Victory in the Falklands

Nicholas van der Bijl

• Publisher: Pen & Sword Military
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9781844154944
• eBook ISBN: 9781473820234
• Topic: Storia
• Subtopic: Storia moderna

The Hundred Days that saw the British response to General Galtiere of Argentinas invasion of the Falklands are for many British people the most remarkable of their lives. It describes the dark days of early April, the feverish response and forming of the Task Force, the anxieties and uncertainties, the naval and air battles that preceded the landings by 3 Commando Brigade and 5th Infantry Brigade. The extraordinary battles such as Goose Green, Mount Tumbledown, Wireless Ridge etc are narrated fully but succinctly. This is a very balanced overview of a never-to-be-repeated but triumphant chapter in British military history.

Contents

List of Maps and Diagrams
Foreword
Glossary
Chapter One	The Historical Perspective
Chapter Two	Crisis in the South Atlantic
Chapter Three	Invasion of the Falklands and South Georgia
Chapter Four	Occupation
Chapter Five	The British Response
Chapter Six	Approach to Battle, 8 to 20 May
Chapter Seven	The Landings and Beachhead, 21 May to 3 June
Chapter Eight	The Battle of Goose Green, 28 May
Chapter Nine	The Left Flank – 3 Commando Brigade, 27 May to 11 June
Chapter Ten	The Right Flank – 5 Infantry Brigade
Chapter Eleven	The Bold Move, 5 to 8 June
Chapter Twelve	Port Pleasant – 8 June
Chapter Thirteen	The Outer Defence Zone, 11 to 12 June
Chapter Fourteen	The Battles of Mount Tumbledown and Wireless Ridge, 12 to 14 June
Chapter Fifteen	Phase Three – Mount William and Sapper Hill, 14 June
Chapter Sixteen	Postscript
Appendix	Author’s Kit List
Bibliography
Index

List of Maps and Diagrams

Capture of Stanley, 2 April 1982

The South Atlantic

Planning Stages – possible landing areas

The Beachhead, 21 to 28 May 1982

The Plan – the advance on Stanley

Foreword

In 1982, two countries went to war over a group of isolated islands of little strategic value in the South Atlantic. One country had played a significant role in the economic development of the other and both had a keen interest in rugby union, polo and football. Neither had a major disagreement until 1982 when both went to war over nationalism. One side sailed nearly 8,000 miles from the early European summer, across the equator to the early Antarctic winter and, accompanied by triumph and tragedy, drove their enemy into a situation whereby surrender was the only option, before asking, in that matchless sense of military humour, ‘Where’s the transport home?’ The welcome by the people of Great Britain was almost Victorian and will not be forgotten. The welcome to the abandoned men of the losing side was frosty. The war, in the early southern hemisphere winter, was probably unique in that there were no atrocities, the rules of warfare were followed and there has been no lasting dispute between the protagonists, apart from the occasional diplomatic foray to divert attention from domestic affairs.

A large number of informative and analytical books have been written about those four months of hostility, and this one is another. The book began its life as part of the Pen & Sword Battleground series but has since strayed into an account of the contest between the two armies. Although warfare has changed since 1982 from conventional front lines to asymmetric operation, in which there are no front lines, I have included quotes from a variety of sources to illustrate that the activity, incidents and emotions experienced by the combatants were no different before the Falklands or since. I have included contemporary maps and diagrams to add flavour to the text, together with as many photographs as possible that have not been seen before.

As always, I must thank several people. Over the years, I have collected all sorts of memorabilia, not a small percentage either deposited on my desk or sent through the mail, often anonymously, with the comment: ‘Thought you might like this.’ To these colleagues and donors, I am grateful for their consideration; some are Argentine. As always, there are enough stories, accounts and views to fill several volumes, however I hope that those who have provided me with information will understand that space is limited. I must thank Major Chris Baxter RM, who has allowed me to use several photographs from the 1st Raiding Squadron, Royal Marines archives. He commanded this unit of small boat coxswains during the campaign. To Bobby Gainher, who undertook the editing entirely by e-mail, which was a new experience for me. To John Noble, who undertook the complexities of the indexing. To Brigadier Henry Wilson of Pen & Sword Books Ltd, for his support and encouragement. To the staff of Pen & Sword Books, and others involved in the production of this book. And finally to the authors and publishers of the works from which I have quoted in order to provide a balanced account of the Falklands War.

Most importantly, to my wife, Penny, who spent many lonely hours while I worked at this project and then was kind enough to proofread the text. She is one of the often forgotten army of family and friends who uncomplainingly experienced the highs and lows of the spring and summer of 1982, and whose role is rarely mentioned. Penny has been incredibly supportive of this and other projects.

Nick van der Bijl
Somerset

Glossary

AFV	Armoured Fighting Vehicle
ARA	Armada Republica Argentina
ASW	Anti-Submarine Warfare
BAS	British Antarctic Survey
BMA	Brigade Maintenance Area
Camp	The Falklands territory outside Stanley
CB	Citizens’ Band (radio network)
CLIFFI	Commander Land Forces Falkland Islands
CO	Commanding Officer
COMAW	Commander Amphibious Warfare
CTF	Combined Task Force
CTG	Combined Task Group
CVR(T)	Combat Vehicle Recce (Tracked) – refers to a family of British tracked light-armoured vehicles
DCM	Distinguished Conduct Medal
DSC	Distinguished Service Cross
FCO	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
GHQ	General Headquarters
GPMG	General Purpose Machine Gun (British, 7.62mm)
HF	High Frequency (communication channel band)
HQ	Headquarters
‘Kelpers’	Literally, seaweed collectors
LADE	Lineas Aereas del Estado. The Argentine state airline.
LARC-5	Lighter Amphibious Resupply and Cargo Series 5. US amphibious wheeled vehicle.
LAW	Light Anti-Tank Weapon (66mm)
LCT	Landing Craft Tank
LCU	Landing Craft Utility
LCVP	Landing Craft Vehicle and Personnel
LFFI	Land Forces Falkland Islands
LPD	Landing Platform Dock
LSL	Landing Ship Logistic
LVTP-7	Landing Vehicle Tracked Personnel Series 7. US tracked amphibious assault armoured personnel carrier.
MAG	Miteailleuse d’Appui Général, literally GPMG. Belgian 7.62mm GPMG support machine gun.
MEZ	Maritime Exclusion Zone
NAS	Naval Air Squadron
NCO	Non-Commissioned Officer
NGFO	Naval Gunfire Support Officer
OC	Officer Commanding
OCRM	Officer Commanding Royal Marines
OP	Observation Post
QRF	Quick Reaction Force
RAMC	Royal Army Medical Corps
RAPC	Royal Army Pay Corps
RCT	Royal Corps of Transit
REME	Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
SAMA (1982)	South Atlantic Medal Association (1982) – veterans’ association
SAS	Special Air Service
SBS	Special Boat Squadron
‘Tab’	Tactical approach to battle. Although primarily associated with the Parachute Regiment, the word was also used by other infantry units.
Tactical HQ	Tactical Headquarters – a small battle HQ
TEZ	Total Exclusion Zone
UKLF	United Kingdom Land Forces
UN	United Nations
VHF	Very High Frequency (communications channel band)
66mm	66mm Light Anti-Tank Weapon

Chapter One

The Historical Perspective

Roughly 6,700 miles from Great Britain and 350 miles from South America lies the Falkland Islands archipelago of two main islands and over 200 smaller ones, mostly treeless, with a total area of about 4,700 square miles. There are good anchorages and the windswept terrain is generally hilly moorland with an abundance of wildlife.

The British first took an interest in the islands in 1592 when they were sighted by the Elizabethan explorer John Davis as his ship was driven off course in a storm. A century later, the privateer John Strong landed and named them after Anthony Carey, 5th Viscount Falkland, First Lord of the Admiralty. In February 1764, Louis Antoine de Bougainville, largely inspired by the loss of Canada to the British, founded the settlement of Port Louis in Berkeley Sound with immigrants from St Malo and named the islands ‘Les Iles Malouines’. The British reacted by despatching Commodore John Byron, grandfather of the poet, and he raised the Union flag at Port Egmont on West Falkland on 12 January 1765. In January the following year, Captain John McBride landed a 100-strong garrison and gave the French six months to leave.

In April 1767, the French sold Port Louis to Spain, who christened the islands ‘Las Malvinas’. For the next two years, the British and Spanish existed in isolation until Captain Anthony Hunt encountered a Spanish warship. In June 1770, five ships from the Spanish province of Buenos Aires threatened Port Egmont and while Hunt was negotiating terms, 1,600 troops landed and forced the twenty-three Royal Marines to surrender. The British were outraged. Prime Minister Lord North considered war and Foreign Secretary Lord Weymouth resigned. In 1982, another Hunt and party of Royal Marines were forced to surrender and another minister resigned. When Louis XV of France told Charles III of Spain that he would not support war with Great Britain, North agreed to Spain’s sovereignty over Las Malvinas, but omitted this clause from their copy of the declaration. In 1771, Spain returned Port Egmont ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Full Title
• Copyright Page
• Dedicaiton
• Contents