The sinking of the ARA General Belgrano was a pivotal moment in the Falklands War, which erupted in April 1982 after Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands, a British territory. On May 2, during a significant military operation, the British nuclear submarine HMS Conqueror was patrolling the waters around the Falklands when it identified the General Belgrano. The ship was a heavy cruiser, and its loss posed a considerable situation in the ongoing conflict. The torpedoes fired by HMS Conqueror struck the cruiser, leading to its sinking and resulting in the deaths of more than 300 Argentine sailors. This action was controversial and elicited strong responses both domestically in Argentina and internationally. Argentina claimed that the General Belgrano was outside the exclusion zone imposed by Britain; however, the British government justified the attack, asserting that the ship posed a significant threat to their task force in the region.

The sinking solidified the British position to regain control of the Falklands Islands while simultaneously escalating tensions with Argentina. The UK's decisive military response was key in maintaining its territorial claims during the conflict, ultimately leading to the British recapture of the islands a few weeks later. The event underscored the lethal stakes involved in naval warfare and showcased the effectiveness of submarine power in modern military engagements.