# FV Narwal

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Argentine fishing trawler

Model of the FV Narwal History Argentina Name Narwal Owner Cia Sudamericana de Pesca Builder Beliard-Murdoch, Ostend Launched 1962 Identification IMO number: 5247445 Honours and awards Honor al Valor en Combate Fate Sank on 10 May 1982 General characteristics Tonnage 1,398 GRT Length 231 ft (70 m) Beam 38 ft (12 m) Draught 17 ft (5.2 m) Installed power 2330 h.p. Propulsion 2 x diesel engines

The fishing vessel ***Narwal*** was an Argentinian [trawler](/source/Fishing_trawler), deployed for [ELINT](/source/ELINT) operations during the [Falklands War](/source/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.[1]

*Narwal* was heavily damaged in an attack by British [Sea Harriers](/source/Sea_Harrier) from [HMS *Hermes*](/source/HMS_Hermes_(R12)) 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.[2] The bomb caused heavy damage and the Harriers then [strafed](/source/Strafing) the *Narwal* with their [30mm guns](/source/ADEN_cannon). The aircraft were Sea Harriers of [Fleet Air Arm](/source/Fleet_Air_Arm) [800 Naval Air Squadron](/source/800_Naval_Air_Squadron), flown by [Fl Lt Morgan](/source/David_Morgan_(pilot)) and Lt Cdr Batt. The two Harriers had been dispatched to [Port Stanley](/source/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.[3]

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]

[3] Among those captured was Captain Juan Carlos González of the [Argentine Navy](/source/Argentine_Navy)'s information services,[4] who was released after the war.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## Aftermath

Omar Alberto Rupp was [buried at sea](/source/Buried_at_sea) by the British on 10 May.[5] Meanwhile, an [Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma](/source/A%C3%A9rospatiale_SA_330_Puma) of the [Argentine Army](/source/Argentine_Army) was sent to recover the crew of *Narwal* after receiving a [distress signal](/source/Distress_signal), but was shot down by [destroyer](/source/Destroyer) [HMS *Coventry*](/source/HMS_Coventry_(D118)) with a [Sea Dart](/source/Sea_Dart_(missile)) missile, killing all three members of the crew.[5]

The flag of *Narwal* was awarded the *Honor al Valor en Combate* medal on 28 March 1983.[6]

## References

### Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** *One Hundred Days: The Memoirs of the Falklands Battle Group Commander*. pp. 126–127.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Ward, Sharkey (1992). *Sea Harrier Over The Falklands*. Leo Cooper. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0850523052](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0850523052).[*[page needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources)*]

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-navalhistory_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-navalhistory_3-1) ["Naval History - Part 26. HMS SHEFFIELD SUNK - WEEK SIX, Falkland Area Operations 3rd-9th May 1982"](http://www.naval-history.net/F36opsweek6.htm). Retrieved 25 September 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** *One Hundred Days: The Memoirs of the Falklands Battle Group Commander*. pp. 191–195.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-malvinense_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-malvinense_5-1) ["El hundimento del pesquero Narwal en la Guerra de Malvinas"](https://www.malvinense.com.ar/smalvi/0109/1084.html) [The sinking of the fishing vessel Narwal in the Falklands War]. *EL MALVINENSE* (in Spanish). 8 May 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["InfoLEG - Ministerio de Justicia y Derechos Humanos - Argentina: Condecoraciones Nacionales"](http://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/265000-269999/265139/norma.htm). *servicios.infoleg.gob.ar*. 28 March 1983. Retrieved 18 August 2025.

### Bibliography

- [Ward, Commander Nigel "Sharkey"](/source/Nigel_Ward) (2003). *Sea Harrier Over The Falklands*. [London](/source/London): Cassell. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-304-35542-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-304-35542-6).

- Woodward, Sandy with Patrick Robinson (1992). *One Hundred Days: The Memoirs of the Falklands Battle Group Commander*. [Annapolis](/source/Annapolis): [Naval Institute Press](/source/Naval_Institute_Press). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-55750-652-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-55750-652-3).

## External links

- [FV Narwal Wreck Site (116460)](http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?116460)

v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1982 Shipwrecks 5 Jan: Akebono Maru No. 28 15 Feb: Ocean Ranger 16 Feb: MV Mekhanik Tarasov 18 Feb: SAS President Kruger 23 Feb: St. Bedan 26 Feb: Craigantlet 11 Mar: Ranga 9 Apr: USS Basilone 13 Apr: USS Robinson 26 Apr: ARA Santa Fe 2 May: ARA General Belgrano 4 May: HMS Sheffield 10 May: ARA Narwal 11 May: ARA Isla de los Estados 22 May: HMS Ardent 24 May: HMS Antelope 25 May: HMS Coventry 30 May: Atlantic Conveyor 21 Jun: RFA Sir Galahad 18 Jul: USS Agerholm, USS Porterfield 16 Oct: Island Cement 21 Oct: ARA Bahía Buen Suceso 24 Oct: Poet 25 Oct: USS Savage 19 Dec: European Gateway December (unknown date): Unirea Unknown date: Mahi, Temehani Other incidents 4 Mar: Vortigern 22 Mar: USS Jacksonville 6 Apr: ARA Guerrico 3 May: ARA Alferez Sobral 21 May: HMS Argonaut 25 May: HMS Broadsword 26 May: Bowbelle 8 Jun: RFA Sir Tristram 12 Jun: HMS Glamorgan 15 Jun: ARA Bahía Buen Suceso 18 Sep: Armorique 19 Dec: Speedlink Vanguard Unknown date: HMS Onyx, HMS Valiant 1981 1983

[52°45′16″S 58°02′20″W / 52.7545°S 58.0389°W / -52.7545; -58.0389](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=FV_Narwal&params=52.7545_S_58.0389_W_region:FK)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [FV Narwal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FV_Narwal) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FV_Narwal?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.