The Battle of Goose Green (2019) [+]
Dec 15 2025
The Battle of Goose Green: A Battle is Fought to be Won was published in 1992 and I'm not sure if the 2019 edition adds anything.
Chapters
Adkin builds upon previous works (apparently 2 Para did a good job interviewing participants after the war) and he also did more interviews in person and via letters. Although the Argentine perspective is a bit more limited it's still fairly good and a lot. Lots of quotes throughout the text.
He has lots of makes he drew himself and the maps are close to the text where they're used so there's some page flipping but less than if the maps were all at the front or back of the book. They're simple maps showing the action often with numbers to show sequence of events.
There are also photos of people and terrain.
Adkin points out some controversies. 2 Para commander, Colonel H, got himself killed leading a lone charge in the Gorse Gully. Some close Blue on Blue incidents at the airfield perhaps because the Major who took over didn't clearly spell out missions. Also the question of why send 2 Para to Goose Green because it was a diversion from the main thrust at the capital, Stanley.
There is a huge amount of friction getting 2 Para to their starting point so the actual fight they are very low on support (i.e. artillery, planes, naval gunfire) and are mostly on their own and even that rather light on their organic support (their own artillery had few shells since 2 Para had to lug everything themselves several kilometers to the start point).
I found this an interesting read. An in-depth look at a modern infantry tactical battle.
Chapters
- 2 Para - an overview of the 2 Para battalion that went to the Falklands
- Task Force Mercedes - overview of Argentine forces in the Falklands and especially at Goose Green
- Operation Sutton - British initial landing
- It's on - It's off - It's on again - whether or not to send a force to take Goose Green
- Preparations - 2 Para moves south and recons Goose Green area
- 2 Para's Plan - the complicated plan of attack, going north to south
- The Low Pass and Burntside House - initial attack
- Dawn at Darwin and Boca House - dawn and 2 Para way behind schedule
- The Gorse Gully - A company attacks the left flank of the Argentine main line of defense
- Boca House - contemporaneously with A Co., B company attacks the right flank
- Action for the Airfield - once past the main line, the battle for the airfield
- Action for the Schoolhouse - contemporaneously the the airfield, the battle for the nearby school house
- The Argentines' Surrender - negotiating with the Argentines and getting them to surrender
Adkin builds upon previous works (apparently 2 Para did a good job interviewing participants after the war) and he also did more interviews in person and via letters. Although the Argentine perspective is a bit more limited it's still fairly good and a lot. Lots of quotes throughout the text.
He has lots of makes he drew himself and the maps are close to the text where they're used so there's some page flipping but less than if the maps were all at the front or back of the book. They're simple maps showing the action often with numbers to show sequence of events.
There are also photos of people and terrain.
Adkin points out some controversies. 2 Para commander, Colonel H, got himself killed leading a lone charge in the Gorse Gully. Some close Blue on Blue incidents at the airfield perhaps because the Major who took over didn't clearly spell out missions. Also the question of why send 2 Para to Goose Green because it was a diversion from the main thrust at the capital, Stanley.
There is a huge amount of friction getting 2 Para to their starting point so the actual fight they are very low on support (i.e. artillery, planes, naval gunfire) and are mostly on their own and even that rather light on their organic support (their own artillery had few shells since 2 Para had to lug everything themselves several kilometers to the start point).
I found this an interesting read. An in-depth look at a modern infantry tactical battle.