British ground forces in the Falklands War

This is a list of the ground forces from the United Kingdom that took part in the Falklands War. For a list of ground forces from Argentina, see Argentine ground forces in the Falklands War

Land Forces

D-day at San Carlos

The land forces employed by the United Kingdom during the Falklands War amounted to a divisional sized formation, named as Land Forces Falkland Islands, consisting of two brigades:

  • 3 Commando Brigade - formed primarily by the Royal Marines, 3 Commando Brigade was the primary British rapid reaction force, tasked with reinforcing the NATO northern flank in Norway in the event of war with the Soviet Union in Europe. 3 Commando Brigade was the formation with most experience of amphibious operations. In its NATO role, 3 Commando Brigade was reinforced by the Dutch Korps Mariniers. However, the situation required reinforcement by British units, with the result that 2nd & 3rd Battalions of the Parachute Regiment were reassigned from 5 Infantry Brigade.
  • 5 Infantry Brigade - the UK's main "out of area" reaction formation, tasked with operations outside the European theatre. At the time, it would normally be formed using two battalions of the Parachute Regiment, together with the UK based Gurkha battalion. However, since both 2 PARA and 3 PARA were used to reinforce 3 Commando Brigade for the initial landings in the Falklands, 5 Brigade was reinforced with two battalions of Foot Guards then on public duties in London along with the Gurkha battalion. These were chosen as they were immediately available, as they were neither on internal security duties in Northern Ireland nor attached to BAOR.

Land Forces HQ

Memorial plaque to the Commando Logistic Regiment at Ajax Bay,

3 Commando Brigade

Commander: Brigadier JHA Thompson

Task organization of UK 3 Commando Brigade in Falklands War
  • 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment (Lt Col HWR Pike) — Green Beach - Teal Inlet - Mount Longdon. (†21)
    • 1 x Section Field Ambulance
    • 1 x Ordnance Coy Detachment
  • Commando Logistics Regiment, Royal Marines (Lt Col I Helberg) (†1)
  • 3 Commando Brigade HQ and Signals Squadron (Major R Dixon) (†1)
  • 3 Commando Brigade Aviation Squadron (Major CP Cameron)
    • 9 x Gazelle AH.1 helicopters (†3)
    • 6 x Scout helicopters (†1)
  • Reconnaissance Troops (Lt. M Coreth)
B Squadron, Blues and Royals

^1 - Replaced by Lt Col David Chaundler

5 Infantry Brigade

Commander: Brigadier MJA Wilson

Infantry weapons

A L2-A2 fragmentation grenade

See also

References

  1. ↑ Britain's Small Wars
  2. 1 2 3 "Guns of the Falklands War"

Sources

  • The Battle For The Falklands, Max Hastings and Simon Jenkins, 1983, Michael Joseph Ltd., ISBN 0-330-35284-9
  • The Official History of the Falklands Campaign, Sir Lawrence Freedman, 2005, Routledge, ISBN 0-7146-5207-5
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