Changes

On May 29, Captain Peter Babbington's 'Kilo' Company from 42 COMMANDO (42 CDO) embarked in Sea King helicopters to reinforce Lieutenant-Colonel Mike Rose's 22nd Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) that was holding Mount Kent with 'D' Company (under Major Cedric Delves). Captain Babbington's rifle company along with some 105mm Light Guns rom the Royal Marine Artillery Regiment was expected to land on Mount Kent on the night of May 29/30. A sudden gun-battle near the helicopter landing zone and snow blizzards meant these helicopter-borne reinforcements would only arrive on the night May 30/31, perilously close to another firefight.

On May 29, Captain Peter Babbington's 'Kilo' Company from 42 COMMANDO (42 CDO) embarked in Sea King helicopters to reinforce Lieutenant-Colonel Mike Rose's 22nd Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) that was holding Mount Kent with 'D' Company (under Major Cedric Delves). Captain Babbington's rifle company along with some 105mm Light Guns rom the Royal Marine Artillery Regiment was expected to land on Mount Kent on the night of May 29/30. A sudden gun-battle near the helicopter landing zone and snow blizzards meant these helicopter-borne reinforcements would only arrive on the night May 30/31, perilously close to another firefight.

On 31 May, 19 Royal Marine Commandos from the [[Mountain and Arctic Warfare Cadre]] (M&AWC) under Major [[Rod Boswell]], embarked in a Wessex helicopter, with orders to eliminate the Argentinian Army Special Forces patrol that had taken refuge at Top Malo House Farm, in order to allow the 600 Paratroopers from 3 PARA to capture Estancia Mountain and Estancia House Farm unmolested.

On 31 May, 19 Royal Marine Commandos from the [[Mountain and Arctic Warfare Cadre]] (M&AWC) under Major [[Rod Boswell]], embarked in a Wessex helicopter, with orders to eliminate the Argentinian Army Special Forces patrol that had taken refuge at Top Malo House, in order to allow the 600 Paratroopers from 3 PARA to capture Estancia Mountain and Estancia House Farm unmolested.

==Key ground==

==Key ground==

An attempt to disembark two platoon of Royal Marines from 42 COMMANDO  to reinforce 'D' Squadron in the middle of the firefight was frustrated by heavy snows and machine-gun and tracer rounds, which forced the British helicopters to quickly exit the area with Marine William Macpherson recalling, ''"As we came in we could see glows through the snows as we came into the Landing Site and we were like thinking 'What is that?' and then there was a lot of machine-gun and tracer rounds coming at the helicopters and we banked away really hard and then the door slammed and we did not know what was happening and we ended up back in San Carlos. And when we got back, and this was probably 3 in the morning and the Sergeant-Major was there in the sheep-shed and he said 'You guys have no idea what a close call you just had tonight.'"''<ref>The UNTOLD Battle For Mount Harriet | Major 'Molly' Macpherson 42 CDO Royal Marines (available on YouTube)</ref>

An attempt to disembark two platoon of Royal Marines from 42 COMMANDO  to reinforce 'D' Squadron in the middle of the firefight was frustrated by heavy snows and machine-gun and tracer rounds, which forced the British helicopters to quickly exit the area with Marine William Macpherson recalling, ''"As we came in we could see glows through the snows as we came into the Landing Site and we were like thinking 'What is that?' and then there was a lot of machine-gun and tracer rounds coming at the helicopters and we banked away really hard and then the door slammed and we did not know what was happening and we ended up back in San Carlos. And when we got back, and this was probably 3 in the morning and the Sergeant-Major was there in the sheep-shed and he said 'You guys have no idea what a close call you just had tonight.'"''<ref>The UNTOLD Battle For Mount Harriet | Major 'Molly' Macpherson 42 CDO Royal Marines (available on YouTube)</ref>

Meanwhile, according to his Military Cross citation<ref>[https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/burls-timothy-william.30947/ 22 SAS Burls, Timothy William]</ref>, Captain Timothy William Burls along with his Boat Troop from the 22nd Special Air Service Regiment's 'D' Squadron had arrived at Estancia House and, whilst securing the area their position on Bluff Cove Peak had been infiltrated. After discussing with Brigadier Julian Thompson the  option of regrouping at Estancia House, Lieutenant-Colonel Mike Rose instructed Major Cedric Delves that it was critical to maintain Mount Kent and Bluff Cove Peak and ordered him to gather his patrols and hold them until 'Kilo' Company 42 from COMMANDO arrived.<ref>''Meanwhile, according to his patrol report, Villarruel had also landed on Mount Kent and, avoiding contact, withdrew to the high ground north of the hill. After discussing with Brigadier Thompson the importance of seizing Mount Kent and disadvantage of regrouping at Estancia, Lieutenant Colonel Mike Rose, who commanded the SAS, instructed Major Delves that it was critical to hold it and put him in command of all forces in the area until 42 Commando arrived.'' Nine Battles to Stanley, Nick Van Der Bijl, pg. 148, Pen & Sword, 2014</ref>

