On May 29, 1982, the Battle of Goose Green comes to an end. One of the major battles of the Falklands War, it pitted British paratroopers and commandos against the Argentine infantry and artillery for control of the settlement of Goose Green and the airfield located there. At 3:35 AM on May 28, the British assault began with an 90-minute artillery barrage by the Royal Navy. Elements of the 2nd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment (2 Para) began their advance along the Goose Green isthmus; however, they were met with strong resistance by the Argentine forces. The Argentine troops had heavily fortified their defensive positions and responded with intense machine gun, mortar, and artillery fire of their own. By 10:30 that morning, the advance had largely halted. A renewed assault on the Argentine positions on Darwin Hill was launched by A Company of 2 Para at approximately noon, finally breaking the stalemate when the British cleared the Argentine positions there within two hours. Following this victory, C and D Companies of 2 Para launched their assault on the airfield itself while B Company moved south of the settlement and A Company held their position on Darwin Hill. The assault on the airfield resulted in heavy casualties for the British forces as Argentine mortars and anti-aircraft guns opened fired on the advancing ground forces. However, counterfire by British mortars and airstrikes by Harrier aircraft eventually eliminated the anti-aircraft guns and forced the Argentine forces to retreat to the outskirts of Goose Green.
By the end of May 28, British forces had successfully surrounded Goose Green by had been unable to capture it. B Company of 2 Para had become separated from the rest of the British force and was under enemy fire, the offensive by C and D Company had largely bogged down after the airfield, and A Company remained on Darwin Hill. Ammunition and food was in short supply. The situation for the Argentine forces was similarly dire with the added complication of being surrounded with little to no chance of escape. Following arrangements made via CB radio, a delegation carrying the terms the British were willing to accept for the Argentine forces to surrender. On May 29, the Argentine commander accepted the terms, surrendering his forces.
Out of a force of approximately 1100 Argentine troops, 45-55 had been killed, 86 wounded, and 961 captured. British forces had totaled 690 men, suffering 18 killed and 64 wounded as well as the loss of one helicopter.
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