(Overheard singing "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" as they sailed off)

From April 2 to June 13, 1982 Britain and Argentina had something of a face-off over a tiny group of islands off the Argentine coast. Argentina, under the recently installed Military government of Leopoldo Galtieri, claimed it belonged to them, while Britain maintained it was part of the British Empire for the past 149 years. On the morning of April 2nd, Argentine troops invaded the islands and overran the 84 British Marines stationed there. The political storm that followed saw the resignation of Thatcher's Foreign Secretary Lord Carrington and an effort on the part of the U.S. to broker some peace settlement. In the end, Thatcher rejected a peace initiative and sent troops to force a confrontation. As of April 24th, the British fleet was 1,000 miles away from The Falklands and in a matter of days a full-on shooting war would break out.

Here is a BBC World Service news report on the days activities. Before the advent of streaming audio and 24 hour satellite broadcasts, most overseas radio came by way of Shortwave - distant voices that faded in and out and sounded ominous.

Maybe it added to the drama, but it kept a lot of fingers glued to the dial during that month.