This is a list of British ground forces in the Falklands War. For a list of ground forces from

Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...

, see Argentine ground forces in the Falklands War

Land Forces

Operation Corporate command structure 1982

The land forces employed by the United Kingdom during the Falklands War amounted to a divisional sized formation, named as Land Forces Falkland Islands, consisting of two brigades: *

3 Commando Brigade 3 Commando Brigade (3 Cdo Bde), previously called the 3rd Special Service Brigade, is a commando formation of the British Armed Forces. It is composed of the Royal Marine Commandos, alongside commando qualified sailors, soldiers and airmen from ...

- formed primarily by the Royal Marines, 3 Commando Brigade was the primary British rapid reaction force, tasked with reinforcing the

NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two No ...

northern flank in

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the ...

in the event of war with the

Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...

in Europe. 3 Commando Brigade was the formation with most experience of amphibious operations. In its NATO role, 3 Commando Brigade was reinforced by the Dutch ''Korps Mariniers''. However, the situation required reinforcement by British units, with the result that 2nd & 3rd Battalions of the Parachute Regiment were reassigned from 5 Infantry Brigade. * 5 Infantry Brigade - the UK's main "out of area" reaction formation, tasked with operations outside the European theatre. At the time, it would normally be formed using two battalions of the Parachute Regiment, together with the UK based

Gurkha The Gurkhas or Gorkhas (), with endonym Gorkhali ), are soldiers native to the Indian subcontinent, Indian Subcontinent, chiefly residing within Nepal and some parts of Northeast India. The Gurkha units are composed of Nepalis and Indian Go ...

battalion. However, since both 2 PARA and 3 PARA were used to reinforce 3 Commando Brigade for the initial landings in the Falklands, 5 Brigade was reinforced with two battalions of Foot Guards then on

public duties Public duties are performed by military personnel, and usually have a ceremonial or historic significance rather than an overtly operational role. Armenia Since September 2018, the Honour Guard Battalion of the Ministry of Defense of Armenia has ...

in London along with the Gurkha battalion. These were chosen owing to the fact that they were immediately available, as they were neither on internal security duties in

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...

nor attached to

BAOR There have been two formations named British Army of the Rhine (BAOR). Both were originally occupation forces in Germany, one after the First World War and the other after the Second World War. Both formations had areas of responsibility located ...

. The brigade was further strengthened by

No. 63 Squadron RAF Regiment The numero sign or numero symbol, №, (also represented as Nº, No, No. or no.), is a typographic abbreviation of the word ''number''(''s'') indicating ordinal numeration, especially in names and titles. For example, using the numero sign, t ...

RAF Regiment, (based at

RAF Gütersloh Royal Air Force Gütersloh, more commonly known as RAF Gütersloh, was a Royal Air Force Germany military airfield, the nearest Royal Air Force airfield to the East/West German border, in the vicinity of the town of Gütersloh. It was const ...

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

, initially to provide additional Short Range Air Defence (SHORAD) Short range air defense of land forces landing at San Carlos Water.

Land Forces HQ

Placa conmemorativa al comando logístico británico

* Commander, Land Forces, Falkland Islands (CLFFI):

Major-General Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

JJ Moore, Royal Marines * Deputy commander:

Brigadier Brigadier is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several thousand soldiers. I ...

CJ Waters *

Commander, Royal Artillery {{Redirect, BGRA, colour format, RGBA color model Commander, Royal Artillery (CRA) was a military appointment in Commonwealth infantry and armoured divisions in the 20th century. The CRA was the senior artillery officer in the division and commanded ...

: Colonel BT Pennicott

3 Commando Brigade

Commander:

JHA Thompson *

29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery 29 Commando Regiment, Royal Artillery is the Commando-trained unit of the British Army's Royal Artillery, based in Plymouth. The regiment is under the operational control of 3 Commando Brigade, to which it provides artillery support and gunnery ...

(

Lt Col Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...

MJ Holroyd Smith) ** 1st battery / 105 mm L118 Light Guns x 6

Land Rover 101 Forward Control The 101 Forward Control or Land Rover 101FC was a light utility vehicle produced by Land Rover for the British Army. It was not available to the public off the production line, but was as military surplus. History The vehicle was primarily p ...

x 6　 Land Rover series IIA x 6 ** 2nd battery / 105 mm L118 Light Guns x 6

x 6　 Land Rover series IIA x 6 ** 3rd battery / 105 mm L118 Light Guns x 6

x 6　 Land Rover series IIA x 6 ** 148th (Meiktila) Battery (Primary role is as a Naval Gunfire Support Forward Observation (NGSFO) battery.) *

40 Commando 40 Commando RM is a battalion-sized formation of the British Royal Marines and subordinate unit within 3 Commando Brigade, the principal Commando formation, under the Operational Command of Commander in Chief Fleet. Their barracks are at Norton ...

, Royal Marines (Lt Col MPJ Hunt) — ''Blue Beach 1 -

Sapper Hill Sapper Hill (453 ft) is on East Falkland, located just south of Stanley, the Falklands Islands capital. It is named after a troop of sappers who were once billeted at Moody Brook barracks. Falklands War Mount Tumbledown, Mount William and ...

''. (†1) *

42 Commando 42 Commando (42 Cdo) (pronounced as Four-Two Commando) is a subordinate unit within the Royal Marines 3 Commando Brigade. Based at Bickleigh Barracks near Plymouth, personnel regularly deploy outside the United Kingdom on operations or training. ...

, Royal Marines (Lt Col NF Vaux) — ''

Mount Kent Mount Kent is a mountain on East Falkland, Falkland Islands, and is high. It is located north of Mount Challenger. History The mountain saw action during the Falklands War during the Assault on Mount Kent, part of the larger Battle of Moun ...

- Mount Harriet''. (†2) *

45 Commando 45 Commando Royal Marines (pronounced "four-five commando") is a battalion sized unit of the British Royal Marines and subordinate unit within 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines, the principal Commando formation, under the Operational Command of the ...

, Royal Marines (Lt Col AF Whitehead) — ''Red Beach - Douglas Settlement - Two Sisters''. (†12) * 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment (Lt Col H Jones VC) — ''Blue Beach 2 - Goose Green & Darwin - Wireless Ridge''. (†18) ** 29th Field Battery RA ** 43 (Lloyds) Air Defence Battery *** 1st troop / Blowpipe x 6、

Leyland 4-tonne truck The Leyland 4-tonne truck was produced by Leyland Trucks in Lancashire. It was developed for the British Army and won the competition to replace a fleet of older Bedford M-type 4-tonne trucks. It shares some key components with the commercial ...

x 6 *** 2nd troop / Blowpipe x 6、

x 6 *** 3rd troop / Blowpipe x 6、

x 6 ** 9 Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers (†4) ** 10th Field Troop, / Land Rover 101FC Ambulance x 16 ** 81st Department Ordnance Company ** 613th Tactical Air Control Party 3 Commando Brigade Falklands

* 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment (Lt Col HWR Pike) — ''Green Beach -

Teal Inlet Teal Inlet (), once named Evelyn Station, is a settlement on East Falkland, in the Falkland Islands, on the south shore of Salvador Water. It is overshadowed by Jack's Mountain. The settlement played a minor part in the Falklands War, when B ...

- Mount Longdon''. (†21) ** 1st Ordnance Coy Detachment / Land Rover 109 S111 Ambulance x 1　 * Commando Logistics Regiment, Royal Marines (Lt Col I Helberg) (†1)

Bedford MK The Bedford TK was a truck manufactured by Bedford. Launched in 1960 to replace the Bedford S type, the TK was scheduled to be replaced by the Bedford TL in 1981, but manufacturing of the TK continued as a cheaper alternative. A military 4x4 v ...

UBRE (Unit Bulk Refuelling Equipment) x9 comprising (Civgas x5, Dieso x3, AVCAT x1),

ROF Nottingham Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF) Nottingham opened in 1936 in The Meadows, Nottingham, United Kingdom. It was one of a number of Royal Ordnance Factories created in the build up to World War II. During the war the site employed up to four thousand ...

Eager Beaver Air Portable Fork Lift Truck (APFLT) x8, Can-Am motorcycles x8. * 3 Commando Brigade HQ and Signals Squadron ( Maj R Dixon) (†1) * 3 Commando Brigade Aviation Squadron (Major CP Cameron) / 9 x Gazelle AH.1 helicopters (†3)　6 x Scout helicopters (†1) * Reconnaissance Troops ( Lt M Coreth) * B Squadron,

Blues and Royals The Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons) (RHG/D) is a cavalry regiment of the British Army, part of the Household Cavalry Regiment. The Colonel of the Regiment is Anne, Princess Royal. It is the second-most senior regiment in ...

