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Early on the morning of April 5th, 1982, two sleek grey frigates, quietly and without fuss, sailed from their Devonport base into a grey, unwelcoming English Channel. Probably a few dozen Plymouthians noticed their departure. Later that day, to the cheers of thousands and the sound of military bands, capital ships of the Royal Navy sailed from their base in Portsmouth. For the crews of all these ships a significant adventure was awaiting and for some the experiences of the following three months would leave indelible memories: some good, some terrible.
HMS ALACRITY was one of the two Amazon Class (Type 21) frigates that sailed from Devonport and this website is dedicated to the memory, not only of a splendid ship, but of the comradeship, the professionalism and the humour of the ship's company. The news media made much of the events in the South Atlantic in the summer of 1982 but inevitably it concentrated on the larger ships in the Taskforce: the frigates tended to make the news when they were damaged or sunk. Perhaps through this site we can also celebrate the contribution made by the small ships to the success of the Falkland's campaign: especially our sister ships HMS ARDENT and HMS ANTELOPE, both lost gallantly defending the San Carlos bridgehead and giving the troops the time to establish themselves ashore.
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