclusion zone around the Falkland Islands. The Argentine cruiser ARA General Belgrano was operating in the South Atlantic, and British naval command considered it a threat to the task force, leading to authorisation of an attack even though the vessel was outside the declared exclusion zone.
On 2 May 1982, the British nuclear submarine HMS Conqueror torpedoed and sank the Argentine cruiser ARA General Belgrano in the South Atlantic. The attack killed 323 Argentine sailors, making it the single deadliest incident of the Falklands War. It was also the first time in history that a nuclear submarine sank a warship in combat.
The sinking provoked intense controversy in both Argentina and the United Kingdom, with critics questioning its legality and political motivation. Argentina's naval forces largely withdrew from the open sea after the attack, ceding maritime dominance to Britain. The event remains one of the most debated actions of the conflict, raising unresolved questions about military necessity and the laws of war.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent