[Cantata]

Gary is pretty much correct. The forces used to capture the Falkland Islands and South Georgia were better trained and equipped than the conscripts used to garrison the islands. The Argentine Special Forces and Marine units were removed from the islands after the conquest was completed. The garrison troops placed on the islands were mostly conscripts serving their mandatory military service (2yrs?).

In addition to poor local leadership, it seems the Junta pretty much left the island forces to their own devices, barely sending enough supplies, much less providing adequate equipment for the terrible weather and conditions found on the islands. The Argentine garrison sat in defensive positions on top of hills overlooking a barren landscape in rotten weather for a long time... there was little to boost morale among the ranks.

Once the General Belgrano (an Exocet-armed cruiser) was sunk, the Argentine navy went back to port and never ventured out again, ending all resupply to the island troops. Only the Argentine Airforce remained to defend the newly conquered Ilas Malvinas, and they did a very admirable job of it, although at a very high cost.