Argentine ground forces in the Falklands War facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This article is about the ground forces from Argentina that fought in the Falklands War (also known as the Guerra de las Malvinas in Spanish). If you want to learn about the ground forces from the United Kingdom, check out the article on British ground forces in the Falklands War.

Taking Control of the Islands (April 2-3)

Operation Rosario: Falkland Islands (April 2)

On April 2, 1982, Argentine forces launched "Operation Rosario" to take control of the Falkland Islands. Here's who was involved:

Amphibious Task Group 40.1 led by Rear Admiral of the Marines Carlos Büsser.
- Amphibious Commandos Group: About 50 men landed in inflatable boats from the destroyer Santisima Trinidad near Stanley.
- Buzos Tácticos (Tactical Divers): 15 frogmen swam ashore from the submarine ARA Santa Fe.
- 2nd Marine Infantry Btn. (BIM 2):
  - These marines landed using 20 large amphibious vehicles (LVTP-7) and five wheeled vehicles (LARC-V) from the ship ARA Cabo San Antonio (Q42).
  - Another group of 500 marines were flown into Stanley airport by helicopters from the ship ARA Almirante Irízar (Q-5).
- 25th Infantry Regiment Company (Argentine Army): A company of soldiers was flown in by C-130 planes.

South Georgia Operation (April 3)

The next day, on April 3, Argentine forces also took control of South Georgia Island:

1st Marine Infantry Btn. (BIM 1): About 60 men landed from the transport ship ARA Bahia Paraiso and the corvette ARA Guerrico. Two marines were killed during this operation.
Buzos Tácticos (Tactical Divers): 14 frogmen from the ship ARA Bahía Paraíso also took part.

Getting Ready for War

Before the war, Argentina had many infantry brigades, which are large groups of soldiers. These included airborne (paratrooper) brigades, mountain brigades, and jungle brigades. However, when it came to sending troops to the Falkland Islands, Argentina made two key assumptions that turned out to be wrong:

Assumption 1: Britain wouldn't fight back. The Argentine government believed that the British would not use military force to get the islands back. Because of this, many of the first soldiers sent to the islands were pulled back shortly after the initial invasion. They were not replaced until Britain recaptured South Georgia. The idea was to have a large number of troops on the islands to make Britain think twice about fighting. However, since British submarines were in the area, most reinforcements had to be flown in, which meant they couldn't bring much heavy equipment.

Assumption 2: Fear of attack from Chile. Argentina was also worried about a possible attack from Chile due to a long-standing border disagreement called the Beagle Conflict. Because Chile was gathering its troops near the Argentine border, Argentina's military leaders felt they had to keep their best-trained forces there to prevent a Chilean attack. This meant that the highly skilled mountain warfare regiments and paratrooper brigades were not sent to the Falklands. Also, only a small part of the marines who were trained for cold weather were sent. Most of the soldiers sent to the islands were from warmer parts of Argentina and were not used to the cold, rough terrain of the Falklands.

These two incorrect ideas led to the wrong types of troops being sent to the islands.

Most of the Argentine soldiers were young men doing their mandatory military service. Many of these young soldiers, called Soldados Clase ’63 (SC 63), had only just started their basic training in February 1982. When the British Navy sailed towards the South Atlantic, the army tried to call back soldiers who had recently finished their service to replace the new recruits.

Some soldiers, like those in the 25th Infantry Regiment, received quick, intense commando training. Other units also had short commando courses to prepare their soldiers.

Fighting in the Falkland Islands (April 7 – June 14)

The main Argentine military force on the islands was called Guarnición Militar Malvinas. Its commander was Brigade General Mario Benjamín Menéndez, who was also the governor. Infantry Regiments (RI) usually had about 800 men.

3rd (Jungle) Infantry Brigade

This brigade, normally based in a warmer region of Argentina called Mesopotamia, was quickly sent to the Falklands. Many of its experienced soldiers had just finished their service, so the brigade had to call back many reservists (soldiers who had completed their service but could be called back).

Commander: Brigade General Omar Parada.

