Key Facts
- Date
- Night of 13–14 June 1982
- British assault unit
- 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (2 Para)
- Argentine defending unit
- 7th Infantry Regiment plus detachments
- Armoured support
- 2 FV101 Scorpion and 2 FV107 Scimitar light tanks
- Naval gunfire support
- HMS Ambuscade, 4.5-in gun
- Strategic context
- One of seven hills within 5 miles of Stanley to be taken
Strategic Narrative Overview
The British assault on the night of 13–14 June 1982 was led by 2 Para, supported by Blues & Royals light tanks, two artillery batteries of 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, and naval gunfire from HMS Ambuscade. The Argentine 7th Infantry Regiment and attached detachments defended the ridge. Prior to the assault, HMS Glasgow had shelled the nearby Moody Brook area, and British Harriers had struck Argentine positions on 11 June, killing three soldiers.
01 / The Origins
The Battle of Wireless Ridge was part of the broader Falklands War, triggered by Argentina's April 1982 invasion of the British-administered Falkland Islands. Britain dispatched a naval task force to retake the islands. By June, British forces were advancing on Port Stanley, the Argentine-occupied capital, and Wireless Ridge was identified as one of seven strategic high points that had to be seized before Stanley could be approached.
03 / The Outcome
The British attack succeeded in capturing Wireless Ridge. With this final defensive line broken, the entire Argentine force on the Falkland Islands surrendered later on 14 June 1982. The fall of Wireless Ridge, alongside simultaneous actions on other hills, made the defence of Port Stanley untenable for Argentina and ended the seventy-four-day conflict, restoring British administration of the islands.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent
Major José Rodolfo Banetta.
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.