Battle of Top Malo House
Encyclopedia
The Skirmish at Top Malo House was fought on 31 May 1982 during the Falklands War
, between 1st section Argentine Special Forces
from 602 Commando Company
and a patrol formed from staff and students of the British Mountain and Arctic Warfare Cadre
, a training unit of the Royal Marines
placed under Operational Control of 3 Commando Brigade
for Operation Corporate
.
on Bull Hill. The four man patrol had established the OP on 21 May as one of a number of small reconnaissance teams who were the eyes and ears of the Brigade.
to Stanley
. They had just reported back to say that this may be the last message because two Argentine UH-1 helicopters were hovering over the OP. The helicopters flew off in the direction of Mount Simon
; however, the sergeant commanding the team believed that the aircraft had probably dropped off Argentine Special Forces on the lower slopes of Mount Simon. The subsequent message back to Brigade Headquarters alerted the staff to the threat of Argentine Special Forces sited on high ground on the approaches to Teal Inlet and beyond. It would be the task of Captain Boswell and his team to eliminate the Argentine patrol at Top Malo.
During 29 May the radio operator of the Argentine patrol, after trying all morning, suddenly managed to get a message through to 10th Brigade HQ, that there was an air corridor to and from San Carlos
to Mount Kent. Contact was immediately lost, never to be re-established. The commander of the patrol was Captain Jose Arnobio Vercesi, commander of the 1st Assault Section, 602 Commando Company. The patrol was formed by 8 men of the first section plus two soldiers with Blowpipe missile
. There was also one medic, First Sergeant Pedrozo, whilst First Sergeant Helguero from 601 Commando Company
was the scout.
On the evening of 30 May Captain Boswell received a message from one of the patrols, in an observation post on the lower slopes of Mount Simon
, that they had just seen two Argentine UH-1 helicopters deliver a patrol of about sixteen men at Top Malo House, a deserted shepherd's house just 400 metres (437.4 yd) from their position. They also reported hearing several other helicopters in the vicinity. It was already getting dark, which ruled out a Harrier GR3 strike against the house, and the location was out of range of the British artillery
. Consequently, the British planned an assault following insertion by helicopter early on the morning of 31 May, landing in dead ground about 1000 metres (1,093.6 yd) away from the house, and attacking the house.
HC4 of 846 Naval Air Squadron, attached to the Royal Marines
, the team was loaded with sufficient supplies and ammunition to last a week in the field. The overloaded helicopter took off on a 45 km flight, depositing the team on exactly the right spot to allow disembarkation for the short transit to the target. A seven-man fire team moved off to the left to take up a position 150m away from Top Malo House to provide support fire for the twelve-man assault group led by Boswell. There was a significant risk of compromise as the team was wearing dark uniforms against the snow, leading to the possibility of visual detection by sentries. Unknown to the British, the Argentines heard the helicopter's flying and accelerated actions to take their equipment and leave the house.
Boswell initiated the engagement about two hours after dawn, following an order to fix bayonets, by firing a green flare into the air. This was the signal for the support group to fire six M72 LAW
66mm light anti-armour rockets at the house. As the first rocket was fired an Argentine sentry (Lieutenant Ernesto Espinosa, who was the Argentine sniper in the patrol) moved to the window of the upper floor, being immediately shot and wounded by a Corporal Groves in the support team, who was armed with a L42A1 sniper rifle
. Lieutenant Horacio Losito, who was the second in command of the section, says that Lieutenant Espinosa raised the alarm and at the same time opened fire on the approaching British troops allowing the Argentines to get out of the house.
One of the British members of the fireteam was close enough for his 66mm LAW rocket to be hit by Espinosa. As the rockets hit the house it burst into flames. Boswell and his group charged forward, halted, fired two more rockets, and then charged again. The Argentines ran from the house to a nearby stream bed about 200 m away, firing as they ran. Lieutenant Espinosa on the top floor was killed by a 66mm rocket while Sergeant Mateo Sbert was shot dead as he gave covering fire as the remaining Argentines exited the single door. Two British personnel, a sergeant and a corporal, were hit and wounded. The ammunition stacked inside the house exploded. As the British assault group moved forward the smoke from the burning building provided screening from the accurate fire from the Argentine commandos firing from the stream bed.
The firefight went on for about forty-five minutes. With ammunition running very low and most of the patrol killed or wounded Captain Vercesi elected to surrender. Lieutenant Espinosa and Sergeant Sbert were awarded the posthumous Argentine Nation to the Heroic Valour in Combat Cross
for this action.
Unknown to the British the entire assault had been watched by members of Red de Observadores del Aire or ROA (the Argentine Air Force forward deployed ground observation teams) on Malo Hill and Mount Simon. In fact, a four man patrol led by Lieutenant Hadow watched the action from a nearby position just on the other side of Malo river
. Fourteen R.O.A. personnel from these positions surrendered to 3 Para the next day.
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
, between 1st section Argentine Special Forces
Special Operations Forces Group
The Special Operations Forces Group is a special operations unit of the Argentine Army, created the December 6th of 2005. It consists of the 601 Air Assault Regiment, the 601 Commando Company, and the 602 Commando Company; 601 Special Forces Company and 601 PsyOp Company and it is designed to act...
from 602 Commando Company
602 Commando Company
The 602 Commando Company is a special operations unit of the Argentine Army, created May 21, 1982.The company is based on Córdoba Province. The members of the unit wear green berets with unit badges. The company is divided in 3 assault sections....
and a patrol formed from staff and students of the British Mountain and Arctic Warfare Cadre
Mountain Leader Training Cadre
The Mountain Leader Training Cadre is a training element of the British Royal Marines which provides instruction in Mountain Warfare, Arctic warfare, cold weather survival and operations, and cliff assault...
, a training unit of the Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
placed under Operational Control of 3 Commando Brigade
3 Commando Brigade
3 Commando Brigade is a commando formation of the British Armed Forces and the main manoeuvre formation of the Royal Marines. Its personnel are predominantly Royal Marines, supported by units of Royal Engineers, Royal Artillery, The Rifles, and the Fleet Air Arm, together with other Commando...
for Operation Corporate
Operation Corporate
Operation Corporate was the codename given to the 1982 British military involvement in the Falkland Islands during the Falklands War. The commander of task force operations was Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse. Operations lasted from 1 April 1982 to 20 June 1982....
.
Background
Captain Rod Boswell of the Royal Marines Mountain and Arctic Warfare Cadre and eighteen of his men undertook the task which originated from a report made on 27 May by a four man patrol from the Cadre sited in an Observation PostObservation post
An observation post, temporary or fixed, is a position from which soldiers can watch enemy movements, to warn of approaching soldiers , or to direct artillery fire...
on Bull Hill. The four man patrol had established the OP on 21 May as one of a number of small reconnaissance teams who were the eyes and ears of the Brigade.
Prelude
The four man patrol were well forward on Bull Hill on the route from Teal InletTeal Inlet
Teal Inlet is a settlement on East Falkland, in the Falkland Islands, on the south shore of Salvador Water. It is overshadowed by Jack's Mountain...
to Stanley
Stanley, Falkland Islands
Stanley is the capital and only true cityin the Falkland Islands. It is located on the isle of East Falkland, on a north-facing slope in one of the wettest parts of the islands. At the 2006 census, the city had a population of 2,115...
. They had just reported back to say that this may be the last message because two Argentine UH-1 helicopters were hovering over the OP. The helicopters flew off in the direction of Mount Simon
Mount Simon
Mount Simon is a mountain on East Falkland, Falkland Islands. It is south of Teal Inlet and north of Mount Wickham...
; however, the sergeant commanding the team believed that the aircraft had probably dropped off Argentine Special Forces on the lower slopes of Mount Simon. The subsequent message back to Brigade Headquarters alerted the staff to the threat of Argentine Special Forces sited on high ground on the approaches to Teal Inlet and beyond. It would be the task of Captain Boswell and his team to eliminate the Argentine patrol at Top Malo.
During 29 May the radio operator of the Argentine patrol, after trying all morning, suddenly managed to get a message through to 10th Brigade HQ, that there was an air corridor to and from San Carlos
San Carlos, Falkland Islands
San Carlos is a settlement in northwestern East Falkland, lying south of Port San Carlos on San Carlos Water. It is sometimes nicknamed "JB" after a former owner, Jack Bonner.-History:...
to Mount Kent. Contact was immediately lost, never to be re-established. The commander of the patrol was Captain Jose Arnobio Vercesi, commander of the 1st Assault Section, 602 Commando Company. The patrol was formed by 8 men of the first section plus two soldiers with Blowpipe missile
Blowpipe missile
The Shorts Blowpipe is a man-portable surface-to-air missile which was in use with the British Army and Royal Marines from 1975. It was superseded by an interim design, Javelin, and later the greatly improved Starstreak missile.-Description:...
. There was also one medic, First Sergeant Pedrozo, whilst First Sergeant Helguero from 601 Commando Company
601 Commando Company
The 601 Commando Company is a special operations unit of the Argentine Army, created January 5, 1982. It was based on the original "Equipo Especial Halcón 8" created by Lt. Colonel Mohamed Alí Seineldín in 1978....
was the scout.
On the evening of 30 May Captain Boswell received a message from one of the patrols, in an observation post on the lower slopes of Mount Simon
Mount Simon
Mount Simon is a mountain on East Falkland, Falkland Islands. It is south of Teal Inlet and north of Mount Wickham...
, that they had just seen two Argentine UH-1 helicopters deliver a patrol of about sixteen men at Top Malo House, a deserted shepherd's house just 400 metres (437.4 yd) from their position. They also reported hearing several other helicopters in the vicinity. It was already getting dark, which ruled out a Harrier GR3 strike against the house, and the location was out of range of the British artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
. Consequently, the British planned an assault following insertion by helicopter early on the morning of 31 May, landing in dead ground about 1000 metres (1,093.6 yd) away from the house, and attacking the house.
Battle
Embarked in a Sea KingWestland Sea King
The Westland WS-61 Sea King is a British licence-built version of the American Sikorsky S-61 helicopter of the same name, built by Westland Helicopters. The aircraft differs considerably from the American version, with Rolls-Royce Gnome engines , British made anti-submarine warfare systems and a...
HC4 of 846 Naval Air Squadron, attached to the Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
, the team was loaded with sufficient supplies and ammunition to last a week in the field. The overloaded helicopter took off on a 45 km flight, depositing the team on exactly the right spot to allow disembarkation for the short transit to the target. A seven-man fire team moved off to the left to take up a position 150m away from Top Malo House to provide support fire for the twelve-man assault group led by Boswell. There was a significant risk of compromise as the team was wearing dark uniforms against the snow, leading to the possibility of visual detection by sentries. Unknown to the British, the Argentines heard the helicopter's flying and accelerated actions to take their equipment and leave the house.
Boswell initiated the engagement about two hours after dawn, following an order to fix bayonets, by firing a green flare into the air. This was the signal for the support group to fire six M72 LAW
M72 LAW
The M72 LAW is a portable one-shot 66 mm unguided anti-tank weapon, designed in the United States by Paul V. Choate, Charles B. Weeks, and Frank A. Spinale et al...
66mm light anti-armour rockets at the house. As the first rocket was fired an Argentine sentry (Lieutenant Ernesto Espinosa, who was the Argentine sniper in the patrol) moved to the window of the upper floor, being immediately shot and wounded by a Corporal Groves in the support team, who was armed with a L42A1 sniper rifle
L42A1
The L42A1 was a British Army sniper rifle chambered for the 7.62mm NATO cartridge which entered service in 1970. It served until replacement by the Accuracy International L96 in the early 1990s...
. Lieutenant Horacio Losito, who was the second in command of the section, says that Lieutenant Espinosa raised the alarm and at the same time opened fire on the approaching British troops allowing the Argentines to get out of the house.
One of the British members of the fireteam was close enough for his 66mm LAW rocket to be hit by Espinosa. As the rockets hit the house it burst into flames. Boswell and his group charged forward, halted, fired two more rockets, and then charged again. The Argentines ran from the house to a nearby stream bed about 200 m away, firing as they ran. Lieutenant Espinosa on the top floor was killed by a 66mm rocket while Sergeant Mateo Sbert was shot dead as he gave covering fire as the remaining Argentines exited the single door. Two British personnel, a sergeant and a corporal, were hit and wounded. The ammunition stacked inside the house exploded. As the British assault group moved forward the smoke from the burning building provided screening from the accurate fire from the Argentine commandos firing from the stream bed.
The firefight went on for about forty-five minutes. With ammunition running very low and most of the patrol killed or wounded Captain Vercesi elected to surrender. Lieutenant Espinosa and Sergeant Sbert were awarded the posthumous Argentine Nation to the Heroic Valour in Combat Cross
Argentine Nation to the Heroic Valour in Combat Cross
Argentine Nation to the Heroic Valour in Combat Cross is the highest national military decoration in Argentina.The decoration consists of a silver cross pattée bearing the Coat of arms of Argentina in gold, suspended from a chest ribbon of equal light blue-white-light blue stripes.Recipients of...
for this action.
Aftermath
Two Argentines were killed, six wounded and another four taken prisoner, with three of the British force having been wounded. After the battle Captain Boswell comment to the Argentine Commander was: "Never in a house...".Unknown to the British the entire assault had been watched by members of Red de Observadores del Aire or ROA (the Argentine Air Force forward deployed ground observation teams) on Malo Hill and Mount Simon. In fact, a four man patrol led by Lieutenant Hadow watched the action from a nearby position just on the other side of Malo river
Malo River
The Malo River , is a river in East Falkland, Falkland Islands. Its name is derived from the Breton port of St Malo , due to the French settlement established at Port Louis in 1764.It is situated in the north of East Falkland, and flows into Salvador Water off the Wickham Heights in No...
. Fourteen R.O.A. personnel from these positions surrendered to 3 Para the next day.