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<TITLE>The Falklands War 1982: Campaign</TITLE>
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<B><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica,Monaco"><FONT SIZE="6">The Falklands War 1982</FONT></FONT></B><FONT FACE="Arial,Helvetica,Monaco"><FONT SIZE="6"><B>
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<P ALIGN=CENTER><b>HISTORICAL SCENARIOS</b></P>
<p>During the night of  the 1st April 1982 Argentine troops from Task Force 
40 landed on East Falklands. <a href="rosario.htm" />Operation Rosario</a> 
had begun. Amphibious commandos landed to the south of Port Stanley. They 
split into two groups with the larger group heading for Moody Brook Barracks 
and the smaller group towards Government House. At about 0530hrs on the 2nd 
April the larger group attacked Moody Brook Barracks and about 30 minutes 
later the other group started its attack on Government House. While this was 
going on a ten man team from the Buzo Tactico landed north of Stanley Airport
and marked out the landing beach for the main task force. Troops of the main 
task force landed at 0630hrs and moved towards their tasked objectives, the 
airport and Port Stanley. The British garrison, Naval Party 8901, withdrew 
from their original fighting positions towards Government House. As the 
Argentine commandos and the troops of the main task force tightened their 
grip around Government House it became clear that the British could not hold 
out for long. Rex Hunt, The Falklands Island Governor,  consulted with Major 
Norman and Major Noott of the Royal Marines. At 0920hrs Naval Party 8901 
surrendered to the Argentine forces. After 149 years of British  colonial 
rule the islands passed to the control of Argentina.</P>
<P>The invasion of the Falkland Islands had not come as a complete surprise 
to Britain's government. They had known for some time that an Argentine 
invasion was a possibility. However they did not know when, where or what 
scale the operation would take. Intelligence resources came to the conclusion
that it would most likely take place in early April 1982. In fact on the
1st of April, after a meeting with senior naval officers, the British Prime
Minister Margaret Thatcher, gave the order for a carrier task force to be 
assembled and set sail for the South Atlantic.</P>
<P>On the 5th April the carrier task force set sail from Porstmouth. Just one 
week after the invasion the land element, 3 commando brigade reinforced
with the 2nd and 3rd battalions of the Parachute Regiment and supporting 
units sailed from Portsmouth and Southampton. On 12th April a 200 mile 
maritime exclusion zone was announced around the islands. 21st April saw the 
start of operations to retake South Georgia. This operation ended with the 
retaking of South Georgia, by units of the SAS and Royal Marine Commandos on 
25th April.</P>
<P>The 1st May brought the initial landings by SAS and SBS troops on the Falklands 
and the first Black Buck Vulcan bomber raid on Port Stanley. The next day, 2nd May the 
cruiser General Belgrano was sunk by HMS Conqueror. Two days later on the 4th
May HMS Sheffield was sunk following an Exocet missile attack. On the 12th May 
5 Infantry Brigade sailed from Southampton.</P>
<P>The 14th May brought the first British ground combat action to the Falkland 
Islands. After five days of reconnaissance, troops from the SAS regiment 
carried out a classic commando raid on <a href="pebble_island_raid.htm">
Pebble Island.</a> The raid was a complete success, 4 Beechcraft T34 Mentors,
6 Pucaras and a Skyvan were destroyed in the raid.</P>
<P>SBS patrols had been carrying out recce's of beaches in the Ajax bay area. They
identified several suitable beaches and reported back to the task force. The final plan 
for the landings was  formulated. Just after midnight on the 21st May the ships
of the landing group slipped into San Carlos Water. At 0225hrs the landing 
craft carrying the assault troops crossed the line of departure and headed for 
the beaches. A 35 strong patrol from the SBS were landed by Sea King on 
Fanning Head to deal with a platoon of enemy troops reported in the area. A 
brief firefight ensued with the Argentine patrol taking casualties. The 
Argentines withdrew. During the withdrawl  many were captured. As this was going
on D squadron 22 SAS had been deploying to a position north of Camillia Creek where they were to provide a noisy distraction to the landings.</P>
<P>At 0430hrs 2 Para came ashore at Blue Beach One. Shortly after that 40 Command  
Royal Marines landed on Blue Beach Two. Both units cleared their beaches and 
moved on to their  objectives. So far apart from the small action at Fanning 
Head the landings were unopposed. At 0530hrs 45 Command Royal Marines were 
collected from "Stormness" and taken to Red Beach. Here too the landings were 
unopposed. 45 Commando cleared the beach and a refrigeration plant. They then 
moved inland to their objective. 3 Para also made an unopposed landing at Green
Beach One. 3 Commando Brigade was ashore and the buildup had started.</P>
<P>The buildup continued for the next five days. During this time the Argentine 
Air Force was very active. On 21st May HMS Ardent was sunk and  16 Argentine 
aircraft were lost. 23rd May saw the sinking of HMS Antelope and the loss of  7 Argentine 
aircraft. On 25th May, Argentina's National Day, HMS Coventry and 
Atlantic Conveyor are sunk. The Argentines believed the Atlantic Conveyor to be one of the British aircraft carriers and sank her using Exocet missiles. </P>
<P>3Bn The Parachute Regiment and 45 Commando Royal Marines set off for Teal
Inlet. Elements of the SAS landed in strength on Mount Kent and 2Bn The 
Parachute Regiment started their approach march to Goose Green. 28th May 5 
Infantry Brigade trans-shipped from the Queen Elizabeth 2 at South Georgia.</P>
<P>The<a href="goose_green.htm"> Battle for Goose Green</A> begins. After last 
light on the night of 27th - 28th 2 Para began its deployment ready to assault 
the Argentine forces, known as Task Force Mercedes, at Darwin and Goose Green.
