Goose Green- The Night battle - Falklands

Battalion Level
Normal Night Conditions
Play as British or PBEM

Brigadier Thompson's initial plans called for bypassing the Argentine garrison at Goose Green. The troops there did not block his intended route along the north side of the island and he thought it was a dilution of the main effort. However, he was ordered by the high command at Northwood to launch a battalion sized "raid" on the airfield for political reasons. Second Para was assigned the mission, but since a "raid" was not in their vocabulary, it became an operation to seize Goose Green.

The paratroopers tabbed to Camilla Creek House, carrying their gear and weapons along with ammo for the battalion mortars. As they prepared for the night's battle, they heard the BBC announce their upcoming advance. If that wasn't bad enough, a patrol ambushed an Argentine land rover that had been sent out to check on the radio report. The Argentines knew the paratroopers were coming.

Lieutenant Colonel Jones' plan was complicated with several phase lines and high expectations for moving across unknown ground in the dark. While he had received some information on Argentine troop dispositions, he did not really know what he was up against. A and B Companies would lead the assault with B Company on the right. D Company would follow B Company and Patrol Company would be in reserve. He expected his troops to have seized Goose Green by the time the sun came up.

The 12 Regimento de Infanteria had been one of the last units to arrive in the islands. They had flown in while their heavy equipment was being sent by boat. However, the British Total Exclusion Zone around the islands and the arrival of the British submarines to enforce it, prevented the vast majority of their equipment from arriving. Consequently, they were very short on heavy weapons, vehicles and especially, radios. There was a fairly high percentage of barely trained conscripts in the unit as well. However, the defense was bolstered by a company from the 25th Regimento de Infanteria, which was one of the best in the Argentine army. Teniente Coronel Piaggi had been ordered to move his defenses farther north to meet the impending attack. This he did, moving his A Company to Coronation Ridge and elements of the Recon Company to Burntside House. His troops were as ready as he could get them.

The fight started with an artillery barrage on Coronation Ridge by the supporting British frigate. Then a one-sided firefight broke out at Burntside House between A Company and the quickly withdrawing Recon Platoon in which the only casualty was the family dog. Rain fell on the dark night as the British troops continued to move forward. It would not be long before they would blunder into the Argentine defenses and confused firefights would shatter the night.

This scenario is rather long and the map is very large. While it has been scripted for play against the AI, it might be better to play the scenario solo by using the hot-seat method of play with the player controlling both sides. This could be a good study of the inherent problems with conducting a night assault over unknown ground.