Battle of Mount Tumbledown

Battle of Mount Tumbledown
Part of the Falklands War

Mount Tumbledown, Two Sisters, and Wireless Ridge, as seen from Stanley Harbour.
Date13–14 June 1982
Location
Mount Tumbledown, Falkland Islands
Result British victory
Territorial
changes
British troops capture the heights above Stanley and the town is surrendered to them shortly afterwards.
Belligerents
United Kingdom Argentina
Commanders and leaders
Michael Scott
John Kiszely
Iain Dalzel-Job
Carlos Robacio
Units involved

5th Infantry Brigade

3 Commando Brigade

Royal Navy
5th Naval Infantry Battalion
1st Marine Field Artillery Battalion
1st Marine Anti-Aircraft Regiment
4th Infantry Regiment
12th Infantry Regiment
Strength
641 soldiers
2 Scorpion light tanks
2 Scimitar light tanks
2 frigates
700 marines[1]
200 soldiers[1]
3 Tigercat SAMs
Casualties and losses
10 killed[2]
35[2]-53 wounded[3]

30 killed[2]
45[2]-100 wounded[3]


30 captured

The Battle of Mount Tumbledown was an engagement during the Falklands War. The engagement was an attack by the British Army and the Royal Marines on the heights overlooking Stanley, the Falkland Islands capital. Mount Tumbledown, Mount William and Sapper Hill lie west of the capital. Due to their proximity to the capital, they were of strategic importance during the 1982 War. They were held by the Argentine 5th Naval Infantry Battalion (BIM 5), a reinforced, cold weather trained and equipped Marine battalion.

The assaulting British forces were the 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards, 42 Commando, Royal Marines Mortar platoon and four light tanks of the Blues and Royals. The 1st Battalion, 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles were held in reserve.

One of a number of night battles that took place during the British advance towards Stanley, the battle led to British troops capturing all the heights above the town, allowing the town's capture and the surrender of the Argentine forces on the islands.

  1. ^ a b Robacio: homenaje a 85 años del nacimiento de un Comandante ejemplar
  2. ^ a b c d Freedman, Lawrence (2005). The Official History of the Falklands Campaign: War and diplomacy. Psychology Press. ISBN 978-0-7146-5207-8.
  3. ^ a b Falklands hero hails Magaret Thatcher’s leadership