The Raid on Pebble Island took place on 14–15 May 1982 during the Falklands War. Pebble Island is one of the smaller Falkland Islands, lying north of West Falkland.
Immediately after the Argentinians had seized the Falkland Islands they established a small airbase, Aeródromo Auxiliar Calderón, on Pebble Island (Argentine name: isla Borbón) using the local airstrip on which were based FMA IA 58 Pucará light ground attack aircraft and some T-34 Mentors. Reconnaissance by these aircraft could have compromised the Royal Navy's manoeuvres before its intended landing on East Falkland.
Special Air Service elements, then embarked on HMS Hermes, were tasked with eliminating the threat, with naval support from the Type 22 frigate HMS Broadsword as Hermes defensive escort and the County class destroyer HMS Glamorgan to provide naval gunfire support with its Mark 6 4.5 inch gun. The Naval Gunfire Support Forward Observer (NGSFO) who was responsible for co-ordinating the naval gunfire support was Captain Chris Brown RA of 148 Battery 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery.
The raiding party unloaded over 100 L16 81mm Mortar bombs, explosive charges, and Rocket 66mm HEAT L1A1 Light Anti-tank Weapons to carry into the engagement zone from the helicopters, with each man in the raiding party carrying at least two mortar bombs. For small arms, M-16 rifles were used, some with underslung M203 grenade launchers. Approach navigation was conducted by a member of the Boat Troop who had carried out the reconnaissance.
As the raiding party approached the target they spotted an Argentine sentry but were not seen, allowing them to enter the target and lay charges on seven of the aircraft. Once all the aircraft had been prepared the raiding team opened fire on the aircraft with small arms and L1A1 rockets. All of the aircraft were damaged, with some having their undercarriages shot away. Following this cue Glamorgan began shelling the Argentine positions on the airfield using high-explosive rounds, hitting the ammunition dump and fuel stores.
The defending force did not engage until the entire raiding party had re-grouped and were preparing to move out. One British soldier was hit and wounded while the raiding party returned fire using small arms and M203 grenade launchers, resulting in the death of the Argentine Commanding Officer (according to British assessments) and the suppression of any defensive effort.
The Argentine version states that their marines remained in shelters during the Glamorgan shelling, so they were unable to face the SAS in combat. The British wounded were the result of shrapnel from exploding charges settled by the Argentines under the airstrip in order to deny its use to the enemy. The blasts were triggered in the belief that the operation was a full-scale assault to take over the air base.
The wounded man was hauled back to the recovery site with the raiding party reaching the aircraft by the required time for transportation back to Hermes before daybreak. The decision was made to proceed with exfiltration rather than returning to attack the defending force.
The camo pants were from BBi British Marine and the pile hat were purchased separately and it is also a Barrack Sgt gear.
The M-16 used were from blind box Japanese Gashapon 1/6 weapons. Magazine are non-removable and I have added a sling to it.
I'm pretty satisfied with this kitbash except that there need some weathering.
2 comments:
Regt did NOT wear beards during falklands [ marines may have but NO ONE in D squadron had a full set. Moustaches yes, beards NOPE.......... We didnt use this type of fighting backpack or as webbing on any of our gear during this Pebble Island raid. [ made too much noise] seen on the front.The webbing belt is standard army issue and again was NEVER worn on belt kit...neither did we have these kind of boots or smock...[no patch pocket on left sleeve] , Also SAS troops NEVER wore gloves in live operations except green junglie flying gloves. furthermore the raid was recced by 17 troop canoeing over in kleppers and scouting out the base. They secured the LZ and brought the rest of the sqdn in . ALL the injuries were caused when the Argentinian remotely detonated mines on the airfield were blown up.
WOW thanks for your input. I appreciate it greatly. Sometimes such details are not found in books and will have to come from someone who has been there done that.
It is always a great challenge to recreate very accurately a soldier from a certain era and even harder from an actual historical event.
When I do make another Falkland war era SAS, will take all your points into reference. Thank you once again!
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