Who Dares Wins part 1

Pebble Island Falklands 14th of May 1982

Lt Colonel Mike Rose had planned the mission brief with his staff but the particulars of the execution he of course left to the men of 22 regiment D Squadron, post insertion by Sea King helos.

SAS teams advance in silence. Using night vision goggles they quickly spot sentry elements and situate them selves to cover, while the rest of the men avoid detection. With their NVs on the teams cross the open ground buffeted by cool winds in the crisp weather. They gather at the northern end of the makeshift military runways, moving stealthily, Argentine soldiers are unaware if the threat in the shadows. Teams of two break off, and place incendiary devices on several aircraft including a large Skyvan transporter.

Hand signals set events in motion.

One trooper loads a law and sights in another Pucara aircraft down the runway. Finally Captain Gavin Hamilton gives the order. All the troopers instinctively close their eyes after dropping prone, facing south and west towards expected threats.

With a blazing swoosh the LAW impacts, and a mere 3 seconds later the charges on the planes near the men ignite also.

The sky is lit like Guy Fawkes night!!

Other teams now take their cue. Advancing quickly more charges are set. They check in over comms, one click, two clicks response and simultaneously ignite more aircraft on the tarmac. Others take shots at more distant aircraft but all miss with their LAWs, they supplement instead the peppering fire at the airframes with rounds from teh other weapons.

Two teams close in on the all important Fuel dump and communications/radar installation buildings.

Lights begin popping on in buildings, a siren sounds. Frantic Spanish is shouted in the distance. The night sky is aflame.

Danny O’Shea breaks comms silence as the sentries react, and start shooting blindly towards he and his mates location as they are back lit by all of the blasts. ‘Man down, we need medical.’ Comes the terse message.

Danny rapid crawls under fire to the hit man. ‘I’m bloody all right, just help me wrap this shit up.’

Another squadron member returns fire to suppress the Argies while Danny moves.

‘Shut it, let me look and for fuck sake stay still Aye?’ With a shield flashlight Danny assesses the damage, not one but two hits neither serious, but they are out of the fight as his patient will not be ambulatory.

After getting a clotting kit on and bandages on his team mate, Danny moves flank ward, the small handful of Argies blazing away in an undisciplined manner. He pops up, placing rounds in quick bursts into three of the four enemy. The last drops his gun and runs. Another squadron member takes him out.

‘This is D-3 we are out of the fight, and moving 1 WIA to rally point over.’

Captain Hamilton grimaced, ‘Roger D-3, get our lads there safe rest of D Squadron will wrap up here shortly.’

More to come.