4th Regiment (RI 4) — Fought in the Mount Harriet and Two Sisters areas near Stanley. (23 killed and 121 wounded)
- Commander: Lieutenant-Colonel Diego A. Soria.
12th Regiment (RI 12) — Fought in the Goose Green and Darwin areas on East Falkland. (35 killed and 72 wounded)
- Commander: Lieutenant-Colonel Italo A. Piaggi.
West Falkland
- 5th Regiment (RI 5) — Stationed at Port Howard. (8 killed and 67 wounded)
  - Commander: Colonel Juan R. Mabragaña.
- 8th Regiment, 9th Infantry Brigade (RI 8) — Stationed at Fox Bay. (5 killed and 51 wounded)
  - Commander: Lieutenant-Colonel Ernesto A. Repossi.

During the Battle of Mount Harriet, British forces found a way through a minefield, allowing them to attack Argentine positions from behind. This led to intense fighting, and some Argentine soldiers struggled to hold their ground.

10th Mechanised Infantry Brigade

This brigade was called Agrupación Puerto Argentino (Stanley Sector). Commander: Brigadier-General Oscar Luis Jofre. Brigade home base: Buenos Aires Province.

Brigadier Jofre had made his 10th Brigade a very well-trained unit. They had practiced large-scale attacks with air support. The soldiers were tested with tough exercises, sometimes with little food and water, to make them stronger. When they were called to the Falklands, the soldiers were very patriotic.

The 10th Brigade was responsible for defending Port Stanley.

3rd Regiment (RI 3) — Stationed in Stanley, prepared for urban fighting. (5 killed and 85 wounded)
- Commander: Lieutenant-Colonel David Ubaldo Comini.
6th Regiment (RI 6) — Stationed on Stanley Common. (12 killed and 35 wounded)
- Commander: Lieutenant-Colonel Jorge Halperin.
7th Regiment (RI 7) — Fought at Mount Longdon and Wireless Ridge near Stanley. (36 killed and 152 wounded)
- Commander: Lieutenant-Colonel Omar Giménez.
25th Infantry Regiment (Argentina) (RI 25) — Attached to the 10th Brigade, fought at Stanley Airport, Goose Green, and San Carlos. (13 killed and 67 wounded)
- Commander: Lieutenant-Colonel Mohamed Ali Seineldin.
Panhard Armoured Cars Squadron — Stationed at Moody Brook.
- Commander: Major Alejandro David Carullo.
- Had 12 Panhard Armoured Cars with 90mm guns.
10th Armoured Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (dismounted) — Attached as reserve at Moody Brook. (6 killed and 68 wounded)
- Commander: Captain Rodrigo Alejandro Soloaga.

The 3rd Mechanized Infantry Regiment arrived in Port Stanley on April 9 and spent time digging defensive positions on the southern beaches. They also had access to warehouses in town for drying clothes and sleeping, but this ended when British forces landed at San Carlos.

On the night of June 12-13, a company from the 3rd Regiment tried to help regain Wireless Ridge but failed. The 10th Brigade suffered 66 soldiers killed and 370 wounded during the defense of Port Stanley.

Artillery

Artillery units provide fire support with large guns.

3rd Artillery Group (GA 3) — (2 killed and 21 wounded)
- Commander: Lieutenant-Colonel Martín A. Balza.
- Had 18 OTO Melara Mod 56 105mm field guns (used in Stanley and Goose Green).
- Also had 2 CITER 155mm guns, flown in from May 15.
4th Airborne Artillery Group (GA Aerot 4) — (3 killed and 42 wounded)
- Commander: Lieutenant-Colonel Carlos Alberto Quevedo.
- Had 18 x 105mm guns.

Other Army Units

181st Military Police and Intelligence Coy — Stationed in Stanley.
601st Engineer battalion (BI-601) — (1 killed and 10 wounded)
- Commander: Major Jorge L. A. Etienot.
- Engineers built field showers for the soldiers in Port Stanley.
601 Commando Company — Operated near Port Howard and Murrell River.
- Commander: Major Mario Castagneto.
602nd Commando Company — Operated near Mount Kent and Murrell River. (5 killed and 7 wounded)
- Commander: Major Aldo Rico.
601 Combat Aviation Battalion — See 601 Assault Helicopter Battalion.

'Reserva Z'

'Reserva Z' (Z Reserve) was a special group of units created on April 7, 1982. It was initially located at Stanley Racecourse and was meant to reinforce other areas if needed.

181st Armoured Car Squadron — Stationed at Stanley Racecourse.
10th Armoured Squadron — Stationed in Moody Valley.
6th Regiment's 'Piribebuy' Company — Stationed at The Saddle.
3rd Regiment's 'Tacuari' Company.

