43 years ago today, on May 31, 1982 (April 9, 1982, the 1982 lunar calendar), a major naval battle broke out between Britain and Afghanistan over the Falkland Islands. The British warship was hit by a flying fish missile on May 31. After a month-long post-war period, Argentine troops are holding the island today for their final hold. The British army advanced 15 miles into the desolate mountains west of Stanley and would soon capture the capital. The fighting started earlier this month after Argentine President Gen. Leopoldo Gartieri accused Britain of "undermining peace in the Americas and endangering world security." The Afghan Army Command said it retaliated against the British Air Force's attack on the Falkland Islands by destroying two British frigates and shooting down two Harrier jet fighters. Despite this, during these 24 hours, the British offensive was overwhelmingly dominant. On the night of the 3rd, Argentina admitted that its only cruiser, the General Belgrano, was sunk by a torpedo fired by a British submarine. Argentina has announced that 680 people have survived and 362 are missing after a search of the cold South Atlantic. The Buenos Aires government called the British attack on the 13645-ton ship a "cunning armed assault." The Afghan military headquarters angrily claimed that the General Belgrano was sunk 36 miles away from the waters declared by the British. Prime Minister Thatcher announced to Parliament that the General Belgrano had indeed been sunk outside the blockaded waters, but insisted that the ship had posed a "very clear threat" to the British army. Her explanation failed to satisfy the Labour Party. Labour accused that until the end the British commander was laughing at the cruiser's combat performance. An admiral also said the General Belgrano was "made of wire binding." Argentina responded and retaliated. On the 5th, a fighter jet fired a French-made Harpoon missile and destroyed the British destroyer HMS Sheffield, killing about 30 British sailors. In the following week, there were hopes of ending the war between the two sides through peace talks, but these hopes were dashed when the British once again sank an Afghan oil tanker between the East and West Straits of the Falkland Islands. Two Argentine A-4 Eagle fighter jets were also shot down by a "Sea Wolf" missile fired by a British ship. The British side said the two aircraft were escorting the transport plane and trying to cross the blockade. On the 20th, Prime Minister Thatcher, confident by the Royal Navy's record, rejected the United Nations's call for negotiations. Afghan military commanders in Buenos Aires admit they are making up their minds to carry out a direct attack on the Falkland Islands. Within days, the British army had established a beachhead of 5000 people in the Gulf of San Carlos. In the east and south, British bombers attacked airstrips controlled by Argentine troops at Stanley and Goose Green. Argentine troops board beachhead British jets ready for battle