HMS Argonaut (F56)

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For other ships with the same name, see HMS Argonaut.

HMS Argonaut in 1985
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Argonaut
Builder
Hawthorn Leslie and Company
Laid down27 November 1964
Launched8 February 1966
Commissioned17 August 1967
Decommissioned31 March 1993
IdentificationPennant number F56
Honours and
awards		Falklands War
FateScrapped in 1995
General characteristics
Class and typeLeander-class frigate
Displacement3,200 long tons (3,251 t) full load
Length113.4 m (372 ft)
Beam12.5 m (41 ft)
Draught5.8 m (19 ft)
Propulsion2 × Babcock & Wilcox boilers supplying steam to two sets of White-English Electric double-reduction geared turbines to two shafts
Speed28 knots (52 km/h)
Range4,600 nautical miles (8,500 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h)
Complement223
Armament
  • As built:
  • 1 × twin
    4.5 inch (114 mm) guns
  • 1 × quadruple
    Sea Cat
    anti-aircraft missile launchers
  • 1 × Limbo anti-submarine mortar
  • From 1980:
  • 4 × Exocet anti-ship missile launchers
  • 2 × quadruple Seacat anti-aircraft missile launchers
  • 2 × single
    40 mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns
  • 2 × triple torpedo tubes
Aircraft carried

HMS Argonaut (F56) was a Leander-class frigate that served with the Royal Navy from 1967 to 1993. She took part in the Falklands War in 1982, sustaining damage and casualties in action.

Construction

The ship was built at

Hawthorn Leslie and Company shipyard in the mid-1960s. She was launched on 8 February 1966, and commissioned into the Royal Navy on 17 August 1967.[1]

Service history

1967–1982

In her first year Argonaut escorted the

North Atlantic Ocean
to a permanent berth to serve as a hotel/tourist attraction in California, United States.

In 1968 "Argonaut" joined NATO (STANAVFORLANT)

In 1969 Argonaut, with other Royal Navy vessels, sailed with the "

British Government's
economic sanctions against that country.

In 1969 in an eleven-month deployment "Argonaut" circumnavigated the globe, visiting multiple countries, and also conducted a famine relief operation to FIJI(SUVA)

In 1973, Argonaut was recommissioned, completed a six-week work up at

Portland, visited Brest, France and then served as a guard ship for the Gibraltar station. Following Iceland's declaration of a 200-mile fishing limit, Argonaut carried out fishery protection duties for British fishing trawlers inside the zone, in what became known as the "Second Cod War
".

In 1974 from mid January, Argonaut spent nine months as part of the group deployment named 'Task Group 317.1', led by Flag Officer Second Flotilla (Commander Task Group 317.1). The other ships in the task group were the

Honningsvag in Norway to take on fuel. Before returning to Devonport she visited Newcastle upon Tyne
.

In early 1975 Argonaut took part in the annual

Armilla Patrol ship in the Persian Gulf
.

Falklands War

Main article: Falklands War

On 2 April 1982 the

Carrier Battle Group
on 18 May 1982.

On 21 May 1982 Argonaut, along with other destroyers and frigates, provided close escort for amphibious vessels during the opposed arrival at San Carlos by British Forces, with Argonaut standing off the "Fanning Head" headland within Falkland Sound guarding the Northern approaches to the operational area. Whilst this operation was underway, she was attacked by Argentine warplanes throughout the day which Argonaut, engaged with anti-aircraft weapons. Two of the air attacks succeeded in damaging Argonaut.

The first at 10:15 was an improvised assault from a lone Argentine aircraft, piloted by Lt. Guillermo Owen Crippa flying an Aermacchi MB-339 from the Argentine Navy's 1st Naval Air Attack Squadron,[2] who had been despatched on a reconnaissance flight over Falkland Sound to ascertain the veracity of reports it had received from an Argentine Army post present at San Carlos. Spotting the landing underway, Crippa attacked Argonaut with cannon fire and rockets, causing damage to her Type 965 radar.[3]

The second air attack was made at 13.37 by five

Sea Cat missile magazine, detonating two missiles and the other did severe damage to her boiler room, knocking out the ship's power and leaving her dead in the water. Plymouth came to the assistance of Argonaut. Plymouth provided electrical power to the stricken Argonaut, Captain Layman sending a signal we are damaged and have lost power but we can still fight. The next day Argonaut was towed into San Carlos bay (later known as bomb alley) by 3 RM LSL vessels. Both bombs were still live and it took some days to defuse
them.

On 14 June, Argentine forces on the Falkland Islands surrendered to the British task force. On 26 June 1982 Argonaut sailed back under her own steam to Devonport Dockyard, where she had her battle damage repaired and new sonar equipment fitted.

1982–1993

In 1987 Argonaut rescued the businessman/adventurer

hot-air balloon
.

In 1990 Argonaut represented the Royal Navy at commemorations at the

Gallipoli landings
.

In August 1992 Argonaut was involved in the pursuit and arrest on the high seas in the

South Atlantic Ocean of Roderick Newall, a former British Army officer who had murdered his parents in Jersey.[6]

Fate

Argonaut was decommissioned from the Royal Navy on 31 March 1993, and was laid up at Fareham Creek. On 25 January 1995 she left Portsmouth Harbour under tow to a port in Spain where she was broken up.[7]

Commanding officers

From To Captain
1967 1969 Commander Brian Spark RN
1969 1971 Cdr Mike Garnett RN
1973 1974 Commander Casper William (Bill) Carnegie Swinley RN
1974 1975 Commander Christopher S. Seal RN
1979 1981 Captain Charles E T Baker RN
1981 1982 Capt C H Layman DSO MVO RN[8]
1989 1990 Captain John P Clarke RN
1990 1992 Captain William K Hutchison RN
1992 1993 Captain R P Stevens RN

References

  1. ^ "25 January". Gosport Heritage Open Days. 25 January 2016. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  2. ^ Record of the attack upon Argonaut, 'Naval-History.net' website (2018). http://www.naval-history.net/F62-Falklands-British_ships_lost.htm
  3. ^ 'La Guerra Inaudita', by Ruben Oscar Moro (Pub. Praeger, 1989).
  4. ^ Record of the attack upon HMS Argonaut on 21 May 1982, 'Naval-History.net' website (2018). http://www.naval-history.net/F62-Falklands-British_ships_lost.htm
  5. ^ 'La Guerra Inaudita' by Ruben Oscar Moro (Pub. Praeger, 1989).
  6. ^ "Murder charge after arrest on yacht: Roderick Newall has been accused". The Independent. 6 August 1992. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  7. ^ History of H.M.S. Argonaut, 'Gosport Heritage website' (2018). http://www.gosportheritage.co.uk/25-january-argonaut/ Archived 5 August 2018 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ "British medals awarded - 1982 Falklands War". naval-history.net.

Publications

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