FV101 Scorpion The FV101 Scorpion is a British armoured reconnaissance vehicle, and also a light tank. It was the lead vehicle and the fire support type in the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked), CVR(T), family of seven armoured vehicles. Manufactured by ...

x 4、

FV107 Scimitar The FV107 Scimitar is an armoured tracked military reconnaissance vehicle (sometimes classed as a light tank) used by the British Army. It was manufactured by Alvis in Coventry. It is very similar to the FV101 Scorpion, but mounts a high-velo ...

x 4、

FV106 Samson FV106 Samson is a British Army armoured recovery vehicle, one of the CVR(T) family. The main role of this vehicle is to recover the CVR(T) family of vehicles, but can recover other light tracked vehicles such as the FV430 series. Design and f ...

x 1 *

T Battery (Shah Sujah's Troop) Royal Artillery T Battery (Shah Sujah's Troop) Royal Artillery is an air defence battery of the Royal Artillery that serves with the British Army's 12 Regiment Royal Artillery. It is stationed at Baker Barracks, Thorney Island, West Sussex. Formed 1838 as S ...

12 Air Defence Regiment / Rapier Missile FS.A Launcher x 12、

x 12 * Air Defence Troop /

Blowpipe Missile The Shorts Blowpipe is a man-portable (MANPADS) surface-to-air missile that was in use with the British Army and Royal Marines from 1975. It also saw service in other military forces around the world. Most examples were retired by the mid-1990 ...

launchers x 12　

x 12　 land rover 109 series III x 12　 * Raiding Squadron, Royal Marines (Capt Chris Baxter) / Rigid Raiding Craft x 17 * Mountain and Arctic Warfare Cadre, Royal Marines (Capt Rod Boswell) * SBS (Maj Jonathan Thomson) 67 men　(†1) ** 2 squad ** 3 squad ** 6 squad * 22 SAS (Lt Col HM Rose) 107 men (†19) ** D Squadron ** G Squadrons * 1 Tactical air control parties * 2 Tactical air control parties * 3 Tactical air control parties * maintenance group * Rear link detachment, 30 Signal Regiment (†3) * Elements of 17 Port Regiment Royal Corps of Transport. ** 3 x Mexeflote 　detachments. ** 5 x Landing ship 　logistics detachments. ** 2 x FV 4018 Centurion BARV　 * 3 x Surgical support teams * Postal courier communications unit detachment of 2 PC Regiment RE, 20 PC Sqn RE (tasked 3 CDO Bde support) & 21 PC Sqn RE (tasked 5 Airborne Bde support) * Detachment 47 Air Despatch Squadron RCT. * 59 Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers (Maj Roderick Macdonald). (†3) ** 2 Troop 9 Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers (Capt Robbie Burns) * Detachment 49 EOD Squadron, 33 Engineer Regiment Royal Engineers (†1) ** 2 man bomb disposal team * Y Troop detachment communications * Commando forces Band (stretcher-bearers) - Replaced by Lt Col David Chaundler

5 Infantry Brigade

Commander: Brigadier MJA Wilson * 205 HQ signal squadron Royal Signals (Major Mike Forge) * 2nd Battalion,

Scots Guards The Scots Guards (SG) is one of the five Foot Guards regiments of the British Army. Its origins are as the personal bodyguard of King Charles I of England and Scotland. Its lineage can be traced back to 1642, although it was only placed on the E ...

(

MIE Scott) — '' Mount Tumbledown''. (†8) * 1st Battalion,

Welsh Guards The Welsh Guards (WG; cy, Gwarchodlu Cymreig), part of the Guards Division, is one of the Foot Guards regiments of the British Army. It was founded in 1915 as a single-battalion regiment, during the First World War, by Royal Warrant of George V. ...

(Lt Col JF Rickett) — ''

''. (†33) * 1st Battalion, 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles (Lt Col DPdeC Morgan) — '' Mount William''. (†1) * 97 (Lawson's Company) Battery

Royal Artillery The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery (RA) and colloquially known as "The Gunners", is one of two regiments that make up the artillery arm of the British Army. The Royal Regiment of Artillery comprises t ...

**6 x 105 mm L118 Light Guns **6 x

** 6 x Land Rover 109 * HQ 4 Field Regiment, RA *36 Engineer Regiment RE (Lt Col G Field OBE (CRE)) *9 Parachute Squadron RE (Maj CM Davis) *11 Field Squadron RE (Maj Bruce Hawken) arrived San Carlos May 25 under command 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. They switched to under command CO 36 Engineer Regiment (as Divisional troops) when they landed around June 2 *61 Field Support Squadron RE (Maj Taffy Morgan) *1 x Field Troop, 20 Field Squadron RE (att 9 Para Sqn RE) (Capt D Foxley) * STRE * Postal section * 656 Squadron Army Air Corps († 2)　Gazelle helicopter × 6　Scout Helicopter × 6 * 10 Field Workshop Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (†3) / Land Rover 101FC Ambulance (†3) × 16　 Land Rover 88 series III × 16 * 81 Ordnance Company * Forward Air Control Party ** 2 x FAC * Army Catering Corps (†4) * 407 Troop, Royal Corps of Transport, (2Lt Ash) * 63 Squadron RAF Regiment **8 x Rapier Missile FS.A Launchers and Blindfire radar, FSA, DN181. **8 x

**8 x Land Rover 109 **8 x

Bandvagn 202 Bandvagn 202 (Bv 202) is a tracked articulated, all-terrain vehicle developed by Bolinder-Munktell, a subsidiary of Volvo, for the Swedish Army. Description The vehicle is formed by two rubber Kegresse track units with a multi-directional pivot ...

** 518 Company,

Royal Pioneer Corps The Royal Pioneer Corps was a British Army combatant corps used for light engineering tasks. It was formed in 1939, and amalgamated into the Royal Logistic Corps in 1993. Pioneer units performed a wide variety of tasks in all theatres of war, in ...

Infantry weapons

* L9A1 Browning"Guns of the Falklands War"
/ref> *

L1A1 SLR The L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle, officially "Rifle, 7.62mm, L1A1", also known just as the SLR (Self-Loading Rifle), by the Canadian Army designation C1A1 (C1) or in the US as the "inch pattern" FAL,Especially on the American surplus market. is a Br ...

(main infantry weapon) *

L42A1 The L42A1 is a bolt-action sniper rifle chambered for the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge.Pegler & Bujero (2001), pp. 48-49.Pegler (2010), pp. 61-62. Used in the past by the British Army, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force RAF Regiment, the L42A1 en ...

(Sniper rifle) * L2-A2 (Hand grenade) * M79 (infantry grenade launcher) * L4A3 Bren * L7A2 GPMG * L14A1 Carl Gustav Recoilless Rifle * Rocket 66mm HEAT L1A1 *

MILAN Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city h ...

ATGM An anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), anti-tank missile, anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW) or anti-armor guided weapon is a guided missile primarily designed to hit and destroy heavily armored military vehicles. ATGMs range in size from shoulder ...

(used against Argentine bunkers) * L9A1 51 mm Mortar * L16A1 81 mm Mortar * Blowpipe MANPADS (infantry use) *

FIM-92 Stinger The FIM-92 Stinger is an American man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS) that operates as an infrared homing surface-to-air missile (SAM). It can be adapted to fire from a wide variety of ground vehicles, and from helicopters as the Air-t ...

MANPADS (special forces use) *

M16A1 The M16 rifle (officially designated Rifle, Caliber 5.56 mm, M16) is a family of military rifles adapted from the ArmaLite AR-15 rifle for the United States military. The original M16 rifle was a 5.56×45mm automatic rifle with a 20-roun ...

M203 The M203 is a single-shot 40 mm under-barrel grenade launcher designed to attach to a rifle. It uses the same rounds as the older stand-alone M79 break-action grenade launcher, which utilizes the high-low propulsion system to keep recoil forces ...

(special forces weapon) * CAR-15 (special forces weapon) * L2A3 Sterling (support services weapon i.e. for tank crewmen, engineers and artillerymen, some troops within RN Commando Regiment)

References

Sources

* ''The Battle For The Falklands'', Max Hastings and Simon Jenkins, 1983, Michael Joseph Ltd., * ''The Official History of the Falklands Campaign'', Sir Lawrence Freedman, 2005, Routledge,

External links

3 Commando Bde RM

{{Falklands War, style=wide Falklands War orders of battle 1982 in the Falkland Islands