[Hawker Tempest]

The exclusion zone was for commercial traffic, any Argentine Navy ship was always a target no matter where it was in any Sea or Ocean.

[ken5050]

I think you're mistaken. The purpose of the exclusion zone was to keep ARA ships away from the Falklands. Much of the controversy about the attack on the cruiser had to do with reports that she was returning to Argentina.

Thatcher's decision was 100% correct..Why let enemy troops land, where they will have to be dug out by Brit forces, at the cost of considerably casualties. Far better to sink the ship..see if the enemy can swim/float