The use of British Special Forces Units in the 1982 Falklands War

The Falklands War of Summer 1982 was a key area in Modern British History. It defined the first term of Margaret Thatcher's Government, and was key into her winning an electoral landslide in 1982. British Special Forces teams were deployed throughout, and had multiple successful patrols and raids, the likes that hadn't been seen since the days of the Second World War.

On the 2nd April 1982, Argentine forces landed in Port Stanley, and wrestled control of the Islands out of the hands of the British military presence on the island, which was composed of just under 60 Royal Marines of Naval Party 8901 and elements of the Falkland Island Defence Force. They put up a fight, killing 1 Argentine soldier for a loss of none of their own. Argentine forces also landed on the smaller uninhabited island of South Georgia. A British military task force was immediately ordered to set sail for the South Atlantic by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. This clearly highlighted the UK's determination to re-take the Islands, of which SF units would play a key role.

British SF units deployed included elements of the Special Air Service and Special Boat Service, and both of these Tier 1 SF units played integral roles, such as the SAS raiding the Argentine Garrison at Pebble Island on the 14th May, which this article will discuss in further detail later.

A fantastic example of how SF units were able to operate effectively in the Falklands War was the battle to liberate South Georgia. South Georgia, as mentioned earlier, is an uninhabited island around 970 miles South East of the Falklands, and became the first objective for British forces in the area. The first SF patrol was inserted on the 21st April onto the Fortuna Glacier, but unfortunately their mission was not successful due to adverse weather conditions. These men (who were from the SAS) were evacuated and flown back to HMS Antrim. SBS Patrols didn't fare too well either, and all had to be evacuated due to the storm. On the 25th April, the Argentine Submarine ARA Santa Fe was detected and disabled by Royal Navy helicopters. Major Sheridan of the Royal Marines decided the time was best due to likely low Argentine morale and the decision was taken to attack and seize the island. A force of 79 SAS, SBS and Royal Marines wrestled the Island back from Argentine control in a bloodless operation. This clearly highlights the use of SF forces being a positive, as their resilience in tough conditions allows for the element of surprise to be utilised.

Similar, another operation in which Special Forces units were successfully deployed is the famous raid on Pebble Island. This was orchestrated by the SAS and was a classic example of the SAS operating as a raiding force, which is what originally the SAS was set up to do, by Lt Col David Stirling, who's forces attacked Nazi airbases in the North African desert. On the 14th May 1982, D Squadron 22 SAS inserted into the plains around the airbase, which was situated in close proximity to San Carlos Water, where the main British landings would take place on the 21st May. The plan was to destroy all Argentine Air Force "Pucura" aircraft, which were a deadly Counter-Insurgency designed attack aircraft which could wreak havoc on the British landing force in San Carlos Water. D Squadron was able to destroy 11 Pucura's and this had a disastrous affect on the capability of the Argentine Air Force in being able to repel the British Invasion Force.

Another final area where British SF teams were deployed was on Mount Kent. from the 29th May. The SAS Boat and Air Troop were deployed onto the mountain, which served as a strategic post where observation could take place of Argentine forces, and it was a strategic height which was wanted by both sides. In a rare event of the war, British and Argentine SF units clashed with the SAS engaging in combat with 602 Commando Company of the Argentine Army on the night of 29th-3oth May. Skirmishes continued until early June. This is another clear example of SF forces being used to dominate and push forward "behind enemy lines", which follows the concept that Lt-Col Stirling created in the early 1940s.

To sum up, it is clear that British SF units played an important and decisive role in the conflict, enabling the main British force to focus on classic infantry operations whilst the SAS and SBS could focus on unconventional warfare techniques.

A destroyed Argentine Pucura in the aftermath of the successful raid on Pebble Island by D Sqn 22SAS on the 14th May 1982.

Ben Whitehead is an A-Level History, Politics and Geography Student who is hoping to pursue a career in the Royal Navy.