Operation Algeciras

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Operation Algeciras
Part of the Falklands War
Type	Argentine diversionary sabotage
Location	Algeciras, Cádiz; Bay of Gibraltar
Planned by	Admiral Jorge Anaya
Objective	Diversion of British resources through sabotage of a Royal Navy warship
Date	24 April – 4 May 1982 (1982-04-24 – 1982-05-04)
Executed by	Peronist Montonero Movement
Outcome	Unit captured before execution

Operation Algeciras was a failed Argentine plan to sabotage a Royal Navy warship in Gibraltar during the Falklands War. The Argentine reasoning was that if the British military felt vulnerable in Europe, they would decide to keep some vessels in European waters rather than send them to the Falklands.^[1][2][3]

A commando team observed British naval traffic in the area from Spain during 1982, waiting to attack a target of opportunity when ordered, using frogmen and Italian limpet mines.^[4]

The plan was to launch divers from Algeciras, have them swim across the bay, to Gibraltar, under cover of darkness, attach the mines to a British naval ship and swim back to Algeciras. The timed detonators would cause the mines to explode after the divers had time to safely swim back across the bay. The plan was foiled when the Spanish police became suspicious of their behaviour and arrested them before any attack could be mounted.