Was the sinking of the Belgrano a war crime?

“It was absolutely not a war crime. It was an act of war, lamentably legal.” Since that fateful afternoon on May 2, 1982, the sinking of the Argentinian cruiser Belgrano by the British nuclear-powered submarine Conqueror has been regarded as one of the most controversial events of the Falklands War.

Why was sinking the Belgrano controversial?

Controversy over the sinking. The legality of the sinking of General Belgrano has been disputed due to disagreement on the exact nature of the Maritime Exclusion Zone (MEZ) and whether General Belgrano had been returning to port at the time of the sinking.

Why did HMS Conqueror fly the Jolly Roger?

Flying the Jolly Roger continued in the late 20th century and on into the 21st. HMS Conqueror raised the flag to recognise her successful attack on the Argentine cruiser ARA General Belgrano during the Falklands War. The Jolly Roger has been adopted as the logo of the Royal Navy Submarine Service.

How did the Falklands War affect the Argentinian public?

It won the Conservative Party government a second term in Government for it was indeed a clear and decisive British victory. On the other side, the Argentinian public deemed the war unnecessary as well; it was forced upon them by the ruling military junta.

How did the Argentinian military prepare for WW2?

The preparations for war included a power shift in the military junta, from its initial leader, General Roberto Viola, to General Leopoldo Galtieri, on whose behalf Admiral Anaya organized the Argentinian Navy to participate in the attack.

What was the chain of command in the Falklands War?

The air units involved in the Falklands War were under the following chain of command : Air Defence Command ( Spanish: Comando Aéreo de Defensa) – Brigadier Jorge Hughes was in charge of the radar network, Mirage IIIEA interceptors and anti-aircraft defences on the mainland.

What happened to Argentina after the Belgrano incident?

ARA Belgrano sinking on May 2nd, 1982. After the British victory on land, their terms for the Argentinian surrender proved to be much harsher than originally expected by the Junta, but Argentina accepted them on 14th of June 1982. Argentinean troops withdrew from the islands, leaving them in British hands.