Changes

The companies were formed in 1975 for the counterinsurgency campaign in Tucumán Province but then disbanded, then formed temporarily as ''Halcón 8'' under Major  Mohamed Alí Seineldín for security during the FIFA World Cup held in Argentina in 1978 but then disbanded after the games.  

The companies were formed in 1975 for the counterinsurgency campaign in Tucumán Province but then disbanded, then formed temporarily as ''Halcón 8'' under Major  Mohamed Alí Seineldín for security during the FIFA World Cup held in Argentina in 1978 but then disbanded after the games.  

==Falklands War==

--[[User:Mazurenko2|Mazurenko2]] ([[User talk:Mazurenko2|talk]]) 21:24, 23 May 2021 (EDT)--[[User:Mazurenko2|Mazurenko2]] ([[User talk:Mazurenko2|talk]]) 21:24, 23 May 2021 (EDT)==Falklands War==

These Argentinian Army Commandos were hurriedly collected, and the 601st and 602nd Commando Companies were formed with about 114 men altogether and sent to Puerto Argentino/Port Stanley, the capital of the Falklands/Malvinas Islands. The Army Commandos were reinforced by a 65-man special forces squadron of the National Gendarmerie in late May 1982.

These Argentinian Army Commandos were hurriedly collected, and the 601st and 602nd Commando Companies were formed with about 114 men altogether and sent to Puerto Argentino/Port Stanley, the capital of the Falklands/Malvinas Islands. The Army Commandos were reinforced by a 65-man special forces squadron of the National Gendarmerie in late May 1982.

<ref>"Interestingly, Argentine military planners were aware of the redeployment of the SAS to Mount Kent and sent their own Special Forces (Commando 602) to neutralise them. New information reveals some tough fighting occurred between the British and Argentine Special Forces in which casualties were sustained on both sides; however, the failure of the Argentine forces to coordinate their efforts (communication was very difficult on Mount Kent) undermined their performance." Special Forces, Strategy and the War on Terror: Warfare By Other Means, Alastair Finlan, pp. 40-41, Routledge, 2009</ref>The Argentinian Green Berets were operating behind enemy lines and were ordered to capture British soldiers and shoot down enemy helicopters. The 602nd Commando Company in the form of Captain Andrés Antonio Ferrero's 3rd Assault Section suffered one badly wounded (Sergeant Raimundo Máximo Viltes) in an attempt to seize Mount Kent on the night of May 29/30, with 16 Air Troop reporting suffering two SAS badly wounded (Carl Rhodes and Richard Palmer) in fighting off this Argentinian incursion.  

<ref>"Interestingly, Argentine military planners were aware of the redeployment of the SAS to Mount Kent and sent their own Special Forces (Commando 602) to neutralise them. New information reveals some tough fighting occurred between the British and Argentine Special Forces in which casualties were sustained on both sides; however, the failure of the Argentine forces to coordinate their efforts (communication was very difficult on Mount Kent) undermined their performance." Special Forces, Strategy and the War on Terror: Warfare By Other Means, Alastair Finlan, pp. 40-41, Routledge, 2009</ref>The Argentinian Green Berets were operating behind enemy lines and were ordered to capture British soldiers and shoot down enemy helicopters. The 602nd Commando Company in the form of Captain Andrés Antonio Ferrero's 3rd Assault Section suffered one badly wounded (Sergeant Raimundo Máximo Viltes) in an attempt to seize Mount Kent on the night of May 29/30, with 16 Air Troop reporting suffering two SAS badly wounded (Carl Rhodes and Richard Palmer) in fighting off this Argentinian incursion.  