Meanwhile, according to his Military Cross citation<ref>[https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/burls-timothy-william.30947/ 22 SAS Burls, Timothy William]</ref>, Captain Timothy William Burls along with his Boat Troop from the 22nd Special Air Service Regiment's 'D' Squadron had arrived at Estancia House Farm and, whilst securing the area their position on Bluff Cove Peak had been infiltrated. After discussing with Brigadier Julian Thompson (commander of 3 Commando Brigade) of the  option of regrouping at Estancia House Farm, Lieutenant-Colonel Mike Rose instructed Major Cedric Delves that it was critical to maintain Mount Kent and Bluff Cove Peak and ordered him to gather his patrols and hold them until 'Kilo' Company 42 from COMMANDO arrived.<ref>''Meanwhile, according to his patrol report, Villarruel had also landed on Mount Kent and, avoiding contact, withdrew to the high ground north of the hill. After discussing with Brigadier Thompson the importance of seizing Mount Kent and disadvantage of regrouping at Estancia, Lieutenant Colonel Mike Rose, who commanded the SAS, instructed Major Delves that it was critical to hold it and put him in command of all forces in the area until 42 Commando arrived.'' Nine Battles to Stanley, Nick Van Der Bijl, pg. 148, Pen & Sword, 2014</ref>

3 PARA had captured Teal Inlet Settlement on May 29 but had lost one man in their march to Estancia House when a Paratrooper in Captain Matthew Selfridge's D Company shot himself and was seriously wounded in a negligent discharge incident.<ref>Unfortunately, this was a 'negligent discharge' originating from one of the most dangerous weapons in the British military inventory, the 9 mm sub-machine gun. He was rather unwell as Nick Morgan, John Williams and Malcolm Jowitt got to work. Later, this patient would complain about the three tubes inserted into his chest, but those drainage routes did a vital job in carrying away the blood leaking from the bullet's long track. He was a rather lucky boy – another survivor, and very much against the odds. Doctor for Friend and Foe: Britain's Frontline Medic in the Fight for the Falklands, Rick Jolly, p. 89, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2012</ref>

3 PARA had captured Teal Inlet Settlement on May 29 but had lost one man in their march to Estancia House Farm when a Paratrooper in Captain Matthew Selfridge's D Company shot himself and was seriously wounded in a negligent discharge incident.<ref>Unfortunately, this was a 'negligent discharge' originating from one of the most dangerous weapons in the British military inventory, the 9 mm sub-machine gun. He was rather unwell as Nick Morgan, John Williams and Malcolm Jowitt got to work. Later, this patient would complain about the three tubes inserted into his chest, but those drainage routes did a vital job in carrying away the blood leaking from the bullet's long track. He was a rather lucky boy – another survivor, and very much against the odds. Doctor for Friend and Foe: Britain's Frontline Medic in the Fight for the Falklands, Rick Jolly, p. 89, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2012</ref>

==Bluff Cove Peak==

==Bluff Cove Peak==

In the meantime, the 602nd Commando Company's 2nd Assault Section, commanded by 'Capitán' Tomás Victor Fernández, after a brief pause, continued its advance up [[Bluff Cove Peak]]. It was here that 'Teniente 1º' Rubén Eduardo Márquez and 'Sargento 1º' Oscar Humberto Blas won posthumously the 'Medalla al Heroico Valor en Combate' (Heroic Valour Cross) in a patrol clash in which they wounded two Special Air Service Commandos from 17 'Boat' Troop with hand grenades (Ewen Pearcy and Don Masters).<ref>''Two more men were wounded, but the SAS remained in control of its main positions by the morning of 30 May.'' Twilight Warriors: Inside the World's Special Forces, Martin C. Arostegui, pg 181, St. Martin's Press, 1997</ref><ref>''Fernandez's section spent the night extricating themselves from the ambush and although two more SAS were wounded, he lost Sergeant Alfredo Flores, who was knocked out when he fell and was taken prisoner.''Nine Battles to Stanley, Nick Van Der Bijl, pg. 149, Pen & Sword, 2014</ref><ref>"Suddenly there was a burst of firing, and the distinct crack of at least one grenade going off ... One of the blokes took splinter wounds from the grenade in his back and was brought up to our position to be looked after ... The other casualty's shrapnel wounds were unpleasant but not serious." SAS: Sea King Down, Mark Aston & Stuart Tootal, Penguin Books, 2021</ref>There was nothing for it but to squeeze as many as possible into caves near the top of Bluff Cove Peak," admits Captain Fernández.

