Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.
Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker.
Battle of Wireless Ridge
| Battle of Wireless Ridge | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Falklands War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 United Kingdom |
 Argentina | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Lt. Col. David Chaundler |
Lt. Col. Omar Giménez | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
 Royal Navy |
7th Infantry Regiment 10th Cavalry Squadron | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
600 2 Scorpion light tanks 2 Scimitar light tanks 12 light guns 1 frigate | 500 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
3 killed 11 wounded |
25 killed 125 wounded 37 captured | ||||||
.svg){kind=small}
The Battle of Wireless Ridge was an engagement of the Falklands War which took place on the night from 13 to 14 June 1982, between British and Argentine forces during the advance towards the Argentine-occupied capital of the Falkland Islands, Port Stanley.
Wireless Ridge was one of seven strategic hills within five miles of Stanley at 51°40′14″S 57°55′55″W / 51.67056°S 57.93194°W that had to be taken in order for the Island's capital to be approached. The attack was successful, and the entire Argentine force on the Islands surrendered later that day.
The British force consisted of 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (2 Para), a troop of the Blues & Royals, with two FV101 Scorpion and two FV107 Scimitar light tanks, as well as artillery support from two batteries of 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery and naval gunfire support provided by HMS Ambuscade's 4.5-in gun.
The Argentine force consisted of the 7th Infantry Regiment as well as detachments from other units. The first Argentine unit to arrive in the sector was the 10th Brigade Headquarters Company commanded by Major José Rodolfo Banetta that took up residence inside the Moody Brook Barracks,[1] but this unit had to evacuate the area on 11 June when British Harriers struck the building, killing three Argentine soldiers (Privates Mario Gustavo Rodríguez, Carlos Gustavo Mosto and Ignacio María Indino[2]) and wounding their company commander. At first, the 7th Regiment on Wireless Ridge was relatively comfortable, shooting sheep and roasting them on old bed frames the soldiers had found nearby.[3] The soldiers of the supporting 10th Armoured Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, according to Private Sergio Díaz, also had a fairly comfortable time at first, enjoying a huge barbecue and cans of beers while commemorating Argentine Army Cavalry Day on 23 April.[4] Private Guillermo Vélez from the 7th Regiment's Headquarters & Support Company maintains that he personally shot and killed 50 sheep during his time on Wireless Ridge.[5]
- ^ Desde El Frente Batallon De Infanteria De Marina Nº 5, Carlos H. Robacio, Carlos Hugo Robacio, Jorge Hernández, p. 216, Centro Naval, Instituto de Publicaciones Navales, 01/01/1996
- ^ El oficial que era un padre para sus soldados
- ^ Arie, Sophie (30 March 2002), You never get over it, but I have a double problem. I was fighting against Brits, people who were as good as family, news.scotsman.com
- ^ Entrevista N° 333: Soldado Clase 62 VGM Sergio Diaz - Esc Expl Cb Bl 10
- ^ Daniel Kon, p. 24, Los Chicos de la Guerra: Hablan los soldados que estuvieron en Malvinas, Galerna, 1982
Previous Page Next Page
