3. An amphibious landing led to the fall of Port Stanley on April 2
The main Argentine assault landed at Yorke Bay, and included armored personnel carriers. They were engaged by British Marines on the road to Stanley. The Marines used anti-tank rockets and heavy machine guns, but were forced to withdraw in the direction of Government House, which was being pressed by the Argentine commandos. Around 9.30 AM the British acknowledged the overwhelming numerical superiority of the Argentine force and surrendered. 107 Royal Marines and Sailors were captured. The Marines were escorted to a nearby field and ordered to lie prone on the grass, face down. The Argentines took photographs of the operation, intending to use them to demonstrate the low number of casualties sustained by the British.
When Argentine officers arrived at the scene, they ordered the British Marines to stand up, in ranks. The Marines were then transported by aircraft to Patagonia, thence to Uruguay, and finally to Great Britain. A small detachment of Royal Marines had eluded capture at Government House. On April 4, the group destroyed their weapons and surrendered to the Argentinian Military Police. On April 5, they arrived home to a hero’s welcome. The participants in the battle claimed differing numbers of casualties they inflicted on the Argentines to the British press. Officially, the Argentinians listed 1 killed and six wounded. The British Marines claimed up to two dozen Argentine dead. Rex Hunt claimed the Marines had killed at least 17 of the enemy.