1982 Falklands (Malvinas) War: a view from across the pond

[Osprey]

Originally Posted by gheoss

To my point of view, the Malvinas are Argentine territory, you cant go to someones backyard and claim it to yourself because theres no one living there.

And the argentinian soldiers who died and survived the conflic, has the balls of the size of the moon, they were young kids with no combat training, scared and suffering from hypothermia, they fought like hell, they had F.A.L that didnt work, bad munition, no food (the high ranks were stealing all the food, money and items that the soldiers families were sending to them)...poor kids, when they saw the British suited with thermal, night vision, and all that technology..it was a big shock, but they still fought as heroes.

Same as the FAA, to me, the best pilots in the world (argentina STILL has the same jets, A4E Skyhawks, Mirage III, Super Etendart, Pucarás and Pampa)..

They used the jets as attack boats, fliying right above the sea crests..they had to wipe the cabin because of the water..

Big Respect for the Argentinians who fought with honor, they are the real heroes of that horrible and mistaken war.

In actual fact Mount Tumbledown, overlooking Stanley, was a fortress packed with several hundred Marines, some of Argentina's best troops, who were dug in.

They were attacked by 300 Scotsmen, so it's no surprise that they eventually ran for their lives. When the jocks got the upper hand the Argies ordered their own Arty to fire on their position.

Originally Posted by Baco

Regarding what the Ilanders want. The British did not stop one secod to ponder on what the people allready living there wnated whnen they kicked them out...

The principle of self determination is exclusive for indigenous population, NOT, tranplanted colonial population. No Islander grategrandfather was born on the islands, period. Every one of them comes from a british subjec familly. So the principle of self determination of the people does not aplly to them. It was Argentinian territory with a flag and a governor.. we do not claim to inherit it from spain, we claim it was populated and ruled by Argentina when the british took it by force. Putting it plainlly: If I steal yopur car, does it make it mine if my kid rides on it for long enough time? Or is it still your car?

Same thing here. The onlly reason the islands still are a British ocupied territory is illigal use of force. The whole world sees that, hell even the US abstained, instead of voting aggainst the UN resolutions..... Even the british people say it (acording to the latest polls)....

The war was a desperate atempt used by a drunk to remian in power... and gave the perfect opportunituy to a power drunk lady to stay in power, and oh yes the good ole British Navy a chance to get a little more budget... Still it was our right to claim what is rightfully ours. This is the same case of the owner of a house being sued by the burgler for getting hit in the head with a bat, INISDE the house, of course and with the families DVD in his hands.......

Regarding the combatants, Well both sides displayed honnor and courage and served their countries like true heroes... allways the military pays for the incompetence of their governments... Both sides fighting for what they belive in. My respect for them. British and Argentinians.

I don't think you've done one iota of research about the islands mate, there are so many mistakes in this it's hard to know where to begin.

For the record, and I can't stand Thatcher so I'm no biased, it was her husband who was a drunk - she was always sober even if there was a big party in town. I know this for a fact through a relative who was high up in the Police force when she was in power.

[rasante_pucará]

Originally Posted by Osprey

In actual fact Mount Tumbledown, overlooking Stanley, was a fortress packed with several hundred Marines, some of Argentina's best troops, who were dug in.

They were attacked by 300 Scotsmen, so it's no surprise that they eventually ran for their lives. When the jocks got the upper hand the Argies ordered their own Arty to fire on their position.

Big mistake here. The 5º Infantry Battalion was conformed by 70% conscrip soldiers. They wasn´t a elite unit (The diferences between others units, it´s that this was prepared for this type of combat)

The Scot Guard Battalion (300 man? Here the Battalion are of 500 man aprox) fight against a part of NACAR company of 5º I. Battalion.
They fight againts two sections of 5º Marines, and 1 section of the RI4 (Army, those tooke parte in goose green battle and retreat to tumbledown). The scotish fight against 100-150 mans.

[Siko]

Originally Posted by rasante_pucará

Big mistake here. The 5º Infantry Battalion was conformed by 70% conscrip soldiers. They wasn´t a elite unit (The diferences between others units, it´s that this was prepared for this type of combat)

The Scot Guard Battalion (300 man? Here the Battalion are of 500 man aprox) fight against a part of NACAR company of 5º I. Battalion.
They fight againts two sections of 5º Marines, and 1 section of the RI4 (Army, those tooke parte in goose green battle and retreat to tumbledown). The scotish fight against 100-150 mans.

Wikipedia quotes 900 Scots versus 500 Marines.

[Kongo-Otto]

Originally Posted by Osprey

They were attacked by 300 Scotsmen, so it's no surprise that they eventually ran for their lives. When the jocks got the upper hand the Argies ordered their own Arty to fire on their position.

I wouldn't call that battle including fierce Hand to Hand combat with fixed bayonets a "ran for their lives" also i believe you are underestimating the strenght of 2 Btl SG i'm pretty sure that there were more than 300 men involved in the attack.
IIRC there were two bayonet charges performed by the Scots Guards. When the perimeter was secured by 2 SG the Argies launched a first counter attack which was fought off by the Scots.
The Argies had to withdraw when outflanked by the SG and even then the Argie Marines planned another counter attack, the final withdrawal was ordered by Argies staff back in Stanley.
Btw when the Argie arty started up firing the Mountain top the positions were already taken by the SG so calling it firing at own positions isn't quite correct because at that point the Argie Marines were in retreat and have already left the Mountain top and also is to mention that during the whole battle there was very accurate Mortar fire on the advancing SG by a Argentine Mortar Platoon at Mount William.