RMC pics

[browningautorifle]

Found a pic from an article about the Falkland Is campaign that isn't the subject here. I've found something you don't see often, an L34 SMG in open carry. The pic is supposedly an Argentine soldier with RMC prisoners but I highly doubt it. Looks more like an exercise with an RMC enemy force and his POWs. Some of you might know these guys...

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[Peter Laidler]

It's the real McCoy BAR. David Howroyd, the Engineering Director at Sterling told me of their delight when they saw it in the national press.......... only to read the paper and discover that it was the Argentinian commandos that had them! Ours didn't have the woosy wooden fore-grip

[Merle]

they let prisoners hang onto their weapons???

[Lee Enfield]

Found a pic from an article about the Falkland Is campaign that isn't the subject here. I've found something you don't see often, an L34 SMG in open carry. The pic is supposedly an Argentine soldier with RMC prisoners but I highly doubt it. Looks more like an exercise with an RMC enemy force and his POWs. Some of you might know these guys...

A lot of the pictures on-line are staged, they are either "re-inactors" or "modern" propaganda photos.

Those pictures were on an Argy Falklands war "history" site...if you look closely at the "L1A1s", some of them show the early type (metric) bayonet lug on the barrel, and the "flash hiders" are not on straight.
Attachment 86197

[browningautorifle]

One thing I remember about that conflict, as we were watching it closely from our battalion area...was the Brits wouldn't have been as clean as those guys are. No one was matter of fact. They were all living in the ground like rats...

they let prisoners hang onto their weapons

It's often thought to come out with your weapon held high shows where it is instead of wondering...one wouldn't want to be flinchy though.

the Argentinian commandos that had them

I suppose no one brought you one back...? Just for yuks?

[mrclark303]

One thing I remember about that conflict, as we were watching it closely from our battalion area...was the Brits wouldn't have been as clean as those guys are. No one was matter of fact. They were all living in the ground like rats...

I believe the picture was taken as the RM's file out of Government House after Governor Rex Hunt ordered the surrender. At the time it was the right decision, though I'll wager the Marines disagreed very strongly!

The point had been made, the Argentine forces had been "vigorously engaged" and any further fighting at that point would have lead to a totally pointless loss of life.

I wonder if those L1A1's are in an Argentine Museum somewhere? Any of our Argentine members know?

[Gil Boyd]

Certainly the first image is right as the Royal Marine's "had" to surrender on the 2/4/82 at Government House as Rex Hunt negotiated the surrender without their knowledge in some cases within Government House.
Yes they had their weapons, as this PR photo was taken at the time by the Argies.

The second image at thread #4 is without doubt Mickey Mouse, the lad would have been strung up wearing his 58 Patt webbing like that regardless

[bigduke6]

There is new book out (now or shortly) on the story of them Royal Marines, there was a two page spread about them in one of the papers and mentioned the book.

[Gil Boyd]

We have always had a Love Hate relationship RM V PARA Reg, but I have to say, a small nucleus of well trained men (regardless of their cap badge), which they were, plus a few sailors thrown in, as it was changeover time as it happened, did really well considering!!!!

Not much is ever spoken of the Charlie G being fired which took out a submarine by Lt Keith Mills and his 21 lads of the Royal Marines on South Georgia, plus a helicopter, and took on a warship as well, which did give the Argentinian Battle Group something to think about.

The boys did good................. but this image is always the one worth keeping. The two fat men doing a race around a Baghdad street, superimposed with the two best fighting forces heads....."please note who's in front" PARA Reg.....................this was our Christmas card for many years

[mrclark303]

That pictures hilarious Gil .. and slightly disturbing! When you read the story of the 1st day of the invasion, it's little short of a miricle none of the Royal Marines were killed.

They fought hard against impossible odds.

It shouldn't be forgotten that the British Government of the day made the mistake of not immidiatly and aggressively condemning the landings on Southern Thule and South Georgia, added to this the prior withdrawal of the routine SSN patrol and the grim UK domestic situation, with industrial action and economic gloom.

All this combined made the Argentine Junta think we had lost interest in our South Atlantic Territories and we wouldn't fight for them.

A terrible price in young life was paid on both sides for that bad gamble!