Corbeta Uruguay base

Earlier, in January 1955, Argentina had established the summer station, Teniente Esquivel, at Ferguson Bay on the southeastern coast.

That station was evacuated in January 1956 because of a volcanic eruption on the neighbouring Cook Island.

The British government became aware of the base in December 1976 but sought a diplomatic solution to the issue until 1982.

Early in the Falklands War, 32 special forces troops from Corbeta Uruguay were brought to South Georgia by the Argentine Navy ship Bahía Paraíso and landed at Leith Harbour on 25 March 1982.

That ship is now a floating museum, permanently berthed in Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires.