Global InformationBattle of Wireless Ridge information
| 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 | ||||||
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 that 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 fire struck the building, killing three Argentine soldiers and wounding an officer. 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.[2] Private Guillermo Vélez maintains that he personally shot and killed 50 sheep during his time on Wireless Ridge.[3]
- ^ 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
- ^ 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
- ^ Daniel Kon, p. 24, Los Chicos de la Guerra: Hablan los soldados que estuvieron en Malvinas, Galerna, 1982