Mount Kent Skirmish

Mount Kent Battle
Part of Falklands War
Date 29 May–11 June 1982 Location Mount Kent, East Falkland, Falkland Islands 51°40′23″S 58°06′47″W / 51.673°S 58.113°W / -51.673; -58.113Coordinates: 51°40′23″S 58°06′47″W / 51.673°S 58.113°W / -51.673; -58.113 Result British victory
Belligerents
Argentina 602 Commando Company	United Kingdom 22nd Special Air Service
Commanders and leaders
Captain Eduardo Villarruel, Captain Tomás Fernández Captain Andrés Ferrero	Lieutenant-Colonel Mike Rose, Major Cedric Delves
Casualties and losses
9 killed (including Lt. Castagnari), 18 wounded or injured (including 11 Gendarmerie injured in Puma crash and 4 Air Force commandos wounded in Sea Slug missile strike) and 5 captured (including 4 Marine special forces)	5 killed (friendly fire) 11 wounded (including 3 Royal Marines, 4 Gurkhas, and 4 SAS commandos)
Location within Falkland Islands

Argentina

United Kingdom

Captain Eduardo Villarruel,

Lieutenant-Colonel Mike Rose,

The Assault on Mount Kent was an engagement during the Falklands War between British and Argentine forces.

In late May, forward Special Air Service patrols from G Squadron had established that a number of high peaks overlooking the Argentine defences around Port Stanley, were largely undefended, especially after the Argentine heliborne reserve, Combat Team Solari (B Company, 12th Infantry Regiment) was helicoptered to Goose Green and the 4th Infantry Regiment had received orders to abandon Mount Challenger and take up new positions on Mounts Two Sisters and Harriet.

An initial reconnaissance element from Major Cedric Delves' D Squadron inserted into the area of Mount Kent by helicopter on 25 May, allowed for the rest of the squadron to arrive safely on 27 May in time to counter a strong Argentine Special Forces insertion, under the command of Captain Eduardo Villarruel, second-in-command of 602 Commando Company. The commander of 602 Commando Company, Major Aldo Rico, had instructed the four Argentine patrol commanders involved to seize Mounts Kent and the surrounding peaks in order to allow further reinforcement to be flown in, namely Major Jose Ricardo Spadaro's 601st National Gendarmerie Special Forces Squadron and Major Oscar Ramon Jaimet's heliborne-trained. B Company, 6th Infantry Regiment that had also undergone night-combat training the previous year. The SAS patrols in the form of Air Troop, Boat Troop and Major Delves' tactical headquarters found themselves hard-pressed and fought a number of fierce patrol actions with around 40 Argentine Army Special Forces before the Argentines eventually withdrew. Air Troop were initially driven back in the fighting but managed to hold onto the summit of Mount Kent until reinforcements in the form of Royal Marines arrived.