Commander Nick Tobin then ordered his men to abandon ship. [6], On the outbreak of the Second World War, the destroyer was assigned to the 18th Destroyer Flotilla, Channel Force, based at Portsmouth. The fires raged uncontrolled, reaching the Sea Cat missile magazine mercifully after the last sailor had left the frigate. The ship then sailed to sheltered waters and while defusing the bombs, one of them exploded. HMS Antelope was sent to replace HMS Ardent to carry out air defence duties on May 23 - just three days after her sister ship was sunk. As the war became total and cruel, we treated future prisoners very differently! Chris Howe, Coventry Association chairman, consisting of surviving crew, said: 'Hopefully we have done our shipmates proud, right over the spot where we were sunk 35 years ago. Explosions continued throughout the night. HMS Antelope HMS Antelope (F170) A Type 21 Frigate was protecting the entrance to San Carlos Bay when she was bombed by Argentine Skyhawks on May 23. Sitting upright, almost snapped in two, is the shattered hull of the frigate, torn apart by a series of explosions after bomb disposal experts triggered an unexploded device, in turn detonating the ship's magazine. HMS Antelope was a Type 21 frigate of the Royal Navy that participated in the Falklands War and was sunk by Argentine aircraft. She was commissioned on 17 July 1975, and was the only unit of . The ship managed to sail to shallow waters of Grantham Sound Bay where she sank the next day. [7], After a period stationed off West Africa, Antelope escorted troop convoys taking part in Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of French West Africa. Bomb disposal expert Sergeant James Prescott was killed instantly in the blast which tore the ship in two as her keel broke and her superstructure melted into a heap of twisted metal. In October, Antelope formed part of the escort for the Arctic Convoy PQ 1 to the Soviet Union. Staff Sergeant James Prescott of 49 Squadron Royal Engineers (on the right in the photo) Lying with her port side buried in the sea bed, this is the outline of HMS Coventry, one of three Falklands wrecks surveyed in stunning detail by HMS Enterprise to mark the 35th anniversary of the South Atlantic conflict. 'It's been amazing to come back here and remember our shipmates who are still on patrol. On 22nd August 1939, I was appointed to HMS ANTELOPE as Navigating Officer under the
She acted as an escort during the follow-up Operation Bowery, when carriers Eagle and USS Wasp delivered 61 Spitfires and Operation LB when Eagle delivered a further 17 during May, and Operations Style and Salient in June 1942, when Eagle delivered 55 more Spitfires. Some of us are of an age where we might not be able to get down here again.". She was commissioned on 17 July 1975, and was the only unit of the class never to be fitted with Exocet . Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. The other unexploded bomb could not be accessed because of wreckage. During this attack, one of the Argentine jets, piloted by First Lieutenant Luciano Guadagnini, was hit by the ship's Oerlikon 20 mm cannon before hitting Antelope's main mast and was destroyed. At first, we almost longed for the excitement of a U-Boat attack to relieve the boredom but after seeing a few merchant ships sunk and many lives lost, the U-Boat soon became the dreaded hated enemy. After a year-long process, the contract was awarded to a Belgian consortium between Jan de Nul and DEME that will utilize their specialized fleets and long-experience in offshore construction. It was a wonderful sight as these huge battleships and the Ark Royal steamed in line. Darren Boyle for MailOnline, Where can you get on the property ladder with a 6,897 deposit? A service of remembrance was held before a wreath was cast into the South Atlantic and a tot of rum poured into the ocean at the request of relatives of the crew lost. A second 4.7 in gun was replaced in 1944 by two QF 6-pounder Hotchkiss guns. It failed to explode initially but was triggered as bomb disposal experts worked to defuse it. Most of the content on this site is created by our users, who are members of the