In the meantime, the 602nd Commando Company's 2nd Assault Section, commanded by 'Capitán' Tomás Victor Fernández, after a brief pause, continued its advance up [[Bluff Cove Peak]]. It was here that 'Teniente 1º' Rubén Eduardo Márquez and 'Sargento 1º' Oscar Humberto Blas won posthumously the 'Medalla al Heroico Valor en Combate' (Heroic Valour Cross) in a patrol clash in which they wounded two Special Air Service Commandos from 17 'Boat' Troop with hand grenades (Ewen Pearcy and Don Masters).<ref>''Two more men were wounded, but the SAS remained in control of its main positions by the morning of 30 May.'' Twilight Warriors: Inside the World's Special Forces, Martin C. Arostegui, pg 181, St. Martin's Press, 1997</ref><ref>''Fernandez's section spent the night extricating themselves from the ambush and although two more SAS were wounded, he lost Sergeant Alfredo Flores, who was knocked out when he fell and was taken prisoner.''Nine Battles to Stanley, Nick Van Der Bijl, pg. 149, Pen & Sword, 2014</ref><ref>"Suddenly there was a burst of firing, and the distinct crack of at least one grenade going off ... One of the blokes took splinter wounds from the grenade in his back and was brought up to our position to be looked after ... The other casualty's shrapnel wounds were unpleasant but not serious." SAS: Sea King Down, Mark Aston & Stuart Tootal, Penguin Books, 2021</ref>There was nothing for it but to squeeze as many as possible into caves near the top of Bluff Cove Peak," admits Captain Fernández.

That same morning, before dawn, as 'Capitán' Eduardo Marcelo Villarruel led his headquarters group back to Argentinian lines, he ran into a heavily armed British patrol on the foggy slopes of Mount Kent heading to Estancia House. The Argentinian Special Forces went to ground and took up ambush positions. Sergeant Mario Antonio Cisnero, had the 7.62 millimetre belt-fed machine-gun and was ready to open fire. Villarruel, for some reason told Cisnero to hold his fire. It was a serious misjudgment and probably cost the Argentinians the battle for Mount Kent. It later transpired that the British patrol were members of 'D' Squadron, 22nd Special Air Service Regiment retreating with their two badly wounded in the Mount Kent action. Unfortunately because of the blizzard, communications were lost on both sides. But for the first time Lieutenant-Colonel Mike Rose's 22nd Special Air Service Regiment was in control of the situation after the initial SAS retreat. By 1700 local time on May 30 when 'Capitán' Tomás Fernández's radio operator, 'Sargento 1º' Vicente Alfredo Flores, at last came on air, he passed the dramatic message, ''"We are in trouble" and 40 minutes later, "there are English all around us...you had better hurry up."''<ref>[https://www.wearethemighty.com/popular/that-time-two-countries-special-forces-squared-off-in-combat/ That time two countries’ Special Forces squared off in combat]</ref>

That same morning, before dawn, as 'Capitán' Eduardo Marcelo Villarruel led his headquarters group back to Argentinian lines, he ran into a heavily armed British patrol on the foggy slopes of Mount Kent heading to Estancia House Farm. The Argentinian Special Forces went to ground and took up ambush positions. Sergeant Mario Antonio Cisnero, had the 7.62 millimetre belt-fed machine-gun and was ready to open fire. Villarruel, for some reason told Cisnero to hold his fire. It was a serious misjudgment and probably cost the Argentinians the battle for Mount Kent. It later transpired that the British patrol were members of 'D' Squadron, 22nd Special Air Service Regiment retreating with their two badly wounded in the Mount Kent action. Unfortunately because of the blizzard, communications were lost on both sides. But for the first time Lieutenant-Colonel Mike Rose's 22nd Special Air Service Regiment was in control of the situation after the initial SAS retreat. By 1700 local time on May 30 when 'Capitán' Tomás Fernández's radio operator, 'Sargento 1º' Vicente Alfredo Flores, at last came on air, he passed the dramatic message, ''"We are in trouble" and 40 minutes later, "there are English all around us...you had better hurry up."''<ref>[https://www.wearethemighty.com/popular/that-time-two-countries-special-forces-squared-off-in-combat/ That time two countries’ Special Forces squared off in combat]</ref>

The Argentinian helicopter-borne offensive had been checked, with the Special Air Service successfully maintaining their positions on Mount Kent and Bluff Cove Peak. Major Aldo Rico was placed in charge of all further Special Forces operations. He reluctantly cancelled the deployment of Major Mario Castagneto's 601st Commando Company and instructed Castagneto to rescue the 602nd Commando Company, who were to assemble on Estancia Mountain.<ref>''Operation Autoimpuesta, so far, was not going well and with the British now occupying Mount Kent, Major Rico was given command of Special Forces operations. He cancelled the deployment of 601 Commando Company and instructed Major Castagneto to rescue 602 Commando, who were to assemble on Mount Estancia.'' Nine Battles to Stanley, Nick Van Der Bijl, pg. 149, Pen & Sword, 2014</ref>

The Argentinian helicopter-borne offensive had been checked, with the Special Air Service successfully maintaining their positions on Mount Kent and Bluff Cove Peak. Major Aldo Rico was placed in charge of all further Special Forces operations. He reluctantly cancelled the deployment of Major Mario Castagneto's 601st Commando Company and instructed Castagneto to rescue the 602nd Commando Company, who were to assemble on Estancia Mountain.<ref>''Operation Autoimpuesta, so far, was not going well and with the British now occupying Mount Kent, Major Rico was given command of Special Forces operations. He cancelled the deployment of 601 Commando Company and instructed Major Castagneto to rescue 602 Commando, who were to assemble on Mount Estancia.'' Nine Battles to Stanley, Nick Van Der Bijl, pg. 149, Pen & Sword, 2014</ref>