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The Falklands War was a 10-week conflict between Argentina and the United Kingdom in 1982 over two British dependent territories in the South Atlantic. The conflict began after Argentina invaded and occupied the islands in an attempt to establish the sovereignty it had claimed over them. The bloody conflict spanned until the Argentine surrender on June 14, by that point 649 Argentine military personnel, 255 British military personnel, and three Falkland Islanders died during the hostilities.

The discord saw the loss of at least seven British vessels, including HMS Coventry, a Type 42 destroyer sunk by an Argentine Air Force A-4 Skyhawks on May 25, 1982. Fast-forward almost four decades and documents can now reveal how the Navy returned to the Falkland shores once more to hunt out the ship. A memo from the Ministry of Defence to other government agencies, stamped January 25, 1983, reads: “HMS Coventry was sunk in some 100 metres of water to the north of the Falklands Sound. “Although too deep for casual, amateur diving, the wreck is accessible to professional divers and it was, therefore, necessary to recover classified, principally cryptographic material.

Clasified materials were recovered

The Falklands war happened in 1982

It was necessary to recover classified, principally cryptographic material Ministry of Defence

“This was done by Naval divers operating from chartered vessel Stena Seaspread, which is now returning to the UK on completion. “She is due at Portsmouth on January 28.” Among other documents seen by Express.co.uk, was a press release prepared by the Ministry of Defence justifying why they probed such a sensitive area. It reads: “On January 28, the North Sea diving vessel Stena Seaspread returns to Portsmouth on conclusion her charter to the Ministry of Defence for work in the Falklands. “She brings back a team of Royal Navy divers and supporting personnel who have performed an exceptional and successful diving operation in deep water in a remote part of the world, recovering classified publications and equipment from HMS Coventry. READ MORE: RAF’s fears over accidental Iran nuclear bomb drop exposed in secret letters

The documents from MoD

Britain secured their overseas territory

More than 600 Argentines lost their lives

“Naval Party 2200, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Miko Kooner, was formed for the project in August. “30 strong, it consisted of 26 diving officers and ratings together with medical, supply, communications and technical personnel. “Diving operations began in October and there were three 21-day saturation dives.” It also reveals how the team faced several problems. It adds: “The divers worked at a depth ranging from 75 to 93 metres.

“The weather caused some problems, especially when it was too rough for Stena Seaspread to hold her position. “The divers achieved their objectives and recovered the material and equipment much sooner than originally estimated. “The divers were able to retrieve the Cross of Nails which was presented to the ship by the City of Coventry as a symbol of the close links between the city and the ship. “It is intended that the cross should be returned for safekeeping to the Coventry Cathedral.”

Times the world came close to World War 3

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