As more troops arrived, 'Reserva Z' was strengthened and given the clear task of defending the Stanley area. Its armoured units patrolled the roads, and infantry companies took up defensive positions.

Marines

5th Marine Infantry Btn. (BIM 5) — Attached to the Army, fought at Mount Tumbledown, Mount William, and Sapper Hill near Stanley. (16 killed and 68 wounded)
- Commander: Capitan de Fragata (Commander) Carlos Hugo Robacio.
Heavy Machine-Gun Company — Had 27 x 12.7mm machine guns, stationed on Stanley Common. (7 killed and 17 wounded)
Amphibious Engineer Company — Stationed on Stanley Common. (4 killed)
1st Marine Field Artillery Battalion's B Battery — Stationed on Stanley Common. (2 killed and 2 wounded)
Dog platoon Naval Base Puerto Belgrano — Had 18 dogs and 22 men. Two dogs were killed.

The marines in the 5th Marine Battalion were well-fed and well-equipped for the Falklands. They were used to cold weather and rough terrain because their base was in Tierra del Fuego, a very cold region in southern Argentina.

Gendarmería (Border Guards)

The Escuadrón de Fuerzas Especiales 601 de Gendarmería Nacional (601st National Gendarmerie Special Forces Squadron) also operated in the Falklands.

Special Forces Combat Patrols — (7 killed, 6 of whom died in a helicopter crash on May 30). These included squads like Atucha, Bariloche, Calafate, and Esquel.

The Gendarmerie special forces, along with military police, conducted searches in Port Stanley to make sure no British special forces were hiding among the civilians.

Air Defences

Different branches of the Argentine military had units dedicated to air defence.

Army Air Defence

601st Air Defence Artillery Group (GADA-601) — (6 killed and 23 wounded).
- Commander: Lieutenant-Colonel Héctor L. Arias.
- Used a long-range radar (AN/TPS-44).
- Had Roland surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems.
- Had Tigercat SAM triple launchers.
- Used Skyguard radar systems, each controlling two Oerlikon 35mm twin cannons.
- Also had Oerlikon 20mm anti-aircraft cannons.
B Battery, 101st Anti-Aircraft group (GADA 101) — (3 killed and 9 wounded).
- Commander: Major Jorge Monge.
- Had Hispano Suiza 30mm guns and 12.7mm machine guns.
Some infantry units also had Blowpipe shoulder-fired SAMs.

Air Force Air Defence

A captured Air Force Rheinmetall 20 mm Twin Anti-Aircraft Cannon from Goose Green in the Imperial War Museum

Defended Stanley Airfield and Goose Green Airfield.
Used a long-range radar (TPS-43F).
Had Oerlikon twin 35mm guns and Super Fledermaus fire control radar.
Used Rheinmetall Rh-202 twin 20mm anti-aircraft guns.
Also had SA-7 man-portable SAMs.

Navy Air Defence

1st Marine Anti-Aircraft Battalion — (2 killed).
- Commander: capitan de corbeta (Marine Major) Hector E. Silva.
- Had Tigercat SAM triple launchers.
- Used Hispano HS-831 30mm anti-aircraft guns.

Infantry Weapons

Argentine ground forces used a variety of weapons:

Personal Weapons:
- Browning Hi-Power, Ballester–Molina, FM PA3-DM, FMK-3 submachine gun, L34A1 Sterling, FM FAL 50.61, FM FAL 50.41, M16A1 rifles.
Support Weapons:
- FM FAP, FM MAG, Browning M2HB machine guns.
- 90mm M20 Bazooka.
- FM 60mm, 81mm, and 120mm Mortars.
- FM Model 1968/M-1974 105mm recoilless gun.
- Blowpipe MANPADS (Man Portable Air-Defence System).
Anti-personnel mines: FMK1, No. 4, P4B, SB33.
Anti-tank mines: C3B, FMK3, M1, No. 6, SB81.

Casualties

The human cost of the war was significant for the Argentine ground forces:

Argentine Army: 194 soldiers were killed (16 officers, 35 non-commissioned officers, and 143 conscripts). 1,308 were wounded.
Argentine Navy: 34 Marines were killed (1 officer, 3 non-commissioned officers, and 30 conscripts). 105 were wounded.
Gendarmería Nacional Argentina: 7 commandos were killed (2 officers, 4 non-commissioned officers, and 1 gendarme). 12 were wounded or injured.

Images for kids

A display in the Imperial War Museum, showing an Argentine mortar