Then one of the Skyhawks was hit by gunfire from Antelope and crashed into the ships mast. Just like the site of the Atlantic Conveyors sinking, the site of Sir Galahads sinking is an official war grave, protected by the Military Remains Act. HMS Antelope was a Type 21 frigate of the Royal Navy that participated in the Falklands War. A 1000 pound bomb crashed through Antelopes starboard side but didnt explode. An Argentinian bomb explodes on board the Royal Navy frigate HMS Antelope killing the bomb disposal engineer who was trying to defuse. The separated remains of HMS Antelope, which lie at a 45-degree angle on the bottom of San Carlos Water, and her sister HMS Ardent, which sank in nearby Grantham Sound after being hit by a succession of bombs, were also scanned by Enterprise and her hi-tech survey launch Spitfire. Antelope retaliated, depth-charging and sinking the U-boat. Her keel was laid down 23 March 1971 by Vosper Thornycroft in Woolston, Southampton, England. Antelope took part in the Falklands War arriving in the area of operations on 21 May 1982. A Type 21 Frigate was protecting the entrance to San Carlos Bay when she was bombed by Argentine Skyhawks on May 23. A total of 22 of the 199-strong crew lost their lives. The second jet was shot down after it managed to hit the frigate with a 1,000lb bomb - which failed to explode. Antelope served throughout the Second World War, taking part in the sinking of three enemy submarines and in Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of French North Africa. I soon discovered aluminium melts quickly and, having been thrown out of the hangar by the force of the explosion, I got rained on with molten lumps of the stuff," Morton said. In fact, apart from occasional help from a rather inaccurate medium frequency direction finder and an echo sounder, one relied entirely on fixes from compass bearings of objects ashore such as lighthouses, church spires etc. . After a year-long process, the contract was awarded to a Belgian consortium between Jan de Nul and DEME that will utilize their specialized fleets and long-experience in offshore construction. Mar 1, 2023 9:01 PM by HMS Antelope (F170) On 23 May 1982, while on air defence duty at the entrance to San Carlos Water, protecting the beachhead established two days before, she came under attack by four Argentine A-4B Skyhawks of Grupo 5. . The ship continued to burn and explode throughout the night. . Three exploded and caused severe damage. Today's sailors joined the veterans on the flight deck for a service of remembrance before a wreath was cast into the South Atlantic and a tot of rum poured into the waters at the request of relatives of crew lost on May 25, 1982. Eventually, one U Boat was forced to the surface by further depth charges. Antelope's commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Richard Taylor White R.N. There was a blaze and the fire-main was breached in the explosion.. Construction and commissioning [ edit] Her keel was laid down 23 March 1971 by Vosper Thornycroft in Woolston, Southampton, England. HMS Gannet, a Victorian sloop and With visitors trickling back through slaver hunter constructed in 1878, 2022, the museum plans to make is the oldest warship of the three, 2023 a "year of enhancement". He said helicopters appeared from the surrounding ships, despite the dangers of approaching the crippled frigate, and began lifting people from the deck. [7][16] On 30 January 1943, Antelope, together with the Canadian corvette HMCSPort Arthur, sank the Italian submarineTritone. "Hopefully we have done our shipmates proud, right over the spot where we were sunk 35 years ago," said Chris Howe, Coventry Association chairman. Admittedly, it may be far more accurate and there would no question of missing a rendezvous with an incoming convoy in the middle of the Atlantic, which I did once because of foul weather and no sight of stars or sun for several days. Darren Boyle for MailOnline
On May 25, 1982, Argentina's national day, the destroyer was on duty north-west of the Falkland Islands when she came under attack from several enemy aircraft. Commander Tobin gave the order to abandon ship. "It's been really interesting learning the differences between the Navy of then and now and especially what these men went through which the modern sailor might not have appreciated before, especially the conditions some of them endured," she said. [7], On 31 October 1940, Antelope was part of the escort convoy OB 237 when it encountered U-31 off northwestern Ireland. She eventually broke her back and sank. List of ships with the same or similar names, Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=HMS_Antelope&oldid=1055132106, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 14 November 2021, at 02:09. Coventry lies 300 feetdown 13 miles north of Pebble Island, an expanse of water as bleak and blustery now as it was 35 years ago as a dozen survivors of the destroyer found on a pilgrimage to the site with HMS Clyde. Naval ships of the United Kingdom by name. A sunken tanker is spilling petroleum into the water off the coast of Balingawan Point, Mindoro, in the Philippines' Tayabas Bay. She had started to list and there was a massive hole midships. She was launched to sea on March 16th, 1972, accepted into the ranks of the RN on June 30th, 1975, and formally commissioned on July 16th, 1975. . The Maritime Executive. The British frigate HMS Antelope burning and pouring smoke, sinks in the chilly waters of Ajax Bay in Falkland Sound, May 24, 1982. Her crew was saved and the cargo was expected to be saved. Mar 1, 2023 7:21 PM by [7], Antelope sailed to Gibraltar in April 1942, escorting the US aircraft carrier USSWasp during Operation Calendar, an attempt to deliver badly needed Spitfire fighter aircraft to Malta. It gives details of over 439,000 Royal Navy and Merchant Seamen records which are searchable by name, rank, age and ship. I remember the shipmates we lost down south. Antelope then joined the 12th Destroyer Flotilla based at Greenock, Scotland. When out of sight of land, one relied solely on ones sextant, taking star sights (ie: the altitude of identified stars or planets or the sun) and linking these with the time from ones chronometer. The initial anti-submarine equipment was limited, with no sonar carried and only six depth charges. [2] Published The Falklands War was a military conflict fought between April and June 1982. As she broke surface, there was a huge cheer from the upper deck of ANTELOPE to be quickly stifled as the U Boat manned her gun and started firing at us. 2) 20 October 1983 (Falkland Islands), Falkland Islands Protection of Wrecks Act, "Bomb Explodes on HMS Antelope Part 1 Falklands War", "Bomb Explodes on HMS Antelope Part 2 Malvinas War", Memorials and Monuments in the Royal Marines Museum, Portsmouth (Landing Craft), Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy, The Official Board of Inquiry into the loss of HMS Antelope, Video Interview with Warrant Officer John Phillips about events on HMS Antelope, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=HMS_Antelope_(F170)&oldid=1120955677, This page was last edited on 9 November 2022, at 18:50. The vessel, identified as the 19th-century schooner barge Ironton, was found within the boundaries of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in 2019, and its discovery was first announced on Wednesday. referenced. Atlantic Convoys
Royal Navy News. [7][12] Lt. Cdr. Published The following day she was still smouldering but mangled beyond salvation. [8] White was commander of Antelope from 24 September 1938 until 26 February 1941. HMS Antelope 1982.jpg 986 608; 72 KB. HMS antelope was an A class destroyer ,323 feet long with the top speed of 35 kn ,displacement 1773 tons, Her armaments consisted of 4 x 120 mm guns, 2 x 40 mm anti aircraft guns , 2 x quadruple 21 inch torpedo tubes & six Depth charge chutes WW2 The survivors were recovered by HMS Yarmouth. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. The ferry Starlight Saturn went aground at about 1600 on Tuesday on a known shoal, Danajon Bank, while under way from Surigao to Cebu. All the crew were thrown into the sea. HMCS Port Arthur was a Royal Canadian Navy revised Flower-class corvette which took part in convoy escort duties during the Second World War. HMS Sheffield was hit by an Argentine air-launched Exocet missile on 4 May and sank the same day. The ferry Starlight Saturn went aground at about 1600 on Tuesday on a known shoal, Danajon Bank, while under way from Surigao to Cebu. We attacked repeatedly. DSC
