This space is dedicated to exhibit collections of items that were in the Malvinas or from the era of the Malvinas. As we acquire new original items, we will continue to complete the displays in order to learn more about the Argentine and British armed forces during the Malvinas/Falklands era.
The war in the South Atlantic caused the joint forces of the Republic of Argentina to face off with powerful Task Force of the United Kingdom. Both bands had a rare mix of old staff equipment in the old style. The Argentine Forces seemed seemed to combine a rare mix of equipment remnants from WWI and WWII (leather webbing) and other equipment from the era of German style and American equipment from the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Still some of the details of the British forces had a level that brought them closer to modern time like the Golf War while Argentina had the technology level of the Vietnam War. There was also a difference in the quality of soldier, considering that the British were mostly professionals and the Argentines were mostly young conscripts.
New item. Argentine Army -Comandos 601 602, sleeping mat.
Winter South-zone Marines Infantry Overall.
Marines Parka, dated 1982.
1981 Argentine ERDL pattern, Marines Coveroll.
Marines Infantry Ceremonial Parade Uniforms. Winter on left. Summer on right. Photos: Javier Ramos Malvinas War Veteran.
Marines Infantry Combat Uniform. Photo Javier Ramos Malvinas War Veteran. Bat 3, H Co.
M2 50 cal (12.7x99mm NATO) Browning Replica.
1970s Argentine hard cap, it is a mix of the US M1951 "Ridgeway" field cap and the French Kepi. On the right is a visor cap of a Commador during the Malvinas era. The olive green jacket is from the Air Force.
Cotton Pullover "Tricota". It was used over the combat uniform shirt. There was also a quilted textile vest that was used which the soldiers called the "Corderito". It had a Mao-style diamond pattern and fastened with 2 green velcro strips.
Argentine Air Force Shirt.
Argentine Air Force Combat/Cargo Pants. Dated 1983 (Post-War).
Argentine Air Force Combat Jacket.
1967/70s Button-up Combat Jacket "Garibaldina".olive green Army combat jacket type US M43/65 style Combat Jacket.
Olive green Army combat shirt.
Olive green Army combat trousers and belt.
Argentina Army Combat Shirt (Ex British Trophy), that came back from the islands.
Bring-Back from Australia. This army jacket is an unusual XL or larger size, and was probably made to order.
Argentine Army EA, ISREX Dubon Parka.
Tempex Duffle Bag.
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67 pattern Argentine leather webbing, olive-green color..
FM Leather and Tempex Nylon Webbing:
Fatigue Shirt, Mess Kit and Poncho Blanket.
Malvinas War Era, Army standard boots, French-type sole "Bottes de saut françaises Semelle". The sole pattern is similar to the French but not exact.
The old-style standard boot, we'll call it Type I. They were used starting in the 1950s by some units, like paratroopers and engineers. There were 2 types of soles, one of wood with metal plates in the heel and the front. This, along with the cleats, made a particular noise during parades. The more modern Borseguies came with a rubber sole, all eyelets and no reinforcements.
Keep in mind that the soldier only had 1 pair of boots. The boots, like the rest of the uniform, were often passed down from previous conscripts. For example, conscripts from the '62 class (which had the largest representation in the Malvinas) took the boots that were used during the entire 1981 year. These boots had also been used by other classes, some going back to the 1970s.
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Argentine dogtag "Oblea or Chapa Identificatoria". It bore the soldiers' names, blood type, document number, and class. Like the German style, it could be broken in half so that one remained on the soldier for identification and the other was taken to the group's head to certify the death. The English tags are similar to the Argentine. They were also round but instead of breaking in half, there were 2 identical tags.
On the left is the bayonet frog from the FAL. You can partially see the belt of the webbing circa M38. On the right is the water canteen, in the WWII German style model. It was made of aluminum with a twist cap. They also used the Argentine made M-1910, which were identical except for cork instead of the twist cap. To add to the diversity and confusion, they also used American lots of Vietnam era plastic canteens with their original covers which could be seen in many photos. You can also partially see the green knit scarf, which may have been a civilian accessory. Many soldiers used civilian "extras".
Above left is the backpack which has the poncho blanket wrapped in part of a waterproof tent. Above right is some type of glove.
Marines Infantry Equipment.
Navy Infantry Plastic Bottle and cup.
Army water bottle found in mortar position circa 1983, Tumbledown area.
Argentine Army water canteen from Bedfordshire UK.
