FV Narwal

{{short description|Argentine fishing trawler}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image | image = Maqueta del Narwal.jpg | image_caption = Model of the FV ''Narwal'' }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career | hide_header = | country = Argentina | flag = {{shipboxflag|Argentina|naval}} | name = ''Narwal'' | owner = Cia Sudamericana de Pesca | namesake = | ordered = | builder = Beliard-Murdoch, [[Ostend]] | yard_number = | laid_down = | launched = 1962 | acquired = | commissioned = | decommissioned = | in_service = | out_of_service = | struck = | reinstated = | identification = {{IMO|5247445}} | honours = ''Honor al Valor en Combate'' | fate = Sank on 10 May 1982 | notes = }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics | class = | displacement = | tonnage = 1,398 [[Gross register tonnage|GRT]] | length = {{convert|231|ft|m|abbr=on}} | beam = {{convert|38|ft|m|abbr=on}} | draught = {{convert|17|ft|m|abbr=on}} | propulsion = 2 x diesel engines | power = 2330 h.p. | speed = | complement = | armament = | armour = | aircraft = }} }}

The fishing vessel '''''Narwal''''' was an Argentinian [[fishing trawler|trawler]], deployed for [[ELINT]] operations during the [[Falklands War]] and captained by Asterio Wagata.

== Operational history == The ship had been given the task of shadowing the British fleet and performing ELINT operations along with other trawlers, and was observed for the first time by British air patrols on 29 April 1982.<ref>{{cite book |title=One Hundred Days: The Memoirs of the Falklands Battle Group Commander |pages=126–127}}</ref>

''Narwal'' was heavily damaged in an attack by British [[Sea Harrier]]s from {{HMS|Hermes|R12|6}} on 9 May 1982. The ship was hit by a 1000-pound bomb, but it failed to explode as it had been released below the lowest prescribed height and did not arm in time.<ref>{{cite book |title=Sea Harrier Over The Falklands|first=Sharkey|last=Ward|publisher=Leo Cooper|year=1992|isbn=0850523052}}{{page needed|date=March 2013}}</ref> The bomb caused heavy damage and the Harriers then [[Strafing|strafed]] the ''Narwal'' with their [[ADEN cannon|30mm guns]]. The aircraft were Sea Harriers of [[Fleet Air Arm]] [[800 Naval Air Squadron]], flown by [[David Morgan (pilot)|Fl Lt Morgan]] and Lt Cdr Batt. The two Harriers had been dispatched to [[Port Stanley]] for a bombing mission, but the mission was not completed due to low clouds over the target area. On the return leg to ''Hermes'' they spotted the ship and obtained permission to engage the target.<ref name = navalhistory/>

A boarding party of British SBS marines reached the target via a Sea King Mk.4 of 846 Naval Air Squadron, escorted by a Sea King Mk.5 helicopter of 820 Naval Air Squadron which carried an additional team of SBS men tasked to provide fire support.

They captured the ship while it was dead in the water, taking off the crew, and the body of Omar Alberto Rupp, the boatswain of the Argentine trawler, killed by the impact of the bomb. Four sailors who had abandoned the Narwal in a small rowing boat were recovered by the Sea King Mk 5.

The Narwal was taken in tow, but sank the next day, 10 May.[3] Among those captured was Captain Juan Carlos González of the Argentine Navy's information services,[4] who was released after the war.[citation needed]

<ref name = navalhistory>{{cite web |url=http://www.naval-history.net/F36opsweek6.htm |title=Naval History - Part 26. HMS SHEFFIELD SUNK - WEEK SIX, Falkland Area Operations 3rd-9th May 1982 |access-date=25 September 2021}}</ref> Among those captured was Captain Juan Carlos González of the [[Argentine Navy]]'s information services,<ref>{{cite book |title=One Hundred Days: The Memoirs of the Falklands Battle Group Commander |pages=191–195}}</ref> who was released after the war.{{fact|date=January 2022}}

== Aftermath == Omar Alberto Rupp was [[buried at sea]] by the British on 10 May.<ref name = malvinense>{{cite web |title=El hundimento del pesquero Narwal en la Guerra de Malvinas |trans-title=The sinking of the fishing vessel Narwal in the Falklands War |url=https://www.malvinense.com.ar/smalvi/0109/1084.html |website=EL MALVINENSE |date=8 May 2009 |language=es |access-date=25 September 2021}}</ref> Meanwhile, an [[Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma]] of the [[Argentine Army]] was sent to recover the crew of ''Narwal'' after receiving a [[distress signal]], but was shot down by [[destroyer]] [[HMS Coventry (D118)|HMS ''Coventry'']] with a [[Sea Dart (missile)|Sea Dart]] missile, killing all three members of the crew.<ref name = malvinense/>

The flag of ''Narwal'' was awarded the ''Honor al Valor en Combate'' medal on 28 March 1983.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 March 1983 |title=InfoLEG - Ministerio de Justicia y Derechos Humanos - Argentina: Condecoraciones Nacionales |url=http://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/265000-269999/265139/norma.htm |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=servicios.infoleg.gob.ar}}</ref>

==References==

=== Notes === {{Reflist}}

=== Bibliography === *{{cite book |last=Ward |first=Commander Nigel "Sharkey" |author-link=Nigel Ward |title=Sea Harrier Over The Falklands |publisher=Cassell |location=[[London]] |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-304-35542-6}} * {{cite book |title=One Hundred Days: The Memoirs of the Falklands Battle Group Commander |last=Woodward |first=Sandy with Patrick Robinson |year=1992 |publisher=[[Naval Institute Press]] |location=[[Annapolis]] |isbn=1-55750-652-3}}

==External links== *[http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?116460 FV Narwal Wreck Site (116460)]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Narwal}} [[Category:Electronic intelligence ships]] [[Category:Falklands War naval ships of Argentina]] [[Category:Maritime incidents in 1982]] [[Category:Naval trawlers]] [[Category:Ships built in Belgium]] [[Category:Ships sunk by British aircraft]] [[Category:Shipwrecks of the Falklands War]] [[Category:1962 ships]] [[Category:Naval battles of the Falklands War]]