19 March 1982

 

Argentines posing as scrap merchants, aboard the fleet transport ship Bahia Buen Suceso, arrive at Leith Harbour in South Georgia without observing the usual formalities of first reporting to the base commander of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS).

 

It is the start of the Falklands War.

20 March 1922

 

The former collier USS Jupiter (AC-3), having been converted into the first U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, is commissioned into service as the USS Langley (CV-1).

21 March 2007

 

Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announces that Iran will pursue nuclear activities, outside international law if necessary, as the UN Security Council prepares further sanctions as a means of halting the Iranian nuclear program.

24 March 1999

 

NATO begins its bombing campaign against Yugoslavia, under Operation Allied Force.

25 March 1979

 

The first Space Shuttle, Columbia (OV-102), is delivered to the Kennedy Space Center in preparation for its first launch.

 

The Space Shuttles' contribution to military efforts is often understated.

26 March 2010

 

The South Korean Navy's Po Hang class corvette ROKS Cheonan (PCC-772) sinks after breaking into two pieces off the southwest coast of Baengnyeong Island in the Yellow Sea. The suspected culprit is a torpedo from a North Korean submarine.

27 March 1854

 

The British join the Crimean War with a declaration of war against Russia.

 

The frigate HMS Furious is fired on outside Odessa harbour, and in response the British fleet bombarded the port.

28 March 1941

 

In the Battle of Cape Matapan, fought off the southwestern coast of Greece, a force of British and Australian warships intercepted and sank or severely damaged several warships of Italy's Regia Marina. It was Italy's greatest defeat at sea.

31 March 1954

 

Soviet Minister of Foreign Affairs V.M. Molotov makes a proposal to the Soviet Presidium that the USSR should join NATO.

 

The proposal is rejected by Western representatives, as it required (among other things) that the USA be relegated to observer status.

2 April 1982

 

Argentine forces come ashore around Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands.

3 April 1944

 

During Operation Tungsten, aircraft from the Royal Navy's carriers HMS Furious and HMS Victorious launch a surprise attack against the German battleship Tirpitz at Kaafjord in southern Norway. Although caught without her protective screen of destroyers, and although suffering heavy casualties, the battleship itself was not badly damaged. She was repaired by mid July, but never sortied to attack Allied convoys, and was finally destroyed in November.

4 April 1933

 

US Navy airship (and flying aircraft carrier) USS Akron (ZRS-4) is destroyed in a thunderstorm off the coast of New Jersey, killing 73 of the 76 persons aboard.

7 April 1989

 

The sole Project 685 Plavnik (NATO 'Mike') class nuclear powered attack submarine K-278 Komsomolets is lost after a fire aboard the boat, sinking about 100 nm southwest of Bear Island in the Norwegian Sea.

8 April 1940

During Operation Weserübung, and led by the Admiral Hipper class cruiser Blucher, a German flotilla steams into the Oslofjord under the cover of darkness, to seize the capital of Norway.

 

Before dawn on the following day, two elderly 11 inch coastal guns at the Oscarsborg Fortress engaged and scored hits on Blucher at very close range. A pair of torpedoes from coastal based batteries also strike the ship.

 

A resulting fire could not be contained and after an explosion in the magazines, Blucher capsized and sank with heavy loss of life.

 

The city is ultimately captured by landed troops and airborne units, but the battle permits the Norwegian government and royal family to escape.

 

The wreck of Blucher remains at the bottom of the Drøbak Narrows.

9 April 1865

 

Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrenders the Army of Northern Virginia to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox, Virginia, effectively ending the American Civil War.