The Falklands War - SBS

Special Boat Service

The Special Boat Service (SBS) is the British Royal Navy's special forces unit. The service's motto is "By Strength and Guile". It forms part of the United Kingdom Special Forces, alongside the Special Air Service (SAS) and the Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR).

The SBS is an independent unit of the Royal Marines and is based with 1 Assault Group Royal Marines and the British Army's 148 Commando Forward Observation Battery in Royal Marines Poole, in Poole, Dorset.

Selection

To be eligible for SBS selection, a candidate must have at least two years regular service. Formerly candidates were from the Royal Marines or the Royal Navy, but now volunteers are taken from any arm of the services. In order to qualify as a Swimmer Canoeist, Candidates must first undergo Special Forces Selection with the SAS before continuing to SBS selection.

There is also an SBS Reserve (SBS(R)), and candidates must have previous military experience or have served at least two years in the Royal Marines Reserve before attending a Specialist course and gaining the specialist qualification of swimmer canoeist. SBS(R) provides individual reservists to serve with the regular SBS rather than forming independent teams.

Role

The SBS's role is not confined to seaborne and maritime operations; their responsibilities do not end at the tide line. The SBS usually provides the special forces element of 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines and is responsible for Maritime Counter-Terrorism operations, including the protection of oil rigs and vessels at sea.

It also has the responsibility for conducting coastal reconnaissance before amphibious operations. This involves conducting hydrographic surveys (surveying beaches and coastal waters to determine their suitability for amphibious landings) and landing small teams ashore covertly, to conduct reconnaissance patrols or set up coast-watch observation posts; as the SBS and Boat Troops of the SAS did in the Falklands war in 1982.

Training

Qualification as an SBS Swimmer Canoeist involves an extensive training course, building on the skills gained during SF Selection at Hereford. Training includes:

Diving both closed and open circuit - candidates swim underwater for miles in poor visibility completing complex navigational tasks and employment exercises.

Parachuting both HALO and HAHO

Demolition,

Infiltration of ships, in harbour and whilst under way, and oil platforms.

Canoeing - Use of the Klepper canoe during selection is extensive.

Further survival training in the wilds of Scotland.

Beach reconnaissance including photography

Maritime Counter-Terrorism activities

Those who pass the selection course qualify as a Swimmer Canoeist (SC3) and are then probationers.

Being trained as parachutists, SBS marines are distinguishable by wearing the Special Forces Parachute badge on the shoulder of the right sleeve on their uniforms.

Organisation

The SBS is thought to have a complement of around 100 "Swimmer Canoeists" at any one time. These are split into four squadrons.

C and X squadrons rotate through three specialist roles.

M squadron is the maritime counter-terrorism and shipboard operations unit. Within M-Squadron is the Black Group, the counter-terrorism team that uses helicopter-borne assaults.

Z squadron takes care of small watercraft and minisub insertions.

Personnel have previously been required to return to the main Commando force after the first three year tour, potentially returning again after a short period, it is thought that this requirement has been relaxed with some personnel remaining with the service as required.

History

1941: The Special Air Service was formed in World War II during the north African conflict. The SAS later formed a unit comprising eight-man sections of divers and canoeists to reconnoitre enemy fortifications from land or sea, raid enemy ports, and conduct sabotage operations against merchant shipping. Originally this unit was named the Special Boat Section to fool German radio operators listening in on British military communications. It was assumed that Wehrmacht operators would have little interest in a "Special Boat Section" when there was so much else going on.

1942 April: The British Royal Navy formed a frogman and manned torpedo unit called "Experimental Submarine Flotilla": see British commando frogmen for more about them and their deeds in 1942 to 1945.

1946: The SBS became part of the Royal Marines. It became part of the School of Combined Operations under the command of Blondie Hasler.

1951: Another two squadrons were formed from British troops in West Germany.

Two volunteer squadrons were later added. Their first missions were in Palestine (ordnance removal) and in Haifa (limpet mine removal from ships).

1950-1953: In the Korean War the SBS were in action along the North Korean coast. They gathered intelligence and destroyed railways and installations. The SBS operated first from submarines, and later from islands off Wonsan, behind enemy lines. They used two-man canoes and motorised inflatable boats.

1952: SBS teams were held at combat readiness in Egypt in case Gamal Abdal Nasser's coup turned more violent than it did.

1956: The SBS were alerted during the Suez Crisis, but did not see action.

1969 September: The SBS were alerted during a coup against king Idris I of Libya, but did not see action. Similar situations followed.

