Battle of San Carlos (1982)

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Battle of San Carlos
Part of the Falklands War
Date 21–25 May 1982 Location San Carlos Water, Falkland Islands Result British victory British beachhead successfully established
Belligerents
United Kingdom	Argentina
Commanders and leaders
Sandy Woodward Michael Clapp Julian Thompson	Gen. Mario Menendez Brig. Ernesto Crespo
Strength
2 destroyers 7 frigates 11 landing ships Sea Harrier CAPs	90 fighter-bombers on the 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[1] 11 killed

The Battle of San Carlos was a 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"^[2][3]) 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 from carrier-based aircraft defended against full-scale air strikes. The British sustained losses and damage but were able to create and consolidate a beachhead and land troops.