The only planned daylight action of the Falklands War, this skirmish disrupted Argentine special forces attempting to establish observation posts near San Carlos.
Key Facts
- Date
- 31 May 1982
- Argentine unit
- 602 Commando Company
- British unit
- Mountain and Arctic Warfare Cadre (M&AWC)
- Action type
- Only planned daylight action of the Falklands War
- Conflict
- Falklands War
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Argentine special forces from 602 Commando Company sought to establish a screen of observation posts around the British lodgement near San Carlos. A section occupied Top Malo House as part of this effort, intending to monitor British movements during their breakout from the beachhead.
On 31 May 1982, a British Mountain and Arctic Warfare Cadre observation post spotted the Argentine commandos at Top Malo House. The M&AWC, screening the British breakout from San Carlos, engaged the Argentine section in what became the only planned daylight engagement of the entire Falklands War, though it had originally been intended to occur in darkness.
The skirmish neutralized the Argentine observation post at Top Malo House and was counted among a series of mishaps that hindered the broader Argentine effort during the war. It demonstrated the effectiveness of British special forces in countering Argentine intelligence-gathering operations ahead of the main offensive push.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent