HMS Ardent (F184)

HMS "Ardent" (F184) was a Royal Navy type 21 frigate. Built by Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd, Glasgow, Scotland, she was completed with Exocet launchers in 'B' position.

"Ardent" participated in the Falklands War citation |title=Through Fire and Water, HMS Ardent:The Forgotten Frigate of the Falklands War |first=Mark |last=Higgitt |year=2001 |publisher=Mainstream Publishing Company |isbn=184018356X] . On 21 May 1982, whilst lying in Falkland Sound and supporting Royal Marines, "Ardent" was attacked by Argentine A-4 Skyhawks and struck by nine 500 lb bombs, three of which exploded. The first two blew up in the hangar, destroying the Westland Lynx helicopter and blowing the Sea Cat launcher 80 ft (24 m) into the air before it crashed back down onto the flight deck. The third smashed the aft Auxiliary Machinery Room.

Power was lost to the ship and the 4.5 inch (114 mm) gun was put out of action. "Ardent"'s hangar was a shambles and there were fires spreading in her stern. However, the ship could still make 17.5 knots (32.4 km/h). Minutes after the first attack three IAI Dagger aircraft attacked her, but scored no hits.

Twenty minutes later, as "Ardent" was sailing for San Carlos Water, three more Skyhawks scored two more hits on the ship's port stern. The fires now spread out of control and "Ardent" began to slow. Three Mirage aircraft attacked her, but scored no hits.

"Ardent" stopped in the shallow waters of Grantham Sound, the fires in her stern out of control. The "Rothesay"-class "Yarmouth" then came alongside to take off survivors. "Ardent" continued to burn throughout the night, accompanied by the occasional explosion, until she sank the following morning, with only her foremast remaining above the water. The last man to leave was her captain, Cdr. Alan West, who was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, and served as First Sea Lord from 2002-2006.

Within days navy divers removed her light AA guns for fitting to other ships and her foremast was used as Navigational warning and datum by her sister ship "Arrow" whilst she bombarded Goose Green.

22 men died when "Ardent" sank. The wreck is designated as a prohibited area under the Falkland Islands Protection of Wrecks Act [Protection of Wrecks Ordnance 1977 (No. 12) 7 July 1977 (Falkland Islands)] [Protection of Wrecks (Ardent and Antelope Designation) Order 1983 (No. 2) 20 October 1983 (Falkland Islands)] .

Official Argentine version

According to this Argentine Air Force official web site [http://www.fuerzaaerea.mil.ar/conflicto/objetivos_navales.html] "Ardent" received these attacks
* 14:00 by A-4B Skyhawks of 5th Air Group, one 1000 lb bomb explode on the stern.
* 14:40 by IAI Daggers of 6th Air Group, 2 other 1000 lb bombs on the stern.
* 15:01 by Argentine Navy A-4Q Skyhawks of 3rd Fighter and Attack Sqd. Although the Air Force web site mention 1000 lb bombs, Navy aircraft used 500 lb during the conflict.

References

External links

* [http://www.hmsardent.org.uk/ HMS "Ardent" Association]
* [http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/BoardsOfInquiry/BoardOfInquiryReportIntoTheLossOfHmsArdent.htm UK MOD Board of Inquiry Report Into The Loss Of HMS Ardent]