Argentinian 5th Marine Infantry Battalion

Commanded by Commander (Marine Corps) Carlos H. Robacio (now retired as a Rear Admiral), the 5th Marine Battalion (or BIM 5, the Argentinian Naval Acronym for it) was arguably the best Argentine infantry unit in the Falklands War. Although made up by conscripts, the core of the professional NCO and commissioned officers, along with their well developed training and logistics system, rendered BIM 5 a tough unit that fought well in the defense of Tumbledown Mountain. Different Argentine authorities have repeatedly decorated BIM 5?s colors, while Admiral Robacio is a holder of the US Legion of Honor, along with several other Argentine and foreign orders and medals.

Tumbledown Mountain, Mount William and Sapper Hill lie west of Port Stanley. They were held by Argentina's 5th Marine Infantry Battalion, a unique all-arms independent brigade. Its organisation included three rifle companies, an artillery battery, an amphibious engineer company, a lorry troop, a jeep troop, and ambulance troop and a military police platoon. Air defence was provided by three batteries of Tigercat SAMs of the 1st Marine Anti-Aircraft Regiment. The Marines also had Blowpipe, man-portable SAM launchers. On 31 May, the Argentinian Marine brigade fired a Tigercat missile at a Royal Air Force Harrier (XV 789) flying over Port Stanley. The missile exploded close enough to the British warplane flown by Wing-Commander Peter Squire for it to require an engine change.

The Argentine 5th Marine Battalion positions around Port Stanley were mercilessly bombarded, both from the sea with naval gunfire and from the air by Royal Air Force Harriers. Nevertheless the British did not have everything their way. During the night of 11/12 June an Exocet was launched from the Argentine Marine brigade shore batteries unit, causing serious damage to the light cruiser HMS Glamorgan which was bombarding the southern peak of Two Sisters Mountain, killing thirteen sailors.

12 June proved to be the toughest day for the Argentine Marines. From the moment the 2nd Battalion, the Scots Guards had finally been moved to Goat Ridge by helicopter, 3,000 rounds of artillery, descended upon the Marines, in preparation for the coming infantry assault. But the Argentine Marines were still resisting. During the morning, a British Royal Air Force Harrier bombing positions held by the Argentinian Marine brigade was a hit by fire from that unit. The crippled Harrier (XW 919) piloted by Flight Lieutenant Murdo McLeod was however landed successfully on board the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes. First reports suggested a bullet, but John Smith who later wrote 74 Days: An Islander's Account Of The [Argentine] Occupation indicated that it was a Marine Tigercat proximity-fuzed missile, which caused substantial damage to the engine and showered the powerhouse roof with shrapnel.

At 11 pm on 13 June, a diversionary action was fought to the northeast in order to raid the Cortley Ridge fuel dump. The incursion was carried out by the SAS and SBS. The attack proved unsuccessful, for the Marine brigade had sent a platoon to guard the fuel dump. The Marine Infantry platoon destroyed several landing crafts.

Further south, action was initiated shortly after 10am as the 2nd Scots Guards Battalion's Reconnaissance Platoon carried out a diversionary attack, advancing with four Blues & Royals light tanks. Just as the British tanks came into the range of the Argentinian Marine brigade, one of the Scorpion tanks was blasted out of action by a booby-trap. The Scots Guards decided to fall back toward the south, but the Marines had foreseen that possibility and had carefully sown the area with mines, just in case it was employed as an escape route. The Guards were then caught in a well-time cross fire from the massed heavy weapons of the Argentine Marines' mortars and 105mm pieces. They sustained casualties. They withdrew, leaving two dead, as was verified when the abandoned British webbing were removed from the battlefield. At about 2.30 am on 14 June, the commander of the 5th Marines ordered the company of Marines, who had fought so well along the south of Tumbledown, to withdraw in order to stand in reserve.

Meanwhile, to the north of this position, a company of the 5th Marines started to receive unusually heavy naval artillery fire. At 11.50 pm, they were attacked from Goat Ridge. The Guards faced off with the well-trained Argentine Marines, sustaining numerous casualties and halted their advance in spite of their doctine, which would have had them close in with the enemy. They decided to fall back toward the cover of rocks. The employment of the Carl Gustav missiles and 66mm anti-tank rockets, as well as snipers did not prove as effective for the British as they had at Goose Green.

However, the fall of Wireless Ridge and the heavy expenditure of mortar and machine-gun ammunition in support of the 7th Infantry Regiment rendered the situation of the Argentine Marines very tenuous. At 7 am, the commander of the 5th Marines reported his command post near Moody Brook had come under enemy fire from Wireless Ridge. The reserve company on the eastern end of Tumbledown directed their mortar pieces and machine-guns to fire on the advancing British Paratroopers. By dawn, the approach of four more companies of British professionals, to reinforce those already engaged in the field, was detected. They were the Gurkhas. The men of the 5th Marines, were thus facing off with three battalions (2nd Battalion, the Scots Guards, 2nd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment and the Gurkhas).

As the Marines N Company awaited reinforcements, they received orders to withdraw. They continued to hold out. By 9 am, the Argentine Marines had again been ordered to withdraw. In a daring action, and in spite of the numerous casualties sustained, the reserve company succeeded in holding up the enemy advance while the Argentine Marines carried out an orderly withdrawal to Sapper Hill still determined to put up a fight.

Generals Menendez and Jofre, following a quick conference, agreed that to continue resistance would entail the useless loss of lives. By 1 pm, the 5th Marines had initiated their withdrawal, after destroying their vehicles and heavy equipment. Minutes later a company of the 5th Marines covering the withdrawal of the battalion were attacked by a company of Royal Marines jumping off from eight Sea King helicopters, two of which were riddled with bullets and had to be taken out of service for several months while repairs were completed. A hail of metal rained down on the Royal Marine Commandos and Marine Coombes was badly wounded in the arm and another Royal Marine suffered a head wound. Several of the Royal Marines had their webbing shot off.

As they entered Port Stanley the battalion marched in parade order, carrying their weapons. They felt far from defeated. They had made the Scots Guards and the Gurkhas pay a comparatively heavy price for the sector they had been assigned to take. The 5th Marines suffered 64 casualties (16 killed and 64 wounded).

External links

• Argentine Marine Corps' Association (http://www.bichosverdes.org)