Deception Island incident

Incident between the United Kingdom, Argentina and Chile during the Cold War

Deception Island incident

| Date| 15 February 1953

|

Location|

62° 56´S - 60°36´W (Deception Island, Antarctica)

Result|  Destruction of Argentine and Chilean bases
Belligerents
United Kingdom|  Argentina
Chile
Commanders and leaders
Maj. Edwards|  Lt. Chihigaren
Strength
35 Royal Marines
2 frigates|  2 Argentine sailors
Casualties and losses
|  2 prisoners

The Deception Island incident took place in February 1953 when a group of British Royal Marines landed on Deception Island in Antarctica, took two Argentine sailors prisoner and destroyed an Argentine Navy base. A nearby Chilean base was also destroyed.

## Background[edit]

In 1943, the United Kingdom launched Operation Tabarin, with the goal of asserting its claim to a portion of Antarctica, which was also claimed by both Argentina and Chile. For the next few years, British warships would patrol the region, destroying Argentine and Chilean sovereignty markers. As part of this operation, British forces also built a base on Deception Island, called Station B (62° 59′ S, 60° 34′ W)[1][2] Despite these efforts, both Latin American countries continued to expand their presence in Antarctica, building more bases and installing new sovereignty markers.[2][3] In 1948, the Argentine Navy established a permanent base on Deception Island, called Deception Station, garrisoned by ten men.[2]

## The incident[edit]

On 14 January 1953, Argentine ship ARA Chiriguano arrived to the island and unloaded men and supplies to build a second base named "Teniente Cándido de Lasala"[2] after a Navy officer who died in the British invasions of the River Plate.[4][5] The small base was garrisoned by four men- one officer (Liutenant Jorge D. Chihigaren)[6] two sailors (Corporals Acosta and Blázquez) and one scientist (Geologist Luis Vullo).[7] British ship HMS Snipe arrived on 19 January and delivered a note of protest to the base, claiming that the Argentines were trespassing on British territory. In response, ARA Punta Ninfas of the Argentine Navy delivered a note to the Snipe claiming that it was the British who were trespassing.[8] On 23 January, Chilean ships Lientur and Leucotón moored close by and began building their own base 200 meters (660 ft) west of the Lasala installation. They left on 7 February.[2][8]

On 30 January, the British Colonial Office sent a telegram to the Falkland Islands administration, saying: "Latest Argentinian and Chilean landings in Deception Island appear to be deliberately provocative, and ones we should not tolerate." and plans were made to send troops to the island. No warning was given to the Argentine and Chilean governments to safeguard the element of surprise.[9] On 15 February at 14:05, thirty-five Royal Marines under the command of Major C. Edwards[7] landed on the island from HMS Snipe, supported by HMS Bigbury Bay.[3] The marines were equipped with Sten guns, rifles, bayonets and tear gas.[9] They surrounded the Lasala base and took Acosta and Blázquez prisoner; Lt. Chihigaren and Vullo were in Deception Station, taking inventory of some construction materials.[7] Before leaving, the marines set both the Argentine and the Chilean bases on fire. Chilean personnel were not present at the time.[3] The next morning, Lt. Chihigaren returned from Deception station and found his base destroyed.[2] He then walked to Station B to issue a protest and was told his men had been taken to South Georgia.[6][7]

## Aftermath[edit]

Argentine President Juan Perón was visiting Chile when news of the attack reached the continent. Together with Chilean President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo, they issued a strong protest to the British embassy, demanding an apology, and discussed a possible joint response. On 18 February, Acosta and Blázquez were released.[3] Several ships were sent to Deception to protect the remaining Argentine base on the island, such as ARA Bahía Aguirre, ARA Bahía Buen Suceso, ARA Chiriguano and ARA Sanavirón.[2] Avro Lincoln bomber aircraft of the Argentinean Air Force also overflew the area.[2]

Major Edwards and the Royal Marines left the island aboard the HMS Bigbury Bay on April 16.[7] The Argentine Navy returned later that year and re-inaugurated the Lasala base on December 30. It was used by the Naval Hydrographic Service for a few years before being abandoned. A volcanic eruption destroyed it in 1967.[10][11] The Chilean base was rebuilt in 1954.[8]

The island, like the rest of Antarctica, is currently administered under the Antarctic Treaty System, pausing all territorial claims.

## See also[edit]

* Territorial claims in Antarctica
* Hope Bay incident

## References[edit]

1. ^ "History of Deception Island (Station B)".
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Fontana, Pablo Gabriel (2023). "The arrival of the Polar Forces: The Permanent Installation of the Argentine Armed Forces in Antarctica During the First Peronism (1946-1955)". Defensa Nacional (8): 116, 117, 120, 127, 128.
3. ^ a b c d Fontana, Gabriel (2021). "The 'Antarctic Problem' and the Antarctic Treaty: Genesis of an Inconclusive Denouement". Hemispheric & Polar Studies Journal. 12 (1): 28, 30, 31.
4. ^ Balmaceda, Daniel (2020). "Invasiones Inglesas: la sobrina que perdió al tío con quien iba a casarse".
5. ^ José R. Bamio & Raúl Dárrichon, Argentine Navy, Efemérides Navales, 2014. p. 22
6. ^ a b Pierrou, Enrique Jorge (1981). La Armada Argentina en la Antártida. Instituto de Publicaciones Navales. pp. 467, 469.
7. ^ a b c d e Fontana, Pablo Gabriel (2018). The Antarctic struggle: the conflict for the sixth continent 1939–1959. Guazuvira Ediciones. pp. 249, 252, 258. ISBN 978-987-33-5970-5.
8. ^ a b c Fontana, Pablo Gabriel (2021). "Argentina y El Cambio de runmbo Antárctico en los años 1950s". Antártica en la década del 50: Perspectivas desde el Cono Sur. LW EDITORIAL: 131, 132, 133.
9. ^ a b Armstrong, Patrick; Forbes, Vivian (1997). "The Falkland Islands and their Adjacent Maritime Area". Maritime Briefing. 2 (3): 10.
10. ^ Scientific Stations in Antarctica 1882-1963. Dubrovin, L.I. V.N. Petrov, 1967, p. 87
11. ^ Boletin del Instituto Antártico Argentino. 1957. p. 20.