Key Facts
- Date
- 11–12 June 1982
- British unit
- 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment
- Argentine unit
- Elements of 7th Infantry Regiment
- Part of
- Brigade-size night operation (3 simultaneous battles)
- Strategic result
- British position overlooking Port Stanley secured
Strategic Narrative Overview
On the night of 11–12 June 1982, British forces launched a coordinated Brigade-size operation targeting Argentine defensive positions surrounding Port Stanley. The 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment assaulted Mount Longdon simultaneously with attacks on Mount Harriet and Two Sisters. Fighting on Longdon was intense, involving both close-quarters hand-to-hand combat and ranged fire, as the Parachute Regiment pushed Argentine defenders off the rocky ridge.
01 / The Origins
The Falklands War began in April 1982 when Argentine forces invaded the British-administered Falkland Islands, which Argentina had long claimed as its own territory under the name Islas Malvinas. Britain dispatched a naval task force to retake the islands, leading to weeks of fighting across the South Atlantic archipelago as British forces advanced toward the Argentine-held capital, Port Stanley.
03 / The Outcome
British forces successfully occupied Mount Longdon, securing a commanding position above Port Stanley. This, combined with success at the other simultaneous engagements, broke the outer Argentine defensive ring. Argentine forces on the islands surrendered on 14 June 1982, ending the conflict and reaffirming British sovereignty over the Falklands. The battle is remembered as one of the hardest-fought actions of the war.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.