Changes

==Mount Longdon==

==Mount Longdon==

Having landed at Port San Carlos, 3 PARA marched across the East Falkland via Teal Inlet to Estancia House from where they began to send out patrols to recce the area around Mount Longdon situated to the north west of [[Port Stanley]], the capital of the Islands.

Having landed at Port San Carlos, 3 PARA marched across the East Falkland via Teal Inlet to the sheep farm settlement of Estancia House from where they began to send out patrols to harass the defenders and map out the area around Mount Longdon situated to the north west of [[Port Stanley]], the capital of the Islands.

Before the British 3rd and 5th Brigades could retake Port Stanley, it was essential that the high ground around the capital was taken. This included Mount Longdon, Wireless Ridge and Cortley Ridge.

Before the British 3rd and 5th Brigades could retake Port Stanley, it was essential that the high ground around the capital was taken. This included Mount Longdon, Wireless Ridge and Cortley Ridge.

Of these objectives, 3 PARA was tasked with taking Mount Longdon on the night of the 11/12 June 1982, to coincide with attacks on the Two Sisters by 45 Commando and Mount Harriet by 42 Commando.

Of these objectives, 3 PARA was tasked with taking Mount Longdon on the night of the 11/12 June 1982, to coincide with attacks on Two Sisters Mountain by Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew Whitehead's 45 Commando and Mount Harriet by Lieutenant-Colonel Nick Vaux's 42 Commando.

On 10 June 1982, Lieutenant Colonel Hew Pike gave his orders in the Regimental Headquarters at the sheep farm settlement of Estancia House for the attack on Mount Longdon and Wireless Ridge. They were told to expect around 800 Argentinian soldiers from Lieutenant-Colonel Omar Giménez's 7th Mechanized Infantry Regiment ''La Plata'' defending the positions who were well dug in and provided with artillery cover from 18 Argentine 105mm Oto Melara howitzers from Lieutenant-Colonel Martín Balza's 3rd Artillery Group and a further 18 Oto Melaras near Government House from Lieutenant-Colonel Alberto Quevedo's 4th Airborne Artillery Group. In addition, the area had been heavily mined.

On 10 June 1982, Lieutenant Colonel Hew Pike gave his orders in the Regimental Headquarters at Estancia House for the attack on Mount Longdon and Wireless Ridge. They were told to expect around 800 Argentinian soldiers from Lieutenant-Colonel Omar Giménez's 7th Mechanized Infantry Regiment ''La Plata'' defending the positions who were well dug in and provided with artillery cover from 18 Argentine 105mm Oto Melara howitzers from Lieutenant-Colonel Martín Balza's 3rd Artillery Group and a further 18 Oto Melaras near Government House from Lieutenant-Colonel Alberto Quevedo's 4th Airborne Artillery Group. In addition, the area had been heavily mined.

Mount Longdon is a long narrow feature of rocky terrain, running from east to west with two summits. As a result of its geography only one company attacking could advance along it. The plan was that the rifle companies would be led to the start line at the stream, west of Mount Longdon by members of D (Patrol) Company. The start line would be known as ‘Free Kick’.

Mount Longdon is a long narrow feature of rocky terrain, running from east to west with two summits. As a result of its geography only one company attacking could advance along it. The plan was that the rifle companies would be led to the start line at the stream, west of Mount Longdon by members of D (Patrol) Company. The start line would be known as ‘Free Kick’.