Unreasonable Expectations, Insufficient Training Endemic on Both Sides in Falklands War

Dear Fellow Earthlings, On the 3rd of June 1982 Argentina's General Mario Menéndez, military governor of the Falklands, was exhorting his troops to fight "to the last man" to prevent the British from recapturing the Falkland Islands. Meanwhile, British Harriers were dropping propaganda surrender leaflets on areas of heavy Argentine troop concentration, saying that Britain would honor only unconditional surrender! What a quandry for all those young men to be in! West Falkland, the Lafonia region of East Falkland, and all of the smaller islands of the Falklands were free of Argentine forces, save the occasional stragglers. However, the northern part of East Falkland, especially in the vicinity of Port Stanley, was being held by about 10,000 dug-in Argentine troops. Due to logistic difficulties overall -- and to quite significant bickering among the British forces about how limited resources should be allocated and delivered to the various ground troop companies, battalions, brigades, and regiments -- the movement toward Port Stanley was tending to be rather piecemeal. Having particular difficulty making their way from San Carlos to the Port Stanley area were the members of the 5th Brigade. On the 3rd, for example, the Welsh Guards tried marching from San Carlos to Goose Green. But they had neither the equipment nor the training that the 3 Commando Brigade had -- and were compelled to abort the march and head back. Many of the 3 Commando Brigade saw this as weakness. In teality, however, it was lack of military (including actual physical) preparedness. Unreasonable expectations and insufficient training were definitely endemic among the

British forces. This was slowing their advance toward Port Stanley. Indeed, the advance

would be dealt a powerful blow on the 8th of June with the horrific air attack on the ships

Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram in the waters off Fitzroy -- the deadliest day for the British

forces during the entire Falklands War. Steve Walker Earthsaver and Jingles Creator

© 2013 Steve Walker, The Jingles-The Japan Foundation for English Pronunciation, Summit Enterprises.