At 0300hrs 2 Para commenced its attack. After a long hard fought battle the 
Argentine forces eventually surrendered at around 0830hrs on 29th May,  the Argentine Army's National Day. The way was now clear to begin
the move East towards Stanley.</P>
<P>On 31st May the Mountain and Arctic Warfare Cadre attacked Argentine 
troops at Top Malo House. During this action the Argentine troops lost two 
killed and the remaining ten became PoW's. Six of the ten were wounded during
the fighting. 3 Commando Brigade secured Mounts Estancia, Kent and Challenger.</P>
<P>5 Infantry Brigade started to land on 1st June. 1/7 Gurkha's were flown by chinook 
to relieve 2 Para at Goose Green. On 2nd June 5 Inf Bde started its push East.
Major J Crossland, OC B CoY, 2 Para, used the civilian telephone system to 
call local civilians at Fitzroy to establish if any Argentine troops were located there. On 
finding that there were no Argentine troops  2 Para were airlifted the 
35 miles from Goose Green to occupy the settlements of Fitzroy and Bluff Cove.</P>
<P>With 2 Para deployed so far forward the decision was made to send the 1Bn Welsh 
Guards and the 2Bn Scots Guard by sea to Bluff cove. The Landing Ship Logistic
Sir Tristram arrived in Bluff Cove on 7th June and started unloading ammunition.
LSL Sir Galahad with the Welsh Guards aboard, arrived on the morning of 8th June. 
At around 1400hrs five Skyhawks attacked the LSLs. Sir Tristram was hit by two
bombs which failed to explode. Sir Galahad was hit by three bombs with 
catastrophic results.</P>
<P>	By 10th June of the eight infantry battalions the British had, seven were now 
deployed forward with all five artillery batteries. The Argentine Outer Defence
line consisted of positions on Mount London, Two sisters and Mount Harriet.
The British  planned to destroy the line in a series of three battles working from
Mount Longdon in the North, then Two Sisters and finally to Mount Harriet in 
the South.</P>
<P>At 2015hrs on the night of 11th -12th June 3 Para launched their attack on<a href="longdon.htm">
Mount Longdon </a>. The plan was for 3 Para to move onto Wireless Ridge after 
securing Mount Longdon. However by the time Mount Longdon was secured dawn was
fast  approaching and so the move to Wireless Ridge was called off.</P>
<P>At 2315hrs on the night of 11th -12th June 45 Commando, Royal Marines began their 
assault on <a href="two_sisters.htm"> Two Sisters</A>. This attack was planned
to start at  2100hrs. 45 Commando succeeded in taking Two Sisters. The Royal
Marines then consolidated their positions on the feature. Both the Mount 
Longdon and the Two Sisters attacks were planned as silent approach battles.</P>
<P>South of Two Sisters 42 commando Royal Marines launched their attack on  <a href="harriet.htm"> Mount Harriet</A> 
at 2230 with L and K companies. Unlike the other two attacks under way that 
night, the attack was a noisy approach. J Company  (who on 2nd April were NP8901)  
were to stay on Mount Wall and simulate a major firefight to distract Mount 
Harriet's defenders. Mount Harriet was secured just after dawn on the 12th June. 
The Outer Defence Line was clear of Argentine troops and firmly in British 
hands.</P>
<P>Ahead of the British lay the Inner Defence Line of Wireless Ridge, Mount 
Tumbledown, Mount William and Sapper Hill. It was decided to hit this line on 
the night of the 13th -14th June.</P>
<P>2 Para was tasked with the attack on <a href="wireless.htm"> Wireless Ridge.</A> approaching from the north
they launched their attack at 2145hrs. The Bn attack continued through the night. 