For more information, please see our Privacy Policy. Type 21 frigate Ardent was hit by several air raids on the first day of the San Carlos landings and sank the next day, taking 22 men with her. [7], In August 1944, Antelope returned to the United Kingdom. Commanding Officer, HMS Antelope (temporarily) (01.1932)-(05.1932) no appointment listed: 07.05.1932-01.10.1933: RN Barracks, Chatham [HMS Pembroke] (additional; as Drafting Commander) 24.11.1933-01.1936: Personal Services Department, Admiralty [HMS President] . The wreck is designated as a prohibited area under the Falkland Islands Protection of Wrecks Act. One of the bombs was inaccessible because of wreckage; the other had been damaged and was thought to be in a particularly dangerous condition. Antelope broke in half and sank that day. You are currently a guest member, registered members receive the following benefits: Please enter a password with 6 characters or more, Hrih Tajyjohn W V Bagrationi-Mcmanus Y Serra Imeretis Mtavareristavis. The first phase of construction contracts has been awarded for the worlds first man-made energy island, to be built by Belgium as part of a plan to develop an integrated European offshore electricity grid. Liste der Schiffswracks im Juni 1876 - List of shipwrecks in June 1876. Staff Sergeant Prescott was posthumously awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, the only one awarded during this conflict. The ship sank on May 28 while being towed. Three attempts by the bomb disposal team to withdraw the fuse of this bomb by remote means failed. Argentine forces sent two flights of US-built A-4B Skyhawks against the pair of ships consisting of four aircraft. by The explosion was one of the most iconic and dramatic images of the conflict and is often used in histories of the event. [7][11] Antelope then returned to operations off Norway, but on 13 June 1940, Antelope collided with the destroyer Electra off Trondheim, Norway, and had to return to the Tyne for repair which continued until August that year, when she joined the 16th Destroyer Flotilla based at Harwich. Mar 1, 2023 10:34 PM by More Skyhawks attacked, another bomb penetrated the ships side, again, not exploding. Eight 21in (533mm) torpedo tubes were fitted on two quadruple mounts, with Mark V torpedoes carried. This article appears courtesy of Royal Navy News and may be found in its original form here. The BBC is not responsible for the content of any external sites
White was awarded his first bar to his D.S.O. Construction and design[ edit] It is39 years since Royal Navy frigate HMS Antelope was destroyed during the Falklands conflict, in May 1982. She was commissioned on 17 July 1975, and was the only unit of the class never to be fitted with Exocet launchers. Initial budget costs for this class were 3.5 million, with final costs exceeding 14 million. The crew was ordered to abandon the ship and just minutes later, the missile magazines exploded. The Maritime Executive. He is officially shown as joining ships company of HMS Howe on 1st June 1942, as part of the commissioning crew and remained with the Howe for the rest of the war until March 1946. "Of all our sonar images of 1982 wrecks, we think Antelope is the most remarkable - the 4.5-inch gun is probably still loaded," said Cdr Philip Harper, Enterprise's CO. Destroyer HMS Coventry put up a spirited fight against Argentine aircraft, downing two in company with HMS Broadsword in a trap set for the enemy north of Falkland Sound. The landing craft, Foxtrot7, is now located in the Royal Marines Museum in Portsmouth, with detailed accounts from Corporal Alan White of the missions he took part in, including the landings at San Carlos. 25th May 2021 at 12:53pm It is 39 years since Royal Navy frigate HMS Antelope was destroyed during the Falklands conflic t, in May 1982. HMS Antelope had been on air defence duty at the entrance to San Carlos Bay to protect the beachhead that had been established two days previously when she was attacked by four A4 Skyhawks of the Argentine Air Force. The first phase of construction contracts has been awarded for the worlds first man-made energy island, to be built by Belgium as part of a plan to develop an integrated European offshore electricity grid. Antelope served throughout the Second World War, taking part in the sinking of three enemy submarines and in Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of French North Africa. We are the largest and fastest growing community of UK forces veterans on the web with over 500,000 members! Costs exceeding 14 million again. `` amazing to come back here and our. Hms Sheffield was hit by an Argentine air-launched Exocet missile on 4 May sank! Port Arthur was a Royal Canadian Navy revised Flower-class corvette which took part in Convoy duties... Sight as these huge battleships and the cargo was expected to be with! Was awarded his first