The veteran Issue 6

As we moved closer to the Falkland Islands it
became obvious from our training routine that
diplomatic talks were not going to work, and
the Conflict against Argentine forces was
inevitable.
The Task Force arrived at Ascension Island,
soon after dawn on the 7 May. During the
short stop at Ascension the Battery flew half
the Guns ashore and back again from the
Europic Ferry onto the airfield together with
Gun Detachments from the Norland. At the
same time the Battalion practised embarking
in landing craft through the side door of the
Norland. The voyage south from Ascension
became busier the further south we went with
the fleet increasing in size as groups of
vessels joined us.
MV Norland San Carlos Water
On the 17 May detailed Orders were given for
the landings on the Falkland Islands. The
Orders confirmed that the Brigade would land
at SAN CARLOS, final preparations were put
in hand. Air attacks from the Argentine Air
Force were expected, so we were at Defence
Stations, in full fighting order ready to deploy.
Thankfully the weather conditions, gales and
poor visibility prevented the Argentines from
mounting any air attacks.
The landings on the Falklands took place
during the night of 21 May 1982, following
diversionary operations including raids by
Special Forces. Under the cover of
darkness, we sailed into San Carlos Water on
the northwest coast of East Falkland. The
poor weather conditions from the previous
day had passed.
As we sailed into the exclusion zone, the
sea was calm and the sky clear with an
incredibly bright array of stars. The night
was lit up by our warships shelling
Argentine positions and the noise was very
impressive and re-assuring. We awaited
our helicopter insertion, holding and Recce
troops first, followed by the remainder with
the Guns and the Command Vehicles
leaving the St Edmund at the same time as
the troops from the MV Norland.
The Guns had an
eventful fly-in to an
excellent Gun
Position beside Head
of the Bay House at
the southern end of
San Carlos water.
Mirage enemy
aircraft appeared at
about this time and
the helicopter fly-off
went awry as a
result. However by
mid-afternoon the Chinook helicopter with 3/4
guns were
ton Landrover and Trailer
established.
thankfully the landings were unopposed,
and 29 (Corunna) Field Battery were
established at their first Gun Position in
support of
2 Para ready for the first Fire Mission,
priority was for the outload of 105 Lt Gun
Ammunition and by the end of day one our
Gun Position was fully equipped with
enough ammunition (2,000 105mm rounds)
for the start of the conflict.
Chinook with
105 Lt Gun
underslung
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