Back Enfonsament del Belgrano Catalan Hundimiento del Belgrano Spanish הטבעת הסיירת גנרל בלגראנו HE Afundamento do ARA General Belgrano Portuguese
| Sinking of the ARA General Belgrano | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Falklands War | |||||
 Light cruiser ARA General Belgrano. | |||||
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| Belligerents | |||||
 Argentina |
 United Kingdom | ||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||
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| Units involved | |||||
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| Casualties and losses | |||||
| None | ||||
  Location within Argentina | |||||
The Argentine cruiser ARA General Belgrano was sunk on May 2, 1982, by the British nuclear submarine HMS Conqueror during the Falklands War. The sinking of the General Belgrano led to the death of 323 Argentine sailors,[1][2] almost half of all Argentine casualties during the conflict,[3][4] and sparked controversy, as the attack occurred outside the exclusion zone established by the British government around the islands. In the UK, some commentators have suggested that the action may have been motivated by political considerations, such as undermining peace talks or bolstering Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's popularity among the British public. In Argentina, some critics have characterized the sinking of the cruiser as a contentious act, with some even suggesting it could constitute a war crime, though this interpretation is debated and has not been legally substantiated.[5] Some analyses argue that, from a military perspective, the sinking contributed to British naval superiority, which may have influenced the outcome of the conflict. However, this perspective remains part of broader debates about the strategic and ethical implications of the event.[6]
The sinking of the General Belgrano is the only case of a warship being torpedoed and sunk in action by a nuclear submarine, and one of only two cases of a warship being sunk by any type of submarine since the end of the Second World War.[Notes 1][1][9]
- ^ a b Sesiones Ordinarias 2006: Orden del Dia Nº 373 [2006 Regular Sessions: Agenda No. 373] (PDF) (in Spanish). Argentina: Camara de Diputados de la Nacion (published 2006-06-02). 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-06.
- ^ "Lista de muertos del Crucero ARA General Belgrano" [List of deaths of the ARA General Belgrano Cruiser]. Centro de Ex Soldados Combatientes en Malvinas de Corrientes. Archived from the original on 2024-07-01. Retrieved 2024-12-24.
- ^ Canal 7 Argentina; Centro Televisivo Marin (2002). El Belgrano Vive [The Belgrano Lives] (Documentary) (in Spanish). Start in 40:40. Archived from the original on 2021-09-24.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Listas de muertos y desaparecidos en acción" [Lists of killed and missing in action]. Centro de Ex Soldados Combatientes en Malvinas de Corrientes. Archived from the original on 2024-07-01. Retrieved 2024-12-24.
- ^ Buncombe, Andrew; Carrell, Severin (2000-07-20). "Belgrano families lose court claim for compensation". Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-01-23. Retrieved 2024-12-24.
- ^ Mon, Hugo (2007-05-02). "El "blanco de oportunidad" de Thatcher" [Thatcher's “target of opportunity”]. La Nacion. Archived from the original on 2022-10-12. Retrieved 2024-12-24.
- ^ Till, Geoffrey (2004). Seapower: A Guide for the Twenty-first Century. Vol. 23. Portland, Oregon: Frank Cass. ISBN 9780714655420.
- ^ Phillips, Russell (2013-06-03). "The Sinking of INS Khukri". Russell Phillips: Military history and RPG books. Archived from the original on 2024-07-02. Retrieved 2024-12-24.
- ^ "Belgrano posed a real threat to fleet". The News. 2007-04-02. Archived from the original on 2016-03-23. Retrieved 2024-12-24.
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