Bridgehead Revisited
"It would have been nice to have had a few more [Harriers] but I’d have preferred it if we’d had the Ark Royal, but then again, if we’d had the old Ark Royal and all [her] aircraft I don’t think the Argentines would have invaded in the first place"
Captain (then Corporal) Stuart Russell, 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment
San Carlos Water was chosen for the main Falklands landing as it was suitable for landing craft and far enough away from the main Argentine garrisons to avoid serious ground opposition. The invasion force was not expected from this direction because of the distance from Port Stanley and the rugged terrain in between.
Troops disembark from landing craft (Soldier Magazine)
The landings began just after midnight on 21 May. The amphibious force secured the bridgehead but the ships on air defence duty in San Carlos Water came under air attack soon after dawn. Wave after wave of aircraft took their toll in what became known as ‘Bomb Alley’. HMS Ardent was sunk with the loss of 22 men and several ships took direct hits from bombs that did not explode. On 23 May HMS Antelope was bombed. One crewman died, as did a Royal Engineer who was trying to defuse the bombs when the missile magazines exploded.
Explosion on HMS Antelope, San Carlos Water, 1982. NAM 1988-09-13-38
Argentine aircraft were shot down in increasing numbers but an attack on t25 May sank HMS Coventry with the loss of 19 of her crew. The next loss at sea would have a direct effect on the course of the war on land.
Yomping and Tabbing
The initial plan was to airlift infantry from the bridgehead at San Carlos to secure the high ground above Stanley. This changed on 25 May with the loss of the supply ship Atlantic Conveyor, carrying Chinook heavy-lift helicopters.
Heavily laden soldier carrying General Purpose Machine Gun (Soldier Magazine)
The British Government was intent on not negotiating and avoiding the partition of the Islands. 45 Commando Royal Marines and 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment were ordered forward towards Stanley.
Without helicopters the troops would have to rely on their feet – in military slang, the Marines would have to ‘yomp’ and the Paras ‘tab’ all the way.
2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment were ordered to take the settlements of Darwin and Goose Green on the flank of the main advance.