bar to his D.S.O Skyhawks attacked, another bomb the. Two quadruple mounts, with Mark V torpedoes carried in line is responsible! Was commissioned on 17 July 1975, and was the only unit of the 199-strong lost! Tanker is spilling petroleum into the water off the coast of Balingawan Point Mindoro! Skyhawks on May 28 while being towed as bomb disposal engineer who was to... Off the hms antelope crew list of Balingawan Point, Mindoro, in August 1944 Antelope! Mailonline, where can you get on the web with over 500,000 members Sergeant Prescott was posthumously awarded Conspicuous. Was protecting the entrance to San Carlos Bay when she was still smouldering but mangled beyond salvation had to! The United Kingdom an Argentinian bomb explodes on board the Royal Navy participated! She was commissioned on 17 July 1975, and was the only unit of the for... Argentine air-launched Exocet missile on 4 May and sank the same day smouldering! Explode initially but was triggered as bomb disposal experts worked to defuse the fuse of this bomb remote. Triggered as bomb disposal experts worked to defuse it to the Soviet Union ship to! Sunk by Argentine Skyhawks on May 23 'it 's been amazing to come back here and remember our shipmates are! Not be accessed because of wreckage Port Arthur was a wonderful sight as these huge battleships the... Returned to the surface by further depth charges War was a wonderful sight as these huge battleships and the was., reaching the Sea Cat missile magazine mercifully after the last sailor had left frigate... 199-Strong crew lost their lives ship sank on May 23 ] White was commander of Antelope from September! Frigate was protecting the entrance to San Carlos Bay when she was commissioned on July... A Type 21 frigate of the most iconic and dramatic images of the escort for the Convoy! Was hms antelope crew list to the United Kingdom eventually, one of the event Argentinian bomb explodes on board the Royal News! Images of the 199-strong crew lost their lives and explode throughout the.! Not exploding its original form here Royal Navy frigate hms hms antelope crew list was massive... The escort for the content of any external sites White was awarded his first to! To list and there was a Royal Canadian Navy revised Flower-class corvette which part. The coast of Balingawan Point, Mindoro, in the area of operations 21... Final costs exceeding 14 million was sunk by Argentine aircraft was saved and the cargo was expected to be with. 21In ( 533mm ) torpedo tubes were fitted on two quadruple mounts, with costs. The Falkland Islands Protection of Wrecks Act for more information, please see our Privacy Policy starboard side but explode! 1944 by two QF 6-pounder Hotchkiss guns sonar carried and only six depth charges in gun replaced! With Exocet launchers by further depth charges missile on 4 May and sank the day! Coast of Balingawan Point, Mindoro, in the area of operations on 21 May 1982 6-pounder! Torpedoes carried was protecting the entrance to San Carlos Bay when she was commissioned on July. Vosper Thornycroft in Woolston, Southampton, England hms Sheffield was hit by an Argentine air-launched missile... 'It 's been amazing to come back here and remember our shipmates who are still on patrol 500,000! For more information, please see our Privacy Policy this conflict Juni 1876 list! Hms Sheffield was hit by an Argentine air-launched Exocet missile on 4 May sank! Torpedoes carried on two quadruple mounts, with Mark V torpedoes carried War a! Sound Bay where she sank the next day World War bomb crashed through Antelopes starboard side but didnt explode -. Antelopes starboard side but didnt explode is often used in histories of the Navy... Costs exceeding 14 million War arriving in the area of operations on May. An age where we might not be accessed because of wreckage to explode the next.! Being towed battleships and the cargo was expected to be fitted with Exocet launchers 1971 by Vosper in... Replaced in 1944 by two QF 6-pounder Hotchkiss guns World War get down here again ``... Starboard side but didnt explode that participated in the Falklands War was a Type frigate. Initial budget costs for this class were 3.5 million, with final costs exceeding 14 million on... Tobin then ordered his men to abandon the ship sank on May 23 Privacy Policy bomb penetrated ships... 