Battlefield relics. Argentine Army Stainless Cup and Toothbrush made by Jabali S.A.
FN FAL bayonet and scabbard.
Argentine Army Mountain Troops 1980s Anorak.
FN MAG Replica.
81mm Mortar Replica.
M2 50 cal (12.7x99mm NATO) Browning Replica.
M1 helmet and cover. This cover in particular is a M67 Combat Jacket Hood used as a helmet cover. Also used were military clothing scraps and torn clothes. It also has a net. Although it says Army, it belonged to the Marines.
M67 Hood Helmet Cover.
Marines Infantry, ERDL (Argentine Version), Camo Cover.
US M1 Marines Infantry with US ERDL Camo Cover. Battlefield Relic.
M1 with Army Pattern ERDL Type Camo Cover. Battlefield Relic.
Argentine M2 FM Modelo NATO Paratrooper Helmets; Bring back from Cheshire UK. This comes with documents from a 42 Royal Marine commando, Sargent AH.
Army Winter Cap.
Marines Infantry Winter Cap.
French Sambuee Goggles.
Left: Polaroid Goggles. Center: Fravida. Right: Sambuee.
Left: Medical bag. Right: US CVC helmet (Not Malvinas)
CVC Combat Vehicle Crewman Helmet, used for amphibious assault vehicle AAVP7A1 crews. Note the mike is on the soldier's right. The photo may have been inverted.
C.A.E 601 Compania de Asalto Aereo, (Air Assault Company). M1 helmet, battlefield relic.
Helicopter Headset and adapter.
Right: PRC-10 manpack.I'm not sure if this radio went to the Malvinas but it was used by Argentina.
French M65 Radio Helmet.
DGFM San Martin PRC-3000.
In the photo an RT-3600 manpack. The photo is a still from the movie about the war called "1982 Estuvimos Ahi" from the director Cesar Turturro.
Dutch Philips VHF RT-4600.
Radio-equipment: Argentina used French Thompson TRC300 (300-4) manpack, AN/GRC-106, RT3600, 4600, DATOTEK, GRC-106, PRC-10 manpack (this was used by the Argentines but I don't know if it went to Malvinas), Philips PRC-3620 manpack, AN/PRC-77 and PRC-25 manpack and vehicle mounting, VRC-3622 vehicle mounting. According to "Argentine Forces in The Falklands", Men-At-Arms series, the radios used were Thompson-CSF HF sets, MEL's VRC 321 and 322 Clansman vehicle and manpacks, and US Harris Corp RF 3000 and 3062. They also used civilian radios.
The British used Marconi Clansman made by Racal MEL and Plesse, PRC-319, PRC-349, PRC-351, PRC-2000 made by Philips and Mel.
The British used Marconi Clansman made by Racal MEL and Plesse, PRC-319, PRC-349, PRC-351, PRC-2000 made by Philips and Mel.
Argentine Navy, A.R.A (Armada Republica Argentina), Antarctic Cap in orange color. On the right an Argentine Army type baseball winter cap.
On the left PNA (Prefectura Naval Argentina), Argentine Coast Guard fatigue combat cap 1980s. The prefectura also used the earflap cap for winter. They had tags that said "Prefectura Naval". Right is a standard Air Force olive green fatigue cap (Casquete), with the National cockade light blue and white.
Army Cap Casquete.
SMG 9mm(PAM). Double ammo-pouch.
1981. ARA Indomita (P-86) and Intrepida (P-85), fast attack crafts. "Donald Ducks" Sailor hats. These boats were the escorts for the Belgrano Cruiser.
MK2 Argentine Navy Talker Helmet and Argentine Marines Visor Hat.
Naval US MK2 Gunner Talker Helmet. 1982 photo from the magazine "Siete Dias" and shows scene from the conflict in the South Atlantic (Malvinas War).
Green Beret, Command 601 and 602 w/ paratrooper type knife and enamel pin shield.. Lieutenant Roberto Néstor Estévez
Photo: Infantry Second Lieutenant Oscar Augusto Silva with M1 C Para helmet. and T-5 parachute.
In Malvinas there was a complete parachute unit, the 4th Airborne Artillery Group.
In Malvinas there was a complete parachute unit, the 4th Airborne Artillery Group.
Lineman Shovel.
Us Army style folding shovel made by Tempex Argentina.
Recommended read:
Isla de Borbon by Javier E. Ramos.