1961: SBS teams carried out reconnaissance missions during the Indonesian Confrontation.

1961: The SBS primarily gathered intelligence and trained other special forces during the Vietnam War

1961: Iraq threatened to invade Kuwait for the first time, so the SBS put a detachment at Bahrain.

later: The SBS was stationed in Gibraltar, where they gathered intelligence in case Franco's Spain decided to invade.

The SBS were involved in anti-drug operations in the Caribbean.

1972: The SAS and SBS came into the spotlight for a moment during their involvement with a bomb threat (which later proved to be a hoax) onboard the Cunard liner RMS Queen Elizabeth II, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

1977: The SBS changed its name to Special Boat Squadron.

1979: 5 SBS became part of the Comacchio Company, which protected North Sea oil rigs.

1980: SBS members played a part in the 1980 Iranian Embassy Siege.

1982 March-June: In the Falklands War, 2 SBS took part in the liberation of South Georgia and 6 SBS reconnoitered in East Falkland. Their only losses were to friendly fire from the SAS.

1987: The SBS became part of the UK Special Forces group alongside the Special Air Service and 14 Intelligence Company.

1987: The SBS changed its name to Special Boat Service and was brought under the command of the Director of Special Forces.

1991: During the Gulf War, the SBS made raids on the Kuwaiti coast to draw Iraqi troops away from the land attack. The liberation of the British embassy in Kuwait was one of their most high-profile operations.

1999 or later: The SBS were involved in operations in East Timor.

2001 October: The SBS took part in the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, where they secured Bagram Airbase.

2003: The SBS took part in the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

2005 March 14: The commanding officer of the SBS was killed in a training accident in Norway.

2006 June 27: One SBS Marine and one seconded Parachute Regiment officer were killed and one seriously injured in a Taliban ambush in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan. Throughout the Cold War, the SBS was organised to perform a "conventional " special forces role for the 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines . However, in recent decades the SBS's role has become more and more devoted to counter-terrorist operations.

Present;  The SBS remain active and are also involved with the London Olympics.

The Falklands War - The SAS raid on the airfield at Pebble Island - 14th May 1982

Introduction

The long narrow shape of Pebble Island lies east to west across the western approaches to Falkland Sound. On 23 April, an Argentine aircraft landed on the airstrip there near the settlement which was home to the 25-strong farming community, supposedly to deliver the mail. One of the occupants of the aircraft surveyed the strip, walking some length along the main runway. A few hours later a UH-1 helicopter landed on the strip, depositing an Argentine Army patrol who then marched into the settlement and demanded that all radio transmitters of any kind be handed over. The leader of the soldiers stated that the occupying forces would send a patrol to Pebble Island from time to time, but otherwise they would be completely cut off from the outside world, a worrying prospect for the islanders as they would have no communications in case of emergency.

Only the following day the initial statement regarding the future of Pebble Island was proved a lie. A Short Skyvan twin-engined transport aircraft of Prefectura Naval Argentina, the Argentine Coastguard, landed on the airstrip, and disgorged a large party of Argentine Air Force ground personnel. This was followed by a number of T-34C-1 Turbo Mentor training and light ground-attack aircraft from 4 Escuadrilla de Ataque, who began patrol and training flights almost immediately. Over the next week stores and provisions were brought in before on 30 April the first Pucara twin-engined ground attack fighters from Grupo 3 de Ataque arrived on the strip. The airfield was now home to an estimated 150 Argentine personnel, and the local population were practically confined to their houses by these men, except for trips to gather food. The Argentine personnel were very nervous for three reasons, the strip and preparations were unfinished, the expected garrison of 400 troops were not in place, and they were expecting an attack by the British against what was now the only major Argentine position on West Falkland and its islands. They did not have long to wait.

On the night of 11/12 May an eight man patrol team from Boat Troop D Squadron 22nd Regiment SAS were landed by Sea King on Keppel Island, south of the western end of Pebble. The helicopter landed between Mount Keppel and Cove Hill, screening the event from Argentinian forces on Pebble Island. The eight men were carrying canoes as well as their full equipment, and yomped overland to a point near the abandonned airstrip on the eastern end of Keppel Isand. Here an Observation Point was set up to ascertain the movement of Argentine troops on Pebble, particularly in the area the SAS troopers intended to canoe across too. They remained here for twenty-four hours on watch, before continuing their journey by canoe on the evening of 13 May across the dangerous Keppel Sound. The current and tides in this stretch of water were extremely hazardous, but the team had been well briefed and avoided the worst of the difficulties. Immediately on landing on Pebble Island, a two-man team went forward almost half the length of the island to First Mount, which overlooked the airstrip and the settlement. An Observation Point was set up, and detailed surveillance began, locating the ammunition and fuel dumps, as well as the important radar equipment, which could detect any attempt at a concealed approach by the British Task Force. This indeed was the whole point of the attack, the radar and the Pucaras represented a serious threat, and had to be eliminated as the island lay close to the approach routes to the intended landing area.