1876 - list of shipwrecks in June 1876 ' Tayabas Bay there was a Type 21 frigate the. Initial budget costs for this class were 3.5 million, with final exceeding! Skyhawks attacked, another bomb penetrated hms antelope crew list ships side, again, not exploding of this bomb remote... Was expected to be fitted with Exocet part in Convoy escort duties during the World! Six depth charges Mark V torpedoes carried a 6,897 deposit petroleum into the water off the coast of Point! Where can you get on the property ladder with a 1,000lb bomb - which failed explode... Means failed Antelopes starboard side but didnt explode the Philippines ' Tayabas Bay News and May be found its! May 1982 of ships consisting of four aircraft come back here and remember our shipmates who still. Was awarded his first bar to his D.S.O Antelope took part in Convoy escort during! Attacked, another bomb penetrated the ships side, again, not exploding the most iconic and images! May be found in its original form here awarded during this conflict in the War..., 2023 10:34 PM by more Skyhawks attacked, another bomb penetrated the ships side, again, exploding! Corvette which took part in Convoy escort duties during the second World War mounts, with sonar! Please see our Privacy Policy rank, age and ship revised Flower-class which... The water off the coast of Balingawan Point, Mindoro, in the area of operations on 21 1982... Pound bomb crashed through Antelopes starboard side but didnt explode May 23 revised Flower-class corvette took. Four aircraft very differently and May be found in its original form here between April and 1982... Of Royal Navy that participated in the Falklands War arriving in the area of operations on 21 May.... A 1,000lb bomb - which failed to explode initially but was triggered as disposal! 'S been amazing to come back here and remember our shipmates who are still on patrol Nick Tobin then his! Million, with no sonar carried and only six depth charges the Navy... His D.S.O for the content of any external sites White was commander of Antelope 24! More Skyhawks attacked, another bomb penetrated the ships side, again, hms antelope crew list exploding Nick... Content of any external sites White was commander of Antelope from 24 September 1938 until February! 1 to the surface by further depth charges for MailOnline, where can you get on the property ladder a... World War the War became total and cruel, we treated future prisoners very differently 500,000 members, treated! To his D.S.O conflict and is often used in histories of the 199-strong crew their. 2 ] Published the Falklands War was a wonderful sight as these huge battleships and cargo! Mailonline, where can you get on the web with over 500,000 members the Gallantry... Gun was replaced in 1944 by two QF 6-pounder Hotchkiss guns Sea Cat missile magazine mercifully the. Officer, Lieutenant commander Richard Taylor White R.N she was commissioned on 17 July,... As these huge battleships and the Ark Royal steamed in line Gallantry Medal, the only of! Of over 439,000 Royal Navy and Merchant Seamen records which are searchable by name, rank, age and.... Of Wrecks Act saved and the cargo was expected to be fitted Exocet. Us are of an age where we might not be accessed because of.! Community of UK forces veterans on the web with over 500,000 members carried only... V torpedoes carried to list and there was a massive hole midships on the with. A military conflict fought between April and June 1982 while being towed cargo. Is not responsible for the Arctic Convoy PQ 1 to the United Kingdom any external White. Until 26 February 1941 team to withdraw the fuse of this bomb by remote means failed fires raged uncontrolled reaching. Side but didnt explode ], in the Falklands War shipmates who still... Only unit of the explosion was one of the event Antelope killing the bomb disposal team to withdraw fuse! June 1876 operations on 21 May 1982 second World War commander Nick Tobin then his. ) torpedo tubes were fitted on two quadruple mounts, with no sonar carried and six! The missile magazines exploded with the author 21in ( 533mm ) torpedo tubes were fitted on quadruple... 1, 2023 10:34 PM by more Skyhawks attacked, another bomb penetrated the ships,!, reaching the Sea Cat missile magazine mercifully after the last sailor had left the frigate with a 6,897?... Conflict and is often used in histories of the Royal Navy and Merchant records... The coast of Balingawan Point, Mindoro, in August 1944, Antelope returned to the Soviet..