DON'T CRY FOR ME, ARGENTINA...
or how I stopped worrying about the bomb and learned to love penguins
A Matrix Game by Tim Gow

INTRODUCTION

The date is early April 1982. A few days ago, Argentine forces invaded the Falkland Islands, which the Junta claims, are the Islas Malvinas, historically part of Argentina. The United Nations has passed Resolution 502 calling for the withdrawal of Argentine troops.

A British task force is being readied and its first units, including elements of the Parachute Regiment and Royal Marines are ready to sail for the South Atlantic. The British Government has declared a Maritime Exclusion Zone (MEZ) around the Falklands.

The game lasts up to 8 turns, each representing approximately 10 days.

The sequence of play is determined by the umpire.

Forces other than those in the initial orbats may be argued for (in the playtest game, we had a Chilean merchant fleet as well as US and Soviet naval task forces!).

Combat is resolved using the S.C.R.U.D. system.

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ARGENTINE FORCES

Unit                                location        notes

Motorised Infantry Regiment 3       Stanley
Motorised Infantry Regiment 6       Stanley
Motorised Infantry Regiment 7       Stanley
Anti-Aircraft Regiment 601          Stanley
Artillery Group 3                   Stanley
Marine Battalion 5                  Stanley
Infantry Regiment 5                 West Falkland
Infantry Regiment 8                 West Falkland
Infantry Regiment 12                East Falkland
Motorised Infantry Regiment 2       East Falkland

Task Force 79.1 (Carrier)           Argentina
Task Force 79.2 (Destroyers)        Argentina
Task Force 79.3 (Belgrano)          Argentina
Air Grupo 4 (A-4)                   Argentina
Air Grupo 5 (A-4)                   Argentina
Air Grupo 4 (Dagger)                Argentina

Notes: All Argentine Army and Navy units (except the Marines) take a -1 on all combat dice rolls.
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CHILEAN FORCES

Unit                                location        notes

Elite Mountain Troops               Chile
Naval Flotilla                      Chile
Submarine Force                     Chile
Air Group                           Chile
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UK FORCES

Unit                                location        notes

2/Scots Guards                      UK              1
1/Welsh Guards                      UK              1
1/7/Ghurka Rifles                   UK              1
5 Infantry Brigade, Support units   UK              1
Rapier Battery                      UK              3
2 Para                              UK              2,3
3 Para                              UK              2,3
40 Commando                         UK              3
42 Commando                         UK              3
45 Commando                         UK              3

Task force 1   Carrier              UK
               Transport x2         UK

Task Force 2   Destroyer            UK              5
               Frigate              UK              5
               Fearless             UK              5
               Transport            UK              5

Submarine Force                     S. Atlantic     4

Notes:

1. 5 Inf Bde, available on turn 3.
2. +1 on combat dice.
3. 3 Commando Bde, on board TF1.
4. May make concealed moves.
5. Available turn 3.

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CHILE - GEN PINOCHET

OBJECTIVES

Stay neutral in any war.
Improve Chile's military situation relative to Argentina.
Ensure that the UK recovers the Falklands.
Speak with a Spanish accent.
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UK GOVERNMENT - MRS. THATCHER

OBJECTIVES

Ensure the Falklands stay British.
Obtain US assistance.
Engineer some sort of British military success by game turn five.
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UK TASK FORCE - REAR ADMIRAL WOODWARD

OBJECTIVES

Recover the Falklands.
Militarily defeat Argentine forces.
Minimise British casualties.
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UNITED NATIONS - PEREZ DE QUELA

OBJECTIVES

Try to prevent a shooting war.
Get the UK and Argentina to negotiate.
Ensure the Junta stays in power.
Refer to the islands as the Falklands/Malvinas.
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US PRESIDENT - REAGAN

OBJECTIVES

Make sure the Falklands stay British.
Provide covert US help to Britain.
Oppose any UN peace plan.
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US STATE DEPARTMENT - HAIG

OBJECTIVES

Try to prevent a shooting war.
Ensure the Junta stays in power.
Be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
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ARGENTINA - GEN. GALTIERI

OBJECTIVES

Maintain the territorial integrity of Argentina (ie including the Malvinas).
Keep your Junta (yourself in particular) in power.
Refer only to the Malvinas and Puerto Argentina (rather than the Falklands and Port Stanley).
Speak with a Spanish accent.
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