The wind had risen during the day of the 14 May, and since it was intended that the main force to attack the airfield be landed by helicopter there was general concern about the ability of the Sea Kings to operate at long range. The task group of ships to support the attack were the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes, the destroyer HMS Glamorgan and the frigate HMS Broadsword. The three warships approached Pebble Island from the north as darkness fell on the night of 14 May, but HMS Broadsword's Sea Wolf system, the only long-range air defence for the group, became defective. HMS Broadsword fell further and further behind the line of advance in the terrible weather as her crew tried to fix the vital system. HMS Glamorgan slowly closed to within only seven miles of the coast of Pebble to provide naval gunfire support, and the incredibly valuable, and therefore vulnerable HMS Hermes closed to within forty miles of the coast, much closer than planned, to give the 846 Squadron Sea Kings a fighting chance in the high winds. Considering that Pebble Island was much closer to the Argentine mainland than any previous foray by the carriers, this was a calculated risk and a very brave manoeuvre. The party ashore radioed that all the targets had been identified with eleven aircraft on the airfield, and recommended that the raid take place that night. They marked out landing sites for the helicopters that would ferry the 48 troopers of D Squadron 22nd Regiment SAS and one naval gunfire expert, and all was ready.

The Naval Gunfire Support Forward Observer (NGSFO) was none other than Captain Chris Brown RA from 148 Battery of 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, the same officer who had performed no small wonders in the re-capture of South Georgia. He would be directing the 4.5 inch guns of HMS Glamorgan in direct support of the SAS raid. The Sea King HC4 pilots flew into the landing zone using passive night vision goggles and the SAS team split up into an assault group and support group to give covering fire. The landing had been delayed by the weather, and the troopers had a long march with their full equipment as well as the mortars and rounds for them. As a consequence the original plan to contact the settlers before the attack had to be abandonned as there was no time. The mortar base was set up, and the General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) arranged to cover the approaches from the settlement and the settlement itself where it was known the bulk of the Argentine forces were taking shelter from the weather.

Early in the morning of the 15 May, HMS Glamorgan began delivering 4.5 inch shells at the rate of one a minute under the direction of Captain Brown. The GPMG teams opened fire and kept the Argentine troops pinned down in the settlement area, while their colleagues went to work on the airfield. Using plastic explosive with short fuses, the SAS teams led by Captain John Hamilton destroyed all eleven aircraft, six Pucaras, four Turbo Mentors and the Short Skyvan, as well as the radar installation, fuel and ammunition dumps. The aircraft were attacked with teams destroying the same area of each to prevent the Argentines from assembling flyable aircraft from canibalising the wrecks. With the resounding success of the raid, the teams began to withdraw at 0745 in the morning.

By this time, the Argentines had managed to organise a response, and a sharp firefight began. The officer rallying the Argentine troops was identified and promptly shot, and the counter-attack dwindled almost immediately. The withdrawal then continued almost unopposed, except for the detonation of a remotely controlled mine which was set off too late to have any real effect, but managed to slightly wound two of the SAS troopers. The entire force boarded their helicopters without loss, and returned to the Task Force, having crippled the base, and ended any threat it and it's aircraft posed to the proposed landings.

The Falklands War - PEBBLE ISLAND RAID by SAS

Summary of Main Events

CVBG - CV Hermes, Invincible; DD Glamorgan, Coventry, Glasgow; FR Alacrity, Arrow, Brilliant, Broadsword, Yarmouth; RFA Fort Austin, Olmeda, Resource; with SBS and SAS

    1. SHEFFIELD sank (10th)

    2. Alacrity entered Falkland Sound from the south (10th)

    3. Alacrity sank Isla de los Estados off Swan Is (10th/11th)

    4. Alacrity met Arrow and headed back to CVBG (10th/11th)

    5. Glasgow damaged off Stanley/Argentine aircraft lost - [a16,a17,a18] Skyhawks (12th)

    6. Argentine aircraft lost at Goose Green - [a19] Skyhawk (12th)

   7. PEBBLE ISLAND OPERATION (11th-15th) (1) SAS Boat Troop patrol ashore to reconnoitre (11th/12th) (2) Hermes, Broadsword and Glamorgan approached and D Sqdn SAS landed by No.846 Sea Kings (14th)

    8. Pebble Island Installations and aircraft destroyed and force returned to CVBG; Argentine aircraft lost - [a20-25] Pucaras, [a26-29] Mentors, [a30] Skyvan (14th/15th)

    9. British aircraft lost east of Falklands - [b7] Sea King (12th)

    10. Argentine cargo ship Rio Carcarana attacked and beached in Port King (16th)

    11. Argentine transport Bahia Buen Suceso damaged at Fox Bay East (16th)

    In the build-up to the landings at San Carlos, Admiral Woodward's destroyers and frigates continued to wear down the invaders and D Sqdn SAS made an important contribution with its Pebble Island raid. On Monday 10th, as submarine "San Luis" made her last reported and equally unsuccessful attack on ships of the Task Force and "Sheffield" finally sank, "Glasgow" (Sea Dart) and "Brilliant" (Sea Wolf) took over as type 42/22 combination from "Coventry" and "Broadsword" and continued their radar picket and bombardment duties off Stanley. That night as "Arrow" moved to the north end of Falkland Sound, sister ship "Alacrity" prepared to sail right through from the south for the first time to flush out any supply ships. As she passed up the Sound, "Alacrity" detected a small ship apparently heading for Port Howard, and using her single 4.5 inch, illuminated with star shell. Refusing to stop, the target was engaged in the only surface action of the war and after a number of hits, exploded and sank with heavy casualties. Reportedly there were only two survivors from what turned out to be the naval transport "ISLA DE LOS ESTADOS" carrying fuel and military supplies. "Alacrity" carried on through to meet "Arrow", and on Tuesday morning, both ships headed back to the carriers. Later that day, "Yarmouth" also returned from her attempts to tow "Sheffield" out of the TEZ.

    On Wednesday afternoon (12th) with "Glasgow" and "Brilliant" still off Stanley, eight A-4B Skyhawks of Grupo 5 were sent in to attack the bombarding ships. The first flight came in low, and as "Brilliant" fired her Sea Wolf automatically for the first time in anger, two aircraft exploded in the air, a third crashed in to the sea trying to escape and the fourth dropped its bomb without hitting, and got away [a16, a17, a18]. The second flight of four came in some minutes later, but for technical reasons Sea Wolf could not fire, and this time "Glasgow" was hit by a bomb which went in one side and out the other without exploding or causing any casualties. Although the damage was not severe, she had to withdraw to the CVBG for repairs that took a number of days and eventually became the first British warship to return home. Meanwhile as these Skyhawks returned home, they passed too close to Goose Green and "Glasgow's" attacker was shot down by Argentine AA [a19].

    Just a week before the landings, a raid was mounted by D Sqdn SAS on the airstrip and facilities at Pebble Island,especially to destroy the ground attack Pucaras based there. First of all men of the Squadron's Boat Troop were put ashore over Tuesday night to reconnoitre the area and three days later on Friday 14th, "Hermes" and escort "Broadsword" together with "Glamorgan" in the fire support role left the CVBG, and passing to the north, approached Pebble Island by night. As "Glamorgan" closed in to gunfire range, "Hermes" flew off the 48 SAS attackers and NGFO team in her No.846 Sea Kings to be guided in at midnight by the awaiting patrol. After a forced march to the airstrip, the attack went ahead led by Captain Hamilton, and all the aircraft there put out of action or destroyed by prepared charges. A fuel depot, ammo dump and radar installation were also destroyed. All this time "Glamorgan" provided gunfire support, and as the raiders withdrew, a brief Argentine counter-attack was halted when the officer in charge was shot. With two men slightly wounded the SAS were safely picked up again by the helicopters. The raid was a complete success and the Argentines not only lost six Pucaras of Grupo 3 [a20-25], four T-34C Mentors [a26-29] of CANA 4 Esc and one Coast Guard Skyvan [a30], but also the use of the airstrip at a crucial time. Now into Saturday morning, the warships returned to the CVBG, but "Glamorgan" soon moved on to other duties.

