In November 1976, Argentine armed forces landed and occupied the uninhabited islands of Southern Thule, a collection of the three southernmost islands in the South Sandwich Islands. On 19 March 1982 a group of civilian scrap metal workers from Argentina arrived at Leith Harbour, South Georgia, on board the transport ship ARA "Bahía Buen Suceso" and raised the Argentine flag. The scrap workers had been infiltrated by Argentine marines posing as civilian scientists. Following the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands, starting the Falklands War, Argentine naval forces seized control of the east coast of South Georgia after overpowering a small group of Royal Marines at Grytviken on 3 April 1982.