Falklands

[ralphwiggum 6]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Albert Schweizer @ Aug. 26 2002,17:20)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Anyone knows the stats

when?

How long?

How many?

How many KIA?

What conditions of surrender?<span id='postcolor'>

april 2nd, 1982

ended in July 14th, so about 3 months.

913 deaths - 655 Argentines, 255 British

[ran 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (RalphWiggum @ Aug. 26 2002,17:34)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Albert Schweizer @ Aug. 26 2002,17:20)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Anyone knows the stats

when?

How long?

How many?

How many KIA?

What conditions of surrender?<span id='postcolor'>

april 2nd, 1982

ended in July 14th, so about 3 months.

913 deaths - 655 Argentines, 255 British<span id='postcolor'>

655 argies ? i thought it was a hell of a lot more

[Badgerboy 0]

That's killed, not wounded.

Casualty reports generally combine the KIA and wounded together.

[ralphwiggum 6]

yeah..i only mentioned KIA, there were more POWs..but don't know how much

[Albert Schweitzer 10]

Hell, that still is a lot! That is half the population of scottland!

(Hilandor around? hope not!

[DarkLight 0]

I don't care how many ppl were killed, every live is valuable, so if 1 man would be killed in action, that'd be more than enough. Even if it is your enemy....

Oh well, touché ALbert!

[Col. Kurtz 0]

Theres a real good doco on the Falklands war floating around somewhere. It was made by a British TV station, but tells the Argentinian story too. It has interviews with veterans from both sides, and plenty of footage including the excoet slmaing into the side of the Sheffield. Gives you a good rundown of the war.

[loopy 0]

I know a little bit about this as I was doing the infamous "P" company when the boys left for the Falklands.

2nd April 1982 Argentina invaded Port Stanley, the capital of the Falkland Island Dependancies. With only 80 marines for defence, the Islands and South Georgia were quickly overrun. A British task force was rapidly gathered to retake the Islands, with its' land element centered on 3 Commando Brigade RM(bootnecks)lol

At this time 3 PARA were Spearhead Battalion and they were attached to 3 Commando Brigade RM leaving the UK on the 9th April on SS Canberra. 2 PARA, then the In-role Battalion for the PCF at five days notice to move, were also stood-to and departed on the 26th April on MV Norland. During the long voyage south, both Battalions carried out intensive training.

3 Commando Brigade RM went ashore at Ajax Bay on the night of the 21st/22nd May. 2 PARA established itself on Sussex Mountain, protecting the South of the bridgehead, without opposition. 3 PARA landed in the north near Port San Carlos driving off a group of forty enemy. Over the next week Argentinian air attacks against the beach-head and shipping took place almost daily.

On the 26th May, 2 PARA were ordered to move south and engage the Argentinian Strategic Reserve and Airfield on the Darwin/Goose Green Penninsular. The attack began during the early hours of the 28th May with Naval and Artillery support. By daylight, however, it was held up by strong enemy defensive positions near Darwin and the CO and Adjutant were killed trying to take out a machine gun post. The assault continued and by last light the whole penninsular, less the Goose Green settlement, was taken. Negotiations with the Argentinians produced their surrender the next day. Over 1250 prisoners were taken and 256 Argentinians killed. After the battle 2 PARA then reverted to being under command 5 Infantry Brigade.

Meanwhile on the 27th May, 3 PARA set off on foot by a northern route to capture Teal Inlet which it did on the 29th May taking some prisoners. On the 11th June 2PARA moved north to rejoin 3 Commando Brigade RM for the final battle for Port Stanley. An early, but vital objective was Mount Longdon and this was attacked by 3 PARA during the night of the 11th/12th June. The enemy were well dug-in and prepared and it was only after ten hours of bloody fighting that 3 PARA secured the objective. They then held it for 48 hours under intense and accurate artillery fire. A total of 22 were killed during this operation.

On the night of the 13th/14th June, 2 PARA passed behind 3 PARA and, supported by 3 PARA mortars, attacked another key objective - Wireless Ridge. This again was secured by first light and shortly afterwards the enemy resistance collapsed. Both Battalions followed up and were the first troops to enter Port Stanley.

In all, the two Battalions had 40 dead and 93 injured. 68 awards were received including two Victoria Crosses.

One to John Mc Kay

On 12 June 1982 on Mount Longdon, East Falkland, Falkland Islands, Sergeant McKay was in command of his platoon, its commander having been wounded in the leg. They were pinned down by heavy enemy fire and several of the men had been either killed or wounded. Sergeant McKay realized that something must be done and he charged the enemy position alone. He was killed in the moment of his victory but his action enabled his comrades to extricate themselves from a most dangerous situation.

The Other to "H"(herbert) Jones (he hated the name herbert)

On 28 May 1982 at Darwin, East Falkland, Falkland Islands, the battalion commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Jones, was held up in its attack by very well prepared enemy positions. Colonel Jones and his reconnaissance party managed to gain the top of a recently secured re-entrant, but the enemy continued to pour fire on the battalion advance which was in danger of faltering. Colonel Jones, now at the very front of his men, charged the nearest enemy position. He fell, picked himself up and charged again, but was hit and fell dying only a few feet from the enemy. A company of the battalion then attacked and the enemy quickly surrendered - devastated by Colonel Jones' courage.

Utrinque Pratus (ready for anything)