    Although bad weather had restricted fixed wing flying earlier in the week, by Wednesday 12th it had improved sufficiently for high level bombing attacks to be made on Stanley, the same day a No.826 ASW Sea King from "Hermes" ditched near the CVBG with engine failure [b7]. The crew were saved. The next main action took place over the weekend as Sea Harriers continued to bomb Stanley. On Saturday night "Brilliant's" Lynx failed in an attack on the transport "Bahia Buen Suceso" in Fox Bay East, but "Hermes" aircraft more than made up for this next day. In the middle of Sunday 16th, two No.800 Sea Harriers bombed and strafed the blockade running cargo ship "Rio Carcarana" (8,500 grt) at anchor off Port King and although there were no casualties, she caught fire, was beached and abandoned, finally to be destroyed by "Antelope's" Lynx a week later. Another two aircraft caught the "Bahia Buen Suceso" still at Fox Bay East alongside the jetty and raked her with cannon fire. Bombs were not used because of the ship's proximity to the settlement, but the damage was enough to deny her use by the Argentines, and she stayed there until after the war.

    Following the Pebble Island raid, HMS Glamorgan took on the job of convincing the Argentines that any landings would take place on East Falkland, south of the capital. For a number of nights, she bombarded Stanley and moved down the coast as far as Choiseul Sound carrying out a variety of deception activities. Other SBS and SAS operations were no doubt taking place all this time, and over Sunday night "Alacrity" sailed through Falkland Sound again and landed an SBS/NGFO team by Gemini near Sussex Mountains which overlooks the landing beaches around San Carlos Water.

Sea Harriers of No 800 NAS aboard HMS Hermes in "typical foul weather" in the Atlantic during

 

HMS Brilliant firing Sea Wolf at Argentine Skyhawks off Stanley -  three were shot down.

from the Art of Daniel Bechennec

The Falklands War - SBS Operations

SBS Operations in the Falklands

As the task force set sail from Britain in April 1982, to reclaim the Falklands, the Special Boat Service was already reaching the scene. At the time of the Argentine invasion, the SBS was engaged in winter exercises in northern Norway, 40 Commando was training at home, 45 Commando in Scotland and another company was in Brunei. 42 Commando was the only unit to go to Norway because of stringent cost cutting.

The SBS, returning from Norway, were due to go on leave as soon as they returned from Norway, but instead, their departure was blocked the night before the invasion, as the SBS OC, made the assumption that there could be trouble any second. The following morning his fears were confirmed and all his units were alerted to standby.

Within 24 hours of the signal ordering the SBS to stand to, on the 1st April, the SBS were on the move.

First came 2 SBS, setting off with a strong command team by air to Ascension Island, where they would catch either HMS Spartan or HMS Splendid to take them south. However, the plan was aborted en route and 2 SBS was picked up by RFA Fort Austin. At Ascension, D Squadron, SAS, joined them, bringing the force up to a combined total of around 50 men. M Company, 42 RM Commando, soon joined them. The men were at sea before they learned that South Georgia was their intended destination.

6 SBS joined HMS Conqueror at Faslane and set off for the South Atlantic. 3 SBS was the last section to leave, deployed aboard RFA Stromness with a further 12 men joining at Ascension. 1 SBS remained in Poole to deal with any emergency and Special Forces liaison groups.

South Georgia

The assault on South Georgia was codenamed 'Operation Paraquat'. On the way the SBS and SAS tested their equipment and practiced launching from Fort Austin. The elderly outboard motors failed often, and the men found themselves having to paddle back to the ship in these practices.

On 12th April, Fort Austin sighted HMS Endurance, and over the next day the SBS and SAS men heading for South Georgia were cross-decked to HMS Endurance along with their stores, equipment, boats, and supplies for the Endurance. Two Wessex helicopters helped with the shipping. HMS Endurance and Fort Austin were joined by HMS Antrim, HMS Plymouth and RFA tanker Tidespring. The reoccupation of South Georgia was planned aboard HMS Antrim; Endurance would put the SBS ashore at Gryviken and King Edward Point, with the SAS landing at Fortuna Glacier to reconnoitre Leith Harbour, Stromness and Grass Island. For more details see 'Operation Paraquat'.

'Paraquat' concluded with a landing of a 75-man strong force made up of SAS, SBS and Royal Marines from Antrim, which was only half the strength of the Argentine garrison. When the force reached the Argentine garrison at Grytviken, the entire place was covered in white sheets and the Argentineans surrendered.

'Operation Corporate'-The Recapture of The Falkland Islands

The 6 SBS from South Georgia joined 3 SBS in the advance fleet. The SBS would reconnoitre three separate areas of the Falklands and maintain patrols in advance of the main landings.

