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Helicopter Part

Part an Argentinian Puma helicopter downed during the Battle of Grytviken, 3rd April 1982

Social History

Object Number: 2015.18

On the 3rd of April 1982 22 Royal Marines from HMS Endurance fought to defend Grytviken against Argentinian attack. Argentinian Marines made landfall in Leith Harbour in mid-March before preparing to take Grytviken. This gave time for the Royal Marines to move in from the Falkland Islands and prepare for attack in Grytviken. During the battle, the Royal Marines shot down an Argentinian Puma helicopter transporting troops to land. The helicopter crashed on Brown Flats with 2 Argentine casualties. This piece is from the wreckage.

The Royal Marines were outnumbered and outgunned so they surrendered Grytviken and King Edward Point to the Argentinians. 22 Royal Marines and 13 civilians were captured and moved off South Georgia as prisoners. They were eventually returned to the UK later in April.

British forces started making moves to retake South Georgia. On the 25th of April Operation Paraquat was mounted to retake King Edward Point and Grytviken. 75 British Soldiers, Royal Marines and SAS troopers, landed to at Hestesletten and just north of King Edward Point to retake Grytviken and King Edward Point. They were supported by fire from ships for intimidation. Not long after moving along Brown Mountain ridge to start securing ground, Argentinians surrendered from King Edward Point. Operation generally successful captured over 100 Argentine POWs.

After surrender, Royal Marines were guarding the Santa Fe, an Argentinian submarine which had been damaged by British ships and was alongside in Grytviken. They misunderstood Petty Officer Felix Artuso to be attempting to scuttle the vessel and shot and killed him. This was an unfortunate end to an otherwise successful operation without casualties. Felix Artuso was buried with full military honours in Grytviken cemetery. The submarine was later scuttled in deep waters in Cumberland Bay.

The conflict in South Georgia unfolded with no British casualties and few Argentinian casualties. The same cannot be said for the conflict in the Falkland Islands. The conflict lasted 74 days and cost over 900 lives.

Following the events in 1982, a permanent garrison was stationed in Shackleton House at King Edward Point until 2001. At this point operations of the station were taken over by the British Antarctic Survey.