206
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 19:
Line 19: + + +
Battle of Darwin and Goose Green (view source)
Revision as of 00:25, February 28, 2017
, 00:25, February 28, 2017→Darwin Ridge
Still under fire, D and C Companies headed towards the Argentinian Air Base while B Company circled east to cut off Goose Green Settlement. During the attack, three Paratroopers were killed in an ambush involving a 25th Regiment platoon. According to Private Graham Carter from 12 Platoon{{cquote|We found the first enemy position when one of the lads actually fell into a trench. There were weapons and ammo all covered in mud, just left there. They'd all bugged out, so we never saw anybody. After an hour or so, we began getting effective fire on us. We started taking cover when we heard rounds whistling around us .... we saw who was firing at us and fired back .... the section commander [Corporal Paul Sullivan] who was behind me, was hit in the knee and screamed out, and then took two more straight through the head and was killed. I got on the radio to bring up some reserves into the dead ground to the left - to go through the enemy position. When they arrived back, the sergeant sent me back to see if Paul could be helped. It was no use. He'd gone.<ref>The Scars of War, Hugh McManners, p. 125, HarperCollins, 1993</ref>}}
Still under fire, D and C Companies headed towards the Argentinian Air Base while B Company circled east to cut off Goose Green Settlement. During the attack, three Paratroopers were killed in an ambush involving a 25th Regiment platoon. According to Private Graham Carter from 12 Platoon{{cquote|We found the first enemy position when one of the lads actually fell into a trench. There were weapons and ammo all covered in mud, just left there. They'd all bugged out, so we never saw anybody. After an hour or so, we began getting effective fire on us. We started taking cover when we heard rounds whistling around us .... we saw who was firing at us and fired back .... the section commander [Corporal Paul Sullivan] who was behind me, was hit in the knee and screamed out, and then took two more straight through the head and was killed. I got on the radio to bring up some reserves into the dead ground to the left - to go through the enemy position. When they arrived back, the sergeant sent me back to see if Paul could be helped. It was no use. He'd gone.<ref>The Scars of War, Hugh McManners, p. 125, HarperCollins, 1993</ref>}}
Private Carter led the men forward at bayonet point to clear the Argentinian positions. The 25th Regiment Platoon disengaged, and, single-handedly covered by Sergeant Sergio Ismael García, managed to escape.<ref>"'C' Company sustained heavy losses and 'D' Company also saw some extremely fierce fighting, particulary No. 12 Platoon of 'D' Company, who managed to fight off an ambush before Private Graham Carter led the men forward at bayonet point to take the airfield. The RI 25 Platoon fled, and, single-handedly covered by Sergeant Sergio Ismael García, managed to escape." Paratroopers, RW Press</ref>
In the late afternoon, aircraft from both sides intervened, starting with two [[Argentinian Navy]] MB.339's and two IA.58 Pucaras which attacked D Company. One of the Navy jets was brought down by a Royal Marine shoulder-launched Blowpipe, and minutes later the Pucaras dropped napalm with one shot down by small arms fire. Then three Harrier GR.3's brought much needed relief by silencing the anti-aircraft guns at Goose Green with cluster bombs and rockets.
In the late afternoon, aircraft from both sides intervened, starting with two [[Argentinian Navy]] MB.339's and two IA.58 Pucaras which attacked D Company. One of the Navy jets was brought down by a Royal Marine shoulder-launched Blowpipe, and minutes later the Pucaras dropped napalm with one shot down by small arms fire. Then three Harrier GR.3's brought much needed relief by silencing the anti-aircraft guns at Goose Green with cluster bombs and rockets.