At Dawn the Argentines launched a counterattack which was quickly beaten off.
From their newly captured positions the Paras could see Argentine troops 
retreating towards Stanley.</P>
<P>2nd Bn Scots Guards was given the task of securing <a href="tumbledown.htm"> Mount Tumbledown.</A> 
A diversionary attack was launched at 2030hrs with the actual attack starting 
at 2100hrs. The guardsmen battled throughout the night to take Argentine 
positions. Mount Tumbledown was finally secured at 0815hrs after many hours of 
heavy fighting.</P>
<P>1/7 Gurkha Rifles were to attack Mount William after Mount Tumbledown was secured.
They now made ready to launch a daylight assault on Mount William. However the
Argentine defenders were now in full retreat towards Stanley. D Company of 1/7
Gurkha Rifles moved to the summit of Mount William unopposed.</P>
<P>1st Bn Welsh Guards  during this time had moved towards Sapper Hill, 
approaching along the southern route. Their progress was slowed by minefields. 
Eventually they were airlifted to Sapper Hill with A and C companies of 40
Commando. Here they faced only light resistance from the enemy.  45 Commando
arrived on the scene just as the firefight started. Sapper Hill fell to the British after a short sharp firefight. </P>
<P>2 Para followed up the retreating Argentine troops and they were the first British 
unit to reach the outskirts of Stanley. They were halted outside of Stanley because surrender negotiations had 
begun in Stanley. At 2130hrs on the 14th June the Argentine forces surrendered. The first 
British unit into Stanley on 15th June was 2 Para, followed by 3 Para and 42
Commando. Men from 42 Commando later hoisted the Governor's flag over Government
House. The Falklands War was at an end.</P>
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<P ALIGN=CENTER><b>THE COST OF WAR</b></P>
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<P ALIGN=CENTER><b>BRITAIN</b></P><p>
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<p><b>Personnel</b></p>
<p>Army; Killed 123, Wounded 230.</P>
<p>Royal Marines; Killed 27, Wounded 69.</p>
<p>Royal Navy; Killed 87, Wounded 14+.</p>
<p>Royal Air force; Killed 1, Wounded 2.</p>
<p>Royal Fleet Auxiliary; Killed 13, Wounded ?</p>
<p>Merchant Navy; Killed 6, Wounded ?</p>
<p>Falkland Islanders; Killed 3, Wounded ?</p>
<p><b>Ships Lost</b></p><ul>
HMS Sheffield, HMS Ardent, HMS Antelope, HMS Coventry, RFA Sir Galahad, LCU F4.
and Atlantic Conveyor.</p></ul>
<p><b>Ships Damaged</b></p><ul>
HMS Alacrity, HMS Arrow, HMS Glamorgan, HMS Glasgow, HMS Antrim, HMS Broadsword,
HMS Argonaut, HMS Brilliant, HMS Plymouth, RFA Sir Lancelot, RFA Sir Bedivere,
and RFA Sir Tristram.</p></ul>
<p><b>Aircraft Lost</b></p><ul>
8 Wessex HU5, 3 Sea King HC4, 2 Sea King HAS5, 6 Sea Harrier, 4 Harrier GR3, 
3 Gazelle, 3 Lynx HAS2, 1 Wessex HAS3, 3 Chinook CH-47 and 1 Scout</p></ul>	
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<P ALIGN=CENTER><b>ARGENTINA</b></P>
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<p><b>Personnel</b></p>
<p>Army; Killed 193, Wounded 883.</p>
<p>Marines; Killed 30, Wounded 20.</p>
<p>Air force; Killed 25.</p>
<p>Naval Air; Killed 2.</p>
<p>Gendarmerie; Killed 6, Wounded 8.</p>
<p>Navy; Killed 318, Wounded ?</p>
<p><b>Ships Lost</b></p><ul>
<p>General Belgrano, Santa Fe and Narwal.</p></ul>	
<p><b>Aircraft Lost</b></p><ul>
<p>6 Puma SA330L, 10 Pucara, 2 Mirage IIIEA, 9 Dagger A, 2 Canberra B62, 
1 Lynx HAS23, 1 Alouette III, 2 Aermacchi MB-339A, 2 Skyvan, 9 A-4B Skyhawk,
8 A-4c Skyhawk, 3 A-4Q Skyhawk, 4 T-34C Mentor, 1 Chinook CH-47C, 1 Augusta 
A-109A, 1 Hercules C130E and 1 Learjet 35A </P></ul>
<P><b>Aircraft Captured</b></p><ul>
<p>11 Pucara, 2 Bell 212, 3 Aermacchi MB-339A, 1 Puma SA330L, 1 Chinook CH-47C,
2 Augusta A-109A Hirundo and 9 Iroquois UN-1H</p></ul>
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