This site is the online home of the survivors,
families of the fallen, ex-ships company and friends
who make up the
HMS Ardent Association
which is now in its 30th year,
membership details
are here.
On the 9 May 1982, 700 miles south of Ascension
Island, HMS Ardent carried out a firepower
demonstration to SS Canberra which was carrying
Royal Marines from 40 and 42 Commando as well
as soldiers of the 2nd Battalion Parachute
Regiment.
This was the last official photograph taken of HMS Ardent before she was hit and sunk by Argentine aircraft during the Battle for Falkland Sound on 21 May 1982
This was the last official photograph taken of HMS Ardent before she was hit and sunk by Argentine aircraft during the Battle for Falkland Sound on 21 May 1982
Normally held on the late May bank holiday weekend the format is well rehearsed as assocation members meet informally in the St Levan's tavern in Devonport on the Friday evening, attend a service of remembrance in HMS drake on the Saturday and then gather that evening for the reunion. Sunday is a relaxed gathering again at St Levan's and some brave members take a boat trip around the dockyard.
This short video
slideshow also has sound, press play
(arrow) to start.
The HMS Ardent website went online for
the first time in 2001 and and has grown in
content and services to members ever since. Now
celebrating 10 years on the web the HMS Ardent
Assocation continues to grow as it heads for
2012 and it's thirty year anniversary.
Launched in May 1975
HMS Ardent
was damaged and sunk as a result of Argentine bombs
in the Falklands on the 21 May 1982 in which 22
shipmates were
lost
as a result. Although
Ardent's
war was brief the ship played a key part in the
Battle for Falkland Sound which resulted in the
successful landing of British troops onto the
Falklands. You can find out more about
Ardent's
Falkland War in our story
section.
There is also an extensive book that documents this piece of British history; Through Fire and Water: HMS Ardent - The Forgotten Frigate of the Falklands War by Mark Higgitt, more here.
There is also an extensive book that documents this piece of British history; Through Fire and Water: HMS Ardent - The Forgotten Frigate of the Falklands War by Mark Higgitt, more here.
The next Association
reunion
will be in Plymouth on
Saturday 5 May 2012,
full details and booking forms will be available in
January 2012.
You can also follow the Association on Facebook, Twitter and Flick using the social media links at the bottom of this page and if you click here you can see what the website looked like at the start ten years ago.
You can also follow the Association on Facebook, Twitter and Flick using the social media links at the bottom of this page and if you click here you can see what the website looked like at the start ten years ago.
