Falklands Synopsis 2War a long way from homeFalklands Synopsis 2The previous page was: "Falklands Synopsis 1" Falklands Synopsis 2; at Dawn on 21st May 1982 3 Commando Brigade carried out a virtually unopposed landing in the San Carlos settlement on the west coast of East Falkland. It took six days to whittle down the Argentine Air Force but the determined enemy continued to cause considerable concern and damage to the ships and ground forces from the mainland 200 miles away. 45 Commando RM landed at Ajax Bay, 40 Commando RM and 2nd Para at San Carlos settlement, and 3 Para at Port San Carlos. 42 Commando RM initially remained afloat as the Brigade reserve, landing later that day. During the landings two Royal Marine Gazelle helicopters were shot down with the loss of three crewmen. After consolidating for five days, including setting up a Brigade maintenance Area and Field Dressing Station at Alex Bay. 3 Commando Brigade began to break out from the bridgehead on 26th/27th May. 2 Para moved south to attack Goose Green on 28th May. This was a bloody battle against considerable odds during which the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel 'H' Jones, was killed and later awarded a posthumous VC. Whilst this action was taking place, 45 Commando RM, started their long "yomp" across East Falkland, through Douglas settlement to teal inlet. Their 35 mile route lay across some of the most forbidding country in the world. Ankle deep bogs, valleys of knee twisting grass and rock runs of boulders were covered in 14 hours with a few stops without sleep. Men carried up to 50K on their backs, their own equipment weighed down with some mortar ammunition. Meanwhile 3 Para took a more southerly cross-country course to Teal Inlet. 40 Commando RM to their utter disappointment, were left to provide the defence for San Carlos. Commando moved to Mount ChallengerBetween 30th May and 5th June, 45 Commando RM and 3 Para moved forward to positions in the area of Mount Kent and Mount Estancia. Meanwhile 42 Commando RM had been flown forward by helicopters on the nights 30th/31st May and 31st May/1st June to take up positions on Mount Kent. From here the Commando moved to Mount Challenger. From these positions all units carried out a vigorous patrolling programme to dominate "no man's land" and fix the Argentine positions. Simultaneously 5 Infantry Brigade (2 Scots Guards, 1 Welsh Guards and 1/7 Gurkha Rifles) had arrived off San Carlos and Major-General Jeremy Moore Royal Marines, the Land Forces Commander, came ashore to the beachhead. It was during 5 Infantry Brigade's subsequent move forward by sea to advanced positions at Fitzroy that enemy aircraft attacked the LSL Sir Galahad in Bluff Cove. This caused casualties of 50 killed and 60 wounded, many of them from the Welsh Guards. There was a sharp engagement near the Top Malo House when 19 members of the Mountain and Artic Warfare Cadre, operating in a reconnaissance role, attacked Argentine Forces, killing five and taking the remaining 12 captive, 7 of whom were wounded, an excellent example of good planning, intelligence and execution. RAF and Fleet Air Arm helicoptersFor the next ten days continuous patrolling by the forward units built up a detailed intelligence picture of the enemy defences and dispositions. Royal Engineers and Royal Marine assault engineers reconnoitred and mapped enemy mine fields, while gunners of 29 Commando Light Regiment and 4 Field Regiment pounded enemy defences around Stanley controlled by their own Naval Gunfire Forward Observers. RAF and Fleet Air Arm helicopters re-supplied stocks of stores and ammunition. The Enemy consisting of the well trained 5th Marine Regiment and conscripted 4th 6th and 7th Infantry Regiments, held strong positions on the barren, craggy hilltops. They were badly led in most cases but still proved tough opposition. Plans for a final co-ordinated Brigade night attack was laid and tasks were given as follows; 3 Para Mount Longdon (to the north); 45 Commando RM Two Sisters (centre); 42 Commando RM Mount Harriet (to the south); all units would exploit forward if possible. 2 Para and units of 5 Infantry Brigade were held in reserve. The assault was launched on the night of 11th/12th June and initially it was a silent approach, but later as the attackers neared the targets, they brought down a barrage of naval gunfire, artillery and mortars. 42 Commando RM executed a daringThe assaults were made uphill over ground covered with strafing machine gun fire. 42 Commando RM executed a daring encircling movement to catch the enemy on Mount Harriet from the rear. 3 Para captured Mount Longdon from the Argentine Marines where Sergeant Ian McKay was awarded a posthumous VC. 45 Commando RM had the difficult task of a flanking attack and then thrusting along a narrow ridge to the twin peaks of Two Sisters. By dawn all of the objectives had been taken, but troops were exhausted and exploitation forward had to be left to fresh units. The Argentine defenders were beginning to lose the will to fight. However there was one hurdle left before the lights of Stanley could be seen. On the night of 13th/14th June 2 Para assaulted Wireless Ridge to the north supported by two tanks of the Blues and Royals encountering little resistance. The Scots Guards faced a tougher task capturing Tumbledown Mountain in a bloody 11 hour battle. By dawn the defeated Argentines were seen withdrawing back to Stanley and white flags were prominent. At 11:05 hours on 14th June British troops were ordered to fire only in self defence. The weary battle worn "veterans" marched into Stanley. Major-General Jeremy Moore Royal Marines finally took the Argentine unconditional surrender in Stanley at 21:00 hours. Modern-day Pages Fast Boats Pages Joe Wezley Pages Nearly 13,000 prisoners were takenNearly 13,000 prisoners were taken and repatriated to Argentina within the next few days whilst the Royal Marines and Paras' sailed slowly home in luxury. When SS Canberra sailed into Southampton on a sunny Sunday morning of 11th July it was a euphoric homecoming. The sheer scale of the welcome took them by surprise. Although the Falkland Islands War was a relatively short campaign, to mount a force to re-occupy a group of islands 7,000 miles away in the South Atlantic, within range of the enemy air force, was a remarkable achievement, which showed versatility, determination, flexibility, and a high degree of military professionalism. The calculated decision to send a British Task Force to protect sovereign rights and freedom of the individual against unprovoked aggression was undoubtedly justified. The cost was 225 British and 750 Argentine lives lost. Tragically the Royal Marines lost 26 lives during the Falkland Islands War but added another feat of arms to its already illustrious amphibious history. The next Link below will be: "Italy" "Pirates Trilogy" $20
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