On 2 April 1982, the British overseas territory of the Falkland Islands was invaded by neighbouring Argentina.[3] The United Kingdom, nearly 8,000 miles (13,000 km) away, assembled and dispatched a naval task force of 28,000 troops to recapture the islands.[3][4] The conflict ended that June with the surrender of the Argentine forces; the battles fought on land, at sea, and in the air had cost the lives of some 900 British and Argentine servicemen.[3]