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Battles of Mount Longdon and Wireless Ridge (view source)
Revision as of 06:08, December 15, 2018
, 06:08, December 15, 2018→Wireless Ridge
==Wireless Ridge==
==Wireless Ridge==
Briefly under command of Brigadier Tony Wilon's 5 Infantry Brigade, elements of 2 PARA conducted a helicopter insertion deep behind forward [[Argentinian Army]] Special Forces patrols and [[Argentinian Air Force]]'s Observation Posts (OPs) on June 2. They liberated the settlements of Bluff Cove and Fitzroy, opening a southern flank of operations. On the night of June 13/14 2 PARA deployed 3 PARA and, supported by British lights and [[Royal Navy warships]], attacked Wireless Ridge. Argentinian artillery responded vigorously and the Argentinian Land Forces Commander, Brigadier-General [[Oscar Luis Jofré]] sent Major Guillermo Rubén Berazay's A Company (3rd ''La Tablada'' Mechanized Infantry Regiment) west of Stanley Racecourse to counterattack However, this stronghold again was secure by first light and shortly afterwards Argentinian resistance collapsed. Both British battalions followed up and were the first troops to enter Port Stanley.
Briefly under command of Brigadier Tony Wilon's 5 Infantry Brigade, elements of 2 PARA conducted a helicopter insertion deep behind forward [[Argentinian Army]] Special Forces patrols and [[Argentinian Air Force]]'s Observation Posts (OPs) on June 2. They liberated the settlements of Bluff Cove and Fitzroy, opening a southern flank of operations.
On the night of June 13/14 2 PARA deployed 3 PARA and, supported by British light tanks and [[Royal Navy warships]], attacked Wireless Ridge. During the day British artillery had fired 6,000 rounds with their 105 mm guns and as the British Paratroopers began their push, they were further backed by naval fire and the 76mm and 30mm guns mounted on the light tanks. After their losses at Goose Green, the Paras were taking no chances.
By the time 2 PARA reached their first objective, ''Rough Diamond'', the Argentinian 7th Infantry Regiment's C Company had withdrawn. As a result A and B Companies were convinced the enemy on the “Apple Pie” objective had been defeated, and began to advance confidently, but they encountered fierce machine-gun fire when they left their trenches. They retreated back to their positions and ordered massive retaliation from the British machine-gunners and the guns of the ''Blues and Royals'' light tanks. A and B Companies were able to advance again and take ''Apple Pie''.
Major Philip Neame's D Company then began the final assault from the western end of Wireless Ridge, under the cover of heavy fire from HMS Ambuscade’s 4.5 inch gun, the light tanks, twelve 105 mm artillery pieces, several mortars and anti-tank rockets. D Company took the first half of the objective after a hard fight with Argentinian paratroopers of the 2nd Airborne Infantry Regiment.
Argentinian artillery responded vigorously and the Argentinian Land Forces Commander, Brigadier-General [[Oscar Luis Jofré]] sent Major Guillermo Rubén Berazay's A Company (3rd ''La Tablada'' Mechanized Infantry Regiment) west of Stanley Racecourse to counterattack. Major Neame’s officers and NCOs rallied the exhausted Paras to capture the final part of their objective and in the face of heavy fire, the Argentinians having run out of ammunition, broke and retreated, covered by supporting machine gun fire.
2 PARA had suffered three dead and 11 wounded. The Argentinians suffered approximately 25 dead and about 125 wounded, about 50 were taken prisoner. In the final stages of the battle, the Argentinian commander, Brigadier-General Jofré had been offered the use of Skyhawks to bomb Wireless Ridge with napalm but he declined, believing that the British response would be equally violent and the chances of a surrender being accepted, non-existent.
2 PARA had suffered three dead and 11 wounded. The Argentinians suffered approximately 25 dead and about 125 wounded, about 50 were taken prisoner. In the final stages of the battle, the Argentinian commander, Brigadier-General Jofré had been offered the use of Skyhawks to bomb Wireless Ridge with napalm but he declined, believing that the British response would be equally violent and the chances of a surrender being accepted, non-existent.