HMS Antelope (F170) facts for kids
Antelope at San Carlos Water
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United Kingdom |
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| Name | HMS Antelope |
| Builder | Vosper Thornycroft |
| Laid down | 23 March 1971 |
| Launched | 16 March 1972 |
| Commissioned | 19 July 1975 |
| Motto | "Audax et vigilans" |
| Fate | Sunk 23 May 1982 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type 21 frigate |
| Displacement | 3,250 tons full load |
| Length | 384 feet (117 metres) |
| Beam | 41+3⁄4 feet (12.7 metres) |
| Draught | 19+1⁄2 feet (5.9 metres) |
| Propulsion |
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| Speed | 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph) |
| Range |
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| Complement | 177 crew |
| Armament |
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| Aircraft carried |
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HMS Antelope was a Type 21 frigate of the Royal Navy, which is the United Kingdom's navy. This warship took part in the Falklands War in 1982. Sadly, it was sunk by Argentine aircraft during the conflict.
Contents
Building and Joining the Fleet
The ship's construction began on March 23, 1971. It was built by Vosper Thornycroft in Woolston, a town near Southampton, England.
HMS Antelope officially joined the Royal Navy on July 17, 1975. It was the only ship of its type that never had Exocet missile launchers installed.
In 1977, the ship was part of a special event. It attended the fleet review for the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II. This celebration marked 25 years of Elizabeth II being Queen.
HMS Antelope in the Falklands War
HMS Antelope played an important role in the Falklands War. This conflict happened in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom. The ship arrived in the war zone on May 21, 1982.
Air Attack on the Ship
Just two days later, on May 23, 1982, Antelope was on duty. It was protecting the entrance to San Carlos Water. This area was important because British forces had landed there.
Four Argentine Skyhawk jets attacked the ship. The first two planes attacked from behind. The leader of the attack had to stop his attack. This was because one of Antelope's Sea Cat missiles exploded near his plane.
The pilot, Captain Pablo Carballo, was able to fly his damaged plane back to base. The second plane in this group dropped a large bomb. The 1,000-pound bomb hit Antelope on its right side. Sadly, one crew member, Steward Mark R. Stephens, was killed. The bomb did not explode, and the Argentine plane was also damaged.
Minutes later, two more Skyhawks attacked. One of these jets was hit by the ship's Oerlikon 20 mm cannon. The jet, flown by First Lieutenant Luciano Guadagnini, crashed into Antelope's main mast. He was killed by the anti-aircraft fire. His bomb also hit the ship but did not explode.
Dealing with Unexploded Bombs
After the attacks, the crew tried to control the damage. Antelope moved to a safer area. Two bomb disposal experts from the Royal Engineers came aboard. Their job was to try and make the two unexploded bombs safe.
One bomb was hard to reach because of the damage. The other bomb was damaged and seemed very dangerous. The bomb disposal team tried three times to remove the fuse from this bomb. They used special remote tools, but it did not work.
The Sinking of HMS Antelope
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The bomb disposal team tried a fourth time. They used a small explosive charge to try and remove the fuse. But this caused the bomb to explode. Staff Sergeant James Prescott was killed instantly. Warrant Officer Phillips, the other bomb disposal expert, was badly hurt.
The explosion tore a huge hole in the ship. It went from the waterline all the way up to the funnel. Big fires started quickly in both engine rooms. The ship lost all its electricity. The commanding officer, Commander Nick Tobin, ordered everyone to leave the ship.
Commander Tobin was the last person to leave. About five minutes after he got off, the ship's missile storage areas began to explode. The explosions continued all through the night.
The next day, Antelope was still floating. But its main support structure, the keel, had broken. The top part of the ship had melted into twisted metal. Later that day, Antelope broke in half and sank. Pictures and videos of Antelope sinking became famous images of the Falklands War.
After the Sinking
Corporal Alan White was praised for his bravery. He helped rescue 41 crew members from Antelope. He used a special landing craft called a Mark 2 LCVP. This landing craft, named Foxtrot 7, is now in the Royal Marines Museum in Portsmouth. It tells the story of Corporal White's missions.
In 2002, a diving team visited the wreck of Antelope. They were from the frigate Montrose. They replaced the naval ensign (a special flag) on the sunken ship. The wreck of Antelope is now a protected area. This means it is against the law to disturb it.
See also
In Spanish: HMS Antelope (F170) para niños
