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Battle of Darwin and Goose Green (view source)
Revision as of 16:37, July 1, 2021
, 16:37, July 1, 2021→Argentinian garrison
The 125 troops of the 25th 'Special' Regiment's 'C' Company waited in reserve in and around Darwin School where they regularly practiced counterattacks. Led by Lieutenant-Colonel Mohamed Alí Seineldín, the Argentinian Army Green Berets founder and first commanding officer, the 25th Regiment conscripts wore a shoulder patch depicting the 'Malvinas'. They were well armed, well trained and cadred by Commandos and Paratroopers.
The 125 troops of the 25th 'Special' Regiment's 'C' Company waited in reserve in and around Darwin School where they regularly practiced counterattacks. Led by Lieutenant-Colonel Mohamed Alí Seineldín, the Argentinian Army Green Berets founder and first commanding officer, the 25th Regiment conscripts wore a shoulder patch depicting the 'Malvinas'. They were well armed, well trained and cadred by Commandos and Paratroopers.
The newly arrived 12th Regiment soldiers dug positions in the freezing wind. The Argentinian winter parkas were excellent, but the danger of frostbite was always present, and the uncovered portions of their faces suffered from the biting wind. This was the start of winter, in the 'Malvinas', and the temperatures dropped well below freezing every night. The trenches were like ice chambers. The days were short, the nights endless.
Private Esteban Roberto Avalos fought in the Falklands as a sniper in RI 12's B Company. In all, some fifty hand-picked 12th Regiment conscripts and NCOs had also received ranger training from visiting ''Halcón 8'' (Falcon 8) army commandos in 1981, and then returned to their respective companies:
Private Esteban Roberto Avalos fought in the Falklands as a sniper in RI 12's B Company. In all, some fifty hand-picked 12th Regiment conscripts and NCOs had also received ranger training from visiting ''Halcón 8'' (Falcon 8) army commandos in 1981, and then returned to their respective companies:
<blockquote>In my particular case, I ended up being a sharpshooter for which I had been preparing since the time we were out in the field, where I had the opportunity to shoot with a [[FN FAL|FAL]]. During the 45 days we spent there, we had to practice shooting three or four times a week, and those moments were taken advantage of to learn the shooting positions and familiarize ourselves with the weapon. The dealings with the superiors, in general, were excellent, although if somebody screwed up, we all paid the price. The most common punishments were taking us to the showers at night, forcing us to do push-ups or demand from us heaps of frog leaps and crawling. If someone took the wrong step, for example, it was reasonable to be pulled out of training, and they would make you 'dance' a little with push-ups on the thistles or the mud. Now, going back to the subject of instruction, I would say that it was generally satisfactory, at least as far as our group was concerned, since we had basic training in the use of explosives and we were even given some classes in self-defense."<ref>[http://laperlaaustral.com.ar/guerra-malvinas/esteban-roberto-avalos-clase-1962/ Esteban Roberto Avalos, clase 1962]</ref>
<blockquote>In my particular case, I ended up being a sharpshooter for which I had been preparing since the time we were out in the field, where I had the opportunity to shoot with a [[FN FAL|FAL]]. During the 45 days we spent there, we had to practice shooting three or four times a week, and those moments were taken advantage of to learn the shooting positions and familiarize ourselves with the weapon. The dealings with the superiors, in general, were excellent, although if somebody screwed up, we all paid the price. The most common punishments were taking us to the showers at night, forcing us to do push-ups or demand from us heaps of frog leaps and crawling. If someone took the wrong step, for example, it was reasonable to be pulled out of training, and they would make you 'dance' a little with push-ups on the thistles or the mud. Now, going back to the subject of instruction, I would say that it was generally satisfactory, at least as far as our group was concerned, since we had basic training in the use of explosives and we were even given some classes in self-defense."<ref>[http://laperlaaustral.com.ar/guerra-malvinas/esteban-roberto-avalos-clase-1962/ Esteban Roberto Avalos, clase 1962]</ref>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
Preparing clothes and equipment for battle kept the men busy. Each soldier wore a quilted Israeli-made parka. Most had woolen underclothes, sweaters, scarves, mittens and balaclavas. Each morning the Argentinian troops had green Guarani tea. It contains the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee; it is stimulating and helps stem the pangs of hunger. The men had the same tea in the evening. Cigarettes and chocolate bars were rationed, but each soldier had a plate of mutton soup at 3 pm.
Although straitlaced, Lieutenant-Colonel Piaggi showed more thought for his young conscript soldiers than many of his contemporaries and allowed them 'R&R' (Rest and Recreation) whenever possible. '"I can clearly remember it as if it was yesterday walking my platoon down from Darwin Heights to have a hot bath and a good sleep to recover,"''<ref> Blood and Mud at Goose Green, Military History, April 2002</ref>said 2nd Lieutenant Ernesto Orlando Peluffo, a young platoon commander who had been a cadet only a few weeks previously.
During the occupation, 114 inhabitants of Goose Green were kept under armed guard in the Social Hall until liberated by the British following the 14-hour long Battle for Goose Green. Piaggi explainied that the lockdown was necessary in order to protect the locals from ''"the rage of the air force men, who had lost so many colleagues."''<ref>[https://www.academia.edu/9369182/Making_Their_Dispositions_Accordingly_Civilian_Experiences_of_the_1982_Falklands_War Making Their Dispositions Accordingly: Civilian Experiences of the 1982 Falklands War ]</ref>
During the occupation, 114 inhabitants of Goose Green were kept under armed guard in the Social Hall until liberated by the British following the 14-hour long Battle for Goose Green. Piaggi explainied that the lockdown was necessary in order to protect the locals from ''"the rage of the air force men, who had lost so many colleagues."''<ref>[https://www.academia.edu/9369182/Making_Their_Dispositions_Accordingly_Civilian_Experiences_of_the_1982_Falklands_War Making Their Dispositions Accordingly: Civilian Experiences of the 1982 Falklands War ]</ref>