HMS Arrow (F173)

History

United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Arrow
Operator:	Royal Navy
Builder:	Yarrow Shipbuilders
Laid down:	28 September 1972
Launched:	5 February 1974
Commissioned:	28 July 1976
Decommissioned:	1 March 1994
Identification:	Pennant number: F173
Motto:	Celeriter certus (Latin: "Swiftly sure")
Fate:	Sold to Pakistan on 1 March 1994
Pakistan
Name:	PNS Khaibar
Operator:	Pakistan Navy
Acquired:	1 March 1994
Status:	in active service
General characteristics
Class and type:	Type 21 frigate
Displacement:	3,250 tons full load
Length:	384 ft (117 m)
Beam:	41 ft 9 in (12.73 m)
Draught:	19 ft 6 in (5.94 m)
Propulsion:	COGOG: 2 × Rolls-Royce Olympus gas turbines 2 × