2 PARA Falklands (1982)*
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United Kingdom vs Argentina*
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May-June 1982*
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In this campaign you will lead the 2nd Parachute Battalion (2 PARA), during the Falkland’s War from the San Carlos’ landings to the final battles around Port Stanley.*
Core Units representing only D Company (D/2 Para) have been picked for you, but the other three Battalion’s Companies and Support Weapons will appear in different battles as Auxiliary Units.**
The campaign covers four battles: San Carlos’ Landings; two scenarios covering the Battle for Goose Green (first from dust to noon, and second noon to dawn); and Wireless Ridge.*
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VERY IMPORTANT: During this campaign use your re-build points only to fix your damaged units. Do not expand your Core Units!*
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Historical Background: *
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Internationally isolated because of gross human rights violations and facing increasing economic and political problems, the Argentinean military dictatorship invaded the Falkland/Malvinas Islands in the hopes that waging a war around a national cause would help them regain some popular support.*
The United Kingdom’s response was to send a Task Force to recover the islands.*
While the Task-Force was moving toward the Falklands, the United States began a diplomatic effort to avoid war between two of its allies (the Argentinean dictatorship assisted the Americans in training Dead-Squadrons, and Para-Military forces in Central America to suppress leftist guerrillas). Eventually, diplomatic efforts failed and a short but intense war took place.*
After some naval-air battles, the British submarine HMS ‘Conqueror’ sinking of the Argentinean battleship ARA “General Belgrano”, and Argentinean navy planes sinking the British destroyer HMS “Sheffield” three days later, the British landed at San Carlos Water.*
That move surprised the Argentineans, who were waiting for a frontal attack directly against the Falkland’s capital, Port Stanley. The Argentinean Army was formed of twenty year-old conscripts with no more than two or three months of training, who were unable to march a long distance and launch a counter attack against British beachheads. After have consolidated their positions, British forces marched slowly but surely against Port Stanley.*
The final battles for Stanley took place around a group of mountains surrounding the Island’s Capital. Although the Argentinean air force launched more attacks and sunk a few more ships (paying a high price in terms of its own aircraft losses), the superior training of British soldiers finally prevailed over their Argentinean counter parts.*
Argentinean ground forces capitulated on June 14.*
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Designer’s note:**
The scenarios in this campaign have been based on extensive research to re-create the actual opposing forces and battlefield terrain, as accurately as possible. In some cases unit leaders in the game have been named after the real officers. The maps have been drawn to scale using topographic maps as models. In the battle for Goose Green, Argentinean Mortars and Howitzers have the same amount of ammunition than they had in the real battle; Argentinean forces also have exactly the same number of machine-guns that they had in the real battle. The moral and experience of certain units has also been modified to better represent the situation as it really was. Argentinean pilot experience and moral, for example, has been greatly increased.*
As a result of this, the scenarios are not necessarily balanced.*
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Sources: **
"2 Para Falklands: The Batallion at War", by John Frost**
"The Falklands War 1982", by Duncan Anderson**
"Malvinas: la defensa de Puerto Argentino", by Lt Gen Oscar Luis Jofre and Felix Roberto Aguiar**
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For a detailed description of the battles from the British perspective, including topographic maps, and animations describing the actions, visit:*
http://www.raf.mod.uk/falklands/battles.html**
For a description of the battles from the Argentinean perspective in English, visit:*
http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Falklands/David/index.htm*
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Credits & Acknowledgments:**
The designer wants to especially thank the following persons:*
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To Mike “Double Deuce” Torrance from SZO for his great support at every level and for helping with the correction of my English spelling and grammar.**
To Jose Luis “Bitxo” Ferro, and Grant Whitley from “La Cruz de Hierro” who tested the campaign, and helped translating some paragraphs from Spanish to English.**
To R.J. “DANJANOU” Smith and “Hertson” from SZO for their very helpful posts about the 2 Para OOB.***
This campaign is dedicated to Cona, Miky, Marius, and Bitxo.**
Have fun!**
Exequiel “Gallo Rojo” Lopresti (campaign designer). 
