The attack started at 3am on Sunday when groups of SAS and SBS troops were landed by helicopter to observe the Argentinean positions at Leith and Grytviken. Once the information was relayed back to the waiting commandos, the frigate Ardent moved towards the settlement at Grytviken and the destroyer Antrim moved into Stromness bay about 20 miles north of Grytviken.

The settlement at Leith, in Stromness Bay, was where the Argentineans ignited the spark that led to the conflict by landing troops disguised as scrap merchants just over a month ago. During the fight that followed when the Royal Marine detachment from H.M.S. Endurance attempted to evict the Argentineans, a patrol vessel was put out of action and remains, listing with damage from that attack.

As no Argentine activity was present, the decision was taken to move onto Grytviken, this time with the company of commandos being helicoptered forward to the other ships of the force. Just before daylight the frigate Ardent moved slowly into the bay that contains Grytviken and began a bombardment of the settlement, being careful to avoid hitting any of the buildings, just in case they held civilians. At the same time troops began landing at King Edward Point to the north. The advance was taken carefully to give the defenders a chance to surrender. They refused.

By now the navy had stepped up its bombardment with the arrival of a second ship. For a further fifteen minutes the navy continued the bombardment to give the advancing marines cover to enable them to get into position.

The firing was relentless and as a final straw, a Wasp helicopter from H.M.S. Endurance joined in using an anti-ship missile to knock out the defenders emplacements. With no hope of winning, the Argentine morale collapsed and white flags began to appear just as a seaborne assault was made behind the defenders, coinciding with the commandos advance. The 72 Argentineans suffered 5 dead and 24 wounded as opposed to three wounded commandos.

Later Endurance picked up the members of the BAS who had fled to Sorling Valley, some suffering from frostbite due to the harsh conditions in which they had survived for the last few weeks.

The 110 strong M company of 42 Commando were led by Major Guy Sheridan and are all expert in arctic warfare.

An ecstatic PM Thatcher greeted crowds outside No10 Downing Street with the words, "Rejoice at that news and congratulate the Navy and the marines".

Given the failure of the negotiations, this action may help persuade the Argentine Junta that theirs is a lost cause, and that they owe it to their troops and people not to be responsible for further casualties in this unfortunate war.

Above, the Union flag flies once more on South Georgia and left, the settlement at Grytviken.