The 602nd Commando Company lost two men killed in another SAS ambush at Bluff Cove Peak in the morning of May 30 with Boat Troop reporting two SAS men (Ewen Pearcy and Don Masters) hit by hand-grenades. First Lieutenant [[Rubén Eduardo Márquez]]<ref>[http://www.ellitoral.com/index.php/id_um/107118-merecido-homenaje-a-ex-combatiente-en-coronda Merecido homenaje a ex combatiente en Coronda]</ref> and Sergeant [[Oscar Humberto Blas]], from Captain [[Tomás Victor Fernández]]' 2nd Assault Section, were posthumously decorated for their part in this action.<ref>"Oponerse a una fracción enemiga superior en número, en ocasión en que integraba una patrulla de exploración que operaba en una zona ocupada por el enemigo. Alertar con su acción a sus camaradas y combatir hasta lograr que estos se replegaran, ofrendando su vida en esta acción." Informe Oficial del Ejército Argentino, p. 56, Ejército Argentino, 1983</ref>

The 602nd Commando Company lost two men killed in another SAS ambush at Bluff Cove Peak in the morning of May 30 with Boat Troop reporting two SAS men (Ewen Pearcy and Don Masters) hit by hand-grenades. First Lieutenant [[Rubén Eduardo Márquez]]<ref>[http://www.ellitoral.com/index.php/id_um/107118-merecido-homenaje-a-ex-combatiente-en-coronda Merecido homenaje a ex combatiente en Coronda]</ref> and Sergeant [[Oscar Humberto Blas]], from Captain [[Tomás Victor Fernández]]' 2nd Assault Section, were posthumously decorated for their part in this Argentinian counter-ambush.<ref>"Oponerse a una fracción enemiga superior en número, en ocasión en que integraba una patrulla de exploración que operaba en una zona ocupada por el enemigo. Alertar con su acción a sus camaradas y combatir hasta lograr que estos se replegaran, ofrendando su vida en esta acción." Informe Oficial del Ejército Argentino, p. 56, Ejército Argentino, 1983</ref>

Another fierce gunbattle took place on the lower slopes of Mount Simon on morning of May 31. Captain [[José Arnobio Vercesi]]'s 1st Assault Section from the 602nd Commando Company had been spotted taking refuge in an isolated sheep farm, Top Malo House, which had been bypassed by the 3rd British Commando Brigade. 19 Mountain & Artic Warfare special forces were helicoptered there and attacked the house. During a fierce 45-minute action the house was set on fire, with the British later paying tribute to the tough fight put up by the Argentinians, who suffered two killed and six wounded; there were only four unwounded prisoners. Two of the Argentinians, Lieutenant [[Ernesto Emilio Espinosa]] and Sergeant [[Mateo Domingo Sbert]], were posthumously awarded the Heroic Valour Cross, Argentina's highest decoration for bravery. The Argentinian commandos claimed two British were killed; their comrades, they said, could be seen crying over the dead bodies. But no British were killed; what the Argentinian survivors saw were the three badly British Marines wounded being tended.<ref>[http://www.laperlaaustral.com.ar/contenidos/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=108:elcombatedetopmalohouse&catid=56:companiadecomandos602&Itemid=127 El combate de Top Malo House]</ref>

Another fierce gunbattle took place on the lower slopes of Mount Simon on morning of May 31. Captain [[José Arnobio Vercesi]]'s 1st Assault Section from the 602nd Commando Company had been spotted taking refuge in an isolated sheep farm, Top Malo House, which had been bypassed by the 3rd British Commando Brigade. 19 Mountain & Artic Warfare special forces were helicoptered there and attacked the house. During a fierce 45-minute action the house was set on fire, with the British later paying tribute to the tough fight put up by the Argentinians, who suffered two killed and six wounded; there were only four unwounded prisoners. Two of the Argentinians, Lieutenant [[Ernesto Emilio Espinosa]] and Sergeant [[Mateo Domingo Sbert]], were posthumously awarded the Heroic Valour Cross, Argentina's highest decoration for bravery. The Argentinian commandos claimed two British were killed; their comrades, they said, could be seen crying over the dead bodies. But no British were killed; what the Argentinian survivors saw were the three badly British Marines wounded being tended.<ref>[http://www.laperlaaustral.com.ar/contenidos/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=108:elcombatedetopmalohouse&catid=56:companiadecomandos602&Itemid=127 El combate de Top Malo House]</ref>