The Operations

OPERATION CORPORATE was the codename given to the 1982 British military involvement in the Falkland Islands during the Falklands War.

OPERATION PARAQUET was the code name for the British military operation to recapture the Island of South Georgia from Argentine military control.

Operation Sutton was the British landings on the shores of San Carlos Water, at Ajax Bay and Port San Carlos, near San Carlos on East Falkland.

The weather was a considerable influence in the timing of Operation Corporate. There was only a short period during the South Atlantic seasonal weather when a landing with air support could be undertaken with any chance of success.  This was an additional pressure on the UK Government when diplomatic solutions dragged on unsuccessfully.

Time Portsmouth to Port Stanley

Distance: 8425 nm

Speed: 16 knots

Days at sea: 21.9

For planning purposes:

1000miles = 3 days

And 10% fuel per day

Distances

Distances are shown in Nautical Miles, about 2000 yards long, about 1852 metres, as opposed to 1760 yards in a statute (land) mile.

Times

All times quoted in the South Atlantic are GMT, or Zulu time.  The local time in the Falklands is 3 hours behind Zulu time, so 0900Z is 0600 in the Falklands/Argentina.  All units in the S Atlantic kept Zulu time so that there was no confusion between units when comparing events.  It also meant that the Task Force had finished breakfast before the Argentines were awake!