MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Plymouth commemorative plaque for Falklands’ conflict Royal Navy vessel

HMS Antelope and HMS Ardent were both victims of Argentine air attack

The Commanding Officer of one of the Royal Navy Devonport-based frigates lost in the Falklands conflict has unveiled a commemorative plaque in Plymouth, reports the Herald from Plymouth.

Captain Nick Tobin, who was the Commanding Officer of HMS Antelope during the campaign, was involved in the ceremony which marked the formal opening of HMS Raleigh's new accommodation blocks.

Four new blocks, named Antelope, Ardent, Sir Galahad and Conqueror, have been built at the Torpoint-based Royal Navy training establishment as part of a major upgrade of facilities. The blocks have been named after units which were part of the UK Task Force sent to recover the Falkland Islands in 1982.

The site's new commemorative plaque is mounted on a stone brought back from the Falkland Islands. As part of the ceremony, Capt Tobin presented the original crest recovered from the bridge of HMS Antelope to officers at HMS Raleigh.

The crest was recovered 48 hours after the ship had been sunk.

Ardent and Antelope blocks are home to the trainees of Corporate Squadron who are undergoing their professional training within the Defense Maritime Logistics School, the Royal Navy Submarine School and the Royal Navy School of Seamanship.

Conqueror block is the new base for the National Sea Cadet Training Centre and Sir Galahad will be used to accommodate sailors returning to HMS Raleigh for career progression courses. Each mess deck has its own utility area, common room and bathroom facilities.

Veterans who served on the ships and the submarine were also invited to attend the ceremony at HMS Raleigh, along with Sea Cadets from the Training Ship (TS) Ardent from Bollington, Cheshire.

Type 21 frigates HMS Antelope and HMS Ardent were both victims of enemy air attack during the Falklands conflict in May 1982. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary Vessel Sir Galahad was classed as a landing ship logistics.

The ship was hit by bombs and badly damaged while unloading soldiers from the Welsh Guard on 8 June 1982. A total of 48 men lost their lives.

HMS Conqueror, a Churchill class submarine, controversially fired the torpedo which sank the Argentine cruiser, General Belgrano, causing the greatest single loss of lives of the 74 day conflict in the South Atlantic.