Changes

On 29 April, the 12th Regiment began deploying to the second largest settlement in the Falklands, Goose Green, and joined the first garrison, C Company from the 25th Regiment now re-designated 'Task Force Mercedes'. A small garrison consisting of Senior Lieutenant Carlos Daniel Esteban's C Company 25th 'Special' (Ranger-type) Regiment and 'Alpha' Platoon (Sección 'Alfa') from the 8th 'General Bernardo O'Higgins' Infantry Regiment had already been established at Goose Green to protect a dozen FMA IA-58 Pucara ground attack aircraft there. There were also 202 Air Force personnel present at Goose Green.

On 29 April, the 12th Regiment began deploying to the second largest settlement in the Falklands, Goose Green, and joined the first garrison, C Company from the 25th Regiment now re-designated 'Task Force Mercedes'. A small garrison consisting of Senior Lieutenant Carlos Daniel Esteban's C Company 25th 'Special' (Ranger-type) Regiment and 'Alpha' Platoon (Sección 'Alfa') from the 8th 'General Bernardo O'Higgins' Infantry Regiment had already been established at Goose Green to protect a dozen FMA IA-58 Pucara ground attack aircraft there. There were also 202 Air Force personnel present at Goose Green.

Goose Green, about 44 miles west of Port Stanley, lies at a neck of land a mile wide and five miles long that prevents East Falkland being sliced in two. Halfway down the isthmus lies a long series of low hills, Darwin Ridge. It was here that Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert 'H' Jones (Commanding Officer 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment or 2 PARA) was killed when, followed by his bodyguard, Sergeant Barry Norman, he went off to outflank the Argentinian and was hit by automatic rifle fire.

Goose Green, about 44 miles west of Port Stanley, lies at a neck of land a mile wide and five miles long that prevents East Falkland being sliced in two. Halfway down the isthmus lies a long series of low hills, Darwin Ridge. It was here that Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert 'H' Jones (Commanding Officer 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment or 2 PARA) was killed when, followed by his bodyguard, Sergeant Barry Norman, he went off to outflank the Argentinian and was hit by automatic rifle fire from an Argentinian Army Commando seconded to the 25th Regiment.

It was on 30 April that the regimental commander, the operations officer, Major Adolfo Ernesto Moore and the personnel officer, Captain Pedro Horacio Lavaysse flew across Wickham Heights to await the arrival of the 12th Regiment. The regimental commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Ítalo Ángel Piaggi was almost six feet tall and bore a striking resemblance to American actor Telly Savalas. At age 45, he was energetic and it was mighty hard to wear him out as was demonstrated in the battle which was to come.

It was on 30 April that the regimental commander, the operations officer, Major Adolfo Ernesto Moore and the personnel officer, Captain Pedro Horacio Lavaysse flew in a helicopter across Wickham Heights to await the arrival of the 12th Regiment. The regimental commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Ítalo Ángel Piaggi was almost six feet tall and bore a striking resemblance to American actor Telly Savalas. At age 45, he was energetic and it was mighty hard to wear him out as was demonstrated in the battle which was to come.

Soon after their arrival Piaggi ordered Senior Lieutenant Jorge Antonio Manresa's 'A' Company to a blocking position near Port Darwin and Darwin Bay, on Darwin Ridge, and Senior Lieuteanant Ramón Duaso Fernández's 'C' Company to a similar position at Ramsground, about 2 miles south of Goose Green Settlement. 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.

Soon after their arrival Piaggi ordered Senior Lieutenant Jorge Antonio Manresa's 'A' Company to a blocking position near Port Darwin and Darwin Bay, on Darwin Ridge, and Senior Lieuteanant Ramón Duaso Fernández's 'C' Company to a similar position at Ramsground, about 2 miles south of Goose Green Settlement. 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.

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.  

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.

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.

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.

==First losses==

==First losses==