Task Force South: The Battle for the Falklands (8 Parts)

Subtitle

Battle for the Falklands, The (8 parts)

Synopsis

On 18th March 1982, a group of Argentine scrap-metal merchants raised their country’s flag on the island of South Georgia. It was an act that started a chain of events ending with Britain’s biggest and bloodiest military operation since the Second World War. BBC news teams were assigned to follow the story. The series is a record of their experiences.
Part 1 begins with the origins of the conflict, to the point where a huge task force prepares to leave for the South Atlantic.
Part 2: The Marines and Commandos with the Task Force spent their first few days at sea in rigorous training, handling new weapons and learning new techniques. But there were also moments to relax and as the fleet got into the warmer waters of the Equator, a chance for sport. Brian Hanrahan describes life on board HMS Hermes and talks to the men in charge of the Task Force.
Part 3: As the British battle fleet sailed towards the South Atlantic, the politicians and diplomats endeavoured to negotiate an agreement which would prevent a war between Britain and Argentina. On the Falkland Islands, General Menendez and his troops were now well-established, and 3,000 miles away at Ascension Island a huge supply base was set up - the springboard for bombing raids on Stanley Airfield.
Part 4: The Task Force was now on station around the Falklands, policing the 200 mile exclusion zone the Government had established. The sinking by the British of the Argentine cruiser, General Belgrano, brought swift revenge. In retaliation, the Argentine Air Force decided to employ its latest weapons. Brian Hanrahan witnessed the loss of HMS Sheffield.
Part 5: At dawn on May 21st British troops landed in force at San Carlos Bay in the Falklands. There was no resistance on land, but within hours the Argentine airforce had attacked. Brian Hanrahan watched as Argentine pilots raided ships at anchor.
Part 6: With the beachhead on the Falklands well established, men from the Second Batallion, the Parachute Regiment, marched on to the settlement at Goose Green. After a brief, but fierce, fight that left 250 Argentinians dead, the garrison surrendered and the way was now clear for an advance on Stanley.
Part 7: At the beginning of June it was plain that Argentine resistance on the Falklands was beginning to crumble. Hundreds of prisoners had been taken, and by now enough ground had been captured for the commanders to consolidate and talk. Troops would embark on Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram and sail round the Islands to land near Port Stanley. The Argentines spotted the manoeuvre and attacked.
Part 8: The weather on the Falklands in the middle of June was bitterly cold. British troops waited in their foxholes and bunkers for the order to sweep down on Port Stanley. There had been a continuous military bombardment. Suddenly a white flag was seen waving over Port Stanley and Argentine troops were retreating towards the town offering no resistance. The war was over.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Video; Videocassette. Standard formats. col. 8 x 30 min.

Year of production

1984

Availability

OUT OF DISTRIBUTION

Subjects

History

Keywords

Falklands War (1982)

Credits

Producer

Gordon Carr

Contributor

Brian Hanrahan

Sections

Title

Opening shots

Synopsis

Part 1 begins with the origins of the conflict, to the point where a huge task force prepares to leave for the South Atlantic.

Title

Fleet at sea

Synopsis

Part 2: The Marines and Commandos with the Task Force spent their first few days at sea in rigorous training, handling new weapons and learning new techniques. But there were also moments to relax and as the fleet got into the warmer waters of the Equator

Title

To the brink of war

Synopsis

Part 3: As the British battle fleet sailed towards the South Atlantic, the politicians and diplomats endeavoured to negotiate an agreement which would prevent a war between Britain and Argentina. On the Falkland Islands, General Menendez and his troops we

Title

First casualties, The

Synopsis

Part 4: The Task Force was now on station around the Falklands, policing the 200 mile exclusion zone the Government had established. The sinking by the British of the Argentine cruiser, General Belgrano, brought swift revenge. In retaliation, the Argentin

Title

Beachhead

Synopsis

Part 5: At dawn on May 21st British troops landed in force at San Carlos Bay in the Falklands. There was no resistance on land, but within hours the Argentine airforce had attacked. Brian Hanrahan watched as Argentine pilots raided ships at anchor.

Title

Long march, The

Synopsis

Part 6: With the beachhead on the Falklands well established, men from the Second Batallion, the Parachute Regiment, marched on to the settlement at Goose Green. After a brief, but fierce, fight that left 250 Argentinians dead, the garrison surrendered an

Title

Triumph and tragedy

Synopsis

Part 7: At the beginning of June it was plain that Argentine resistance on the Falklands was beginning to crumble. Hundreds of prisoners had been taken, and by now enough ground had been captured for the commanders to consolidate and talk. Troops would em

Title

Final assualt, The

Synopsis

Part 8: The weather on the Falklands in the middle of June was bitterly cold. British troops waited in their foxholes and bunkers for the order to sweep down on Port Stanley. There had been a continuous military bombardment. Suddenly a white flag was seen

Production Company

Name

BBC Television

Distributor

Name

BBC Active Video for Learning - now BBC Learning

Contact

Carolina Fernandez Jeremy Wilcox (CF - for educational enquiries JW - channel sales manager)

Email

BBCStudiosLearning@bbc.com

Web

https://www.bbcstudioslearning.com/ External site opens in new window

Phone

+44 (0) 20 8433 1009

Address

BBC Studios Limited
Television Centre
101 Wood Lane
London
W12 7FA
UK

Notes

The BBC Active company has now been absorbed within BBC Learning, a division of BBC Studios. It was originally a joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Pearson Education. Formerly known as ‘BBC Worldwide Learning Studies’ and before that as ‘Videos for Education & Training’