The veteran Issue 6

HMS Sheffield 28 May 1982. Twenty lives were
lost in a strike by an exocet missile.
On 21 May, British forces were able to land on
the Falklands. Contrary to what had been
expected by Argentinian military officials, the
amphibious operation took place in the east of
the islands, avoiding the capital Stanley, where
the Argentine forces had planned their major
resistance points.
During the night of 21 May, the British
Amphibious Task Group mounted Operation
Sutton, the amphibious landing on beaches
around San Carlos Water, on the northwestern
coast of East Falkland facing onto
Falkland Sound. The bay, known as Bomb
Alley by British forces, was the scene of
repeated air attacks by low-flying Argentine
jets.
The 4,000 men of 3 Commando Brigade were
put ashore as well as units from the Royal
Artillery and Royal Engineers. Armoured
reconnaissance vehicles were also put ashore
along with Rapier missile launchers. By dawn
the next day, they had established a secure
beachhead from which to conduct offensive
operations. From there, Brigadier Julian
Thompson's plan was to capture Darwin and
Goose Green before turning towards Port
Stanley.
Hard fighting continued until British forces were
able to surround the capital of Stanley and the
main port. On the night of 11 June, after
several days of painstaking reconnaissance
and logistic build-up.
British forces launched a brigade-sized
night attack against the heavily defended
ring of high ground surrounding Stanley.
Units of 3 Commando Brigade, supported
by naval gunfire from several Royal Navy
ships, simultaneously attacked in the Battle
of Mount Harriet, Battle of Two Sisters, and
Battle of Mount Longdon. Mount Harriet
was taken at a cost of 2 British and 18
Argentine soldiers. At Two Sisters, the
British faced both enemy resistance and
friendly fire, but managed to capture their
objectives. The toughest battle was at
Mount Longdon. British forces were bogged
down by rifle, mortar, machine gun, artillery
and sniper fire, and ambushes. Despite
this, the British continued their advance.
3 Para medics attending to a wounded
Argentine soldier, Mount Longdon, 1982
The second phase of attacks began on the
night of 13 June, and the momentum of
the initial assault was maintained. 2 Para,
with light armour support from the Blues
and Royals, captured Wireless Ridge, with
the loss of 3 British and 25 Argentine lives,
and the 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards
captured Mount Tumbledown the Battle of
Mount Tumbledown cost 10 British and 30
Argentine lives. A simultaneous special
forces raid by the SAS and SBS in fast
boats to attack the oil tanks in Stanley
Harbour was beaten off by anti-aircraft
guns.
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