In addition to being in enemy controlled territory, the SBS had to send reports by Morse code instead of radio, and the beach recce reports and charts had to be delivered in person as these were far too complex for sending by Morse code. Sea King Mk 4 helicopters were used to fly the patrols in, although occasionally the Geminis were used to go ashore. Helicopter movements were only carried out at night, and once dropped off, the SBS teams dug into the coverless hillsides and remained hidden for days at a time, as the Argentine forces searched for them.

As the conflict progressed, the SBS had teams scattered throughout the islands, with patrols deployed to various locations for up to a week at a time before withdrawing to report and then being inserted to another location.

The teams usually numbered four men who, once landed, would proceed on foot to their observation side, lying up in temporary hides during the daylight hours. A trio of hides would be built, one for the men and the other two for the substantial supplies necessary for a seven-day recce.

Although the Argentine forces came close to discovering SBS patrols on numerous occasions, the worst incident of all was when two men went missing from a patrol, which caused concern to SBS control. The two corporals were part of a team that ran into an Argentine patrol and were split up, although they avoided actual contact with the patrol. The two corporals followed their procedures and were eventually, seven days later, picked up and returned to the ship.

The Argentine fish factory-ship provided another SBS task, 2 SBS were despatched to board and apprehend the vessel, but while they were en route, the ship was attacked by two Harriers and was listing badly by the time the SB arrived and boarded her. The SBS discovered charts and operational orders before setting charges, rescuing the crew, and blowing up the ship. The seized orders showed she had been shadowing the British fleet.

Immediately prior to the San Carlos landing, an Argentine company moved into the area and the SBS were tasked with clearing them out before the landing. Using a thermal imager, the SBS located the Argentineans from one of Antrim's Wessex helicopters and HMS Antrim bombarded the target with 4.5-inch naval shellfire for two hours, while the Wessex landed the SBS nearby. The SBS then moved in, calling for the Argentines to surrender, but receiving only gunfire in response. The SBS gave them one more chance to give up before moving forward, killing twelve, wounding three, and taking nine prisoners. The Argentineans had been on Fanning Head manning anti-tank guns and mortars, which would have been able to inflict damage on the British landings if they had not been put out of action. The remainder of the company were in Port San Carlos, sheltering in houses and were not discovered until after the landings began; two Royal Marine Gazelles were shot down by these Argentineans as the landings started.

The landings went on unopposed and on the north coast, by Port Salavdor Water, 6 SBS from HMS Fearless was inserted to establish a forward base on Green Island ahead of the Commando's advance. The section carried out reconnaissance of Port Louis and Green Patch before the Commandos arrived. 2 SBS joined them and operated in the Teal area, guiding 3 Para into Teal, before moving on to observe an enemy company on Long Island Mountain.

These operations were followed by the SBS removing an enemy observation post, during which one member of the SBS was killed in a friendly fire incident. This resulted in closer cooperation, the SBS team leader having strayed onto the SAS's Green Patch operational zone.

The SBS continued its operations, scouting West Falkland for enemy bases and airstrips.

Pebble Island

An Argentine force was located on Pebble Island numbering between 30 and 50 men. The SBS planned an attack with 36 men and two Harriers, however the raid was overtaken by the Argentine surrender at Port Stanley. An SBS major took the surrender of  Pebble Island and its 112-strong garrison.

Final Action

As the main force advanced on Stanley, the SBS and SAS shared a joint action. On 12th June, 2 Para attacked Wireless Ridge, while five miles west of them a six-man team from 3 SBS formed a volunteer raiding party with D and G Squadrons SAS, to divert enemy attention from the main thrust by creating a diversionary assault from the sea. The task was unplanned and a spur-of the-moment operation.

The SBS team spent a day in an observation post, before moving across the Murrell River in Rigid Raiders with a troop from D Squadron, SAS, which were driven by men from the Royal Marines 1st Raiding Squadron. The raiders were hidden off Kidney Island until they were ready for the assault.

On the night of 13-14th June, the men approached the target area, bypassing the berthed Argentinean hospital ship Bahia Paraiso. As they did so, the hospital ship turned on its searchlights, spotting the raiders and opened fire with everything they had, certain they faced a full-scale sea borne assault.

The raiders withdrew, with one of the craft badly damaged. The raiders reached the shore, with an SBS corporal and two SAS troopers having been wounded. The effort provided the needed diversion for 2 Para and saved some lives by diverting Argentine attention from the Para's assault.

Raids on the Argentine Mainland

Additional SBS operations, beyond those mentioned above, remain outside of the public area at this time.