Launched – 8th February 1966
Ship Yard – Hawthorn Leslie
Commissioned – 5th August 1967
Decommissioned – 26th March 1993
The last Argonaut was completed in August 1967 and was the 15th in line of 26 Leander-Class frigates built in the period 1963-72. This Class was born out of the Type-12 frigates, originally designed at the outset of the Cold War, as Royal Navy general-purpose vessels.
In 1968 she became the first Commodore Standing Naval Forces Atlantic (Capt. Mitchell RN) and exercised in European waters. She visited many ports including Den Helder, Cuxhaven, Wilemshaven, Rotterdam, Copenhagen and Oslo. After Cunard sold the Queen Mary for $3.45 million Argonaut had the prestigious honor of escorting the later stages of the great old liners 516th and final Voyage to the United States where she would become a floating hotel off Long beach California.
In 1971 Argonaut took part in the long running Beira Patrol, an operation designed to stop oil reaching Rhodesia via the Portuguese colony of Mozambique due to Rhodesia declaring unilateral independence a move condemned around the world.
On Monday, the 19th April ,1982, a newly-commissioned HMS Argonaut left Devonport Dockyard with HMS Ardent and two Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels – her destination the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic. The ship was to join the existing naval task force in San Carlos Bay. Under the command of Captain Layman RN, and on the 21st of May, 1982 , the ship was badly damaged while patrolling in San Carlos Bay.
In an earlier attack that day, her Type 965 Radar had also been damaged and then at 17:30, the ship was further attacked by six A4 Skyhawk Aircraft and hit by two bombs , neither of which, fortunately, exploded. The first entered the ship through a bulkhead shared by the Boiler Room and Engine Room and just above the waterline; the other hit five feet below the waterline and entered the forward Seacat magazine, killing two seamen instantly.
In response to the incident, HMS Plymouth now joined Argonaut and towed her to a comparatively safe mooring. After a long and dangerous voyage, she arrived back in Devonport for repairs on the 26th June, 1982.
On her return to Devonport the opportunity was taken to install a passive sonar (Type 2031) . When the work was complete, the ship was used to patrol a stretch of water between Iceland and the Faro Islands so as to monitor Soviet submarine movements.
In 1987, HMS Argonaut saved Sir Richard Branson when his attempt to cross the Atlantic in a hot-air balloon was unsuccessful and he had to ditch. Argonaut rescued the pilot, salvaged his balloon and transported it to Pembroke Dock. The grateful Sir Richard is now an honorary member of the our Association.
1992 was also a busy time for the Argonaut. Her last major operation was the capture of Roderick Newall, wanted for questioning by police over the murder of his parents. The ship tracked him from Morocco, waited until he was in international waters and then persuaded him to row across to show the Captain of Argonaut his log book; at which point he was arrested and taken to Gibraltar.
This was the last major contribution of the frigate, HMS Argonaut, who was de-commissioned in 1993. As the Royal Marine band beat the Retreat, the last ship to bear the name Argonaut finally said goodbye.
Argonaut was my only full time commission. I served on her from 72 to 74 as an RO (W). Captain William Caspar Carnegie Swinley was the skipper and was probably the most decent and respectable man I have ever met. I left the mob in 85 after transferring to the Phot branch. The Argonaut was the source of my fondest memories during my time in the RN.
As a Short wave radio listener and Radio Ham I was fortunate to listen to the rescue of Sir Richard Branson & Per Lindstrom which HMS Argonaut and several rescue helicopters took part in. I may be able to dig up a cassette tape recording of the action. If I can find it I will send you a copy if you would like.
I was a Jack Dusty on the last commission and one of the last across the gangway. She was a sorry sight to leave behind but time marches on and she was old and showed it. I still hold my time on her dear as she was the only ship I served on at sea. I left the mob in 96 and moved north to another great maritime base in Liverpool where I currently reside, or just outside, to this day. Dont hear from anyone these days but always keep an eye on the news for any old snippets. I remember the Rodderick Newal affair very well, sweltering it was and as we were Gib guard ship it was my first run in the Med.
Slightly rose tinted memories as I wasnt a happy shipmate as I recall. Claustrophobia takes its toll and still haunts me to this day, but I still have my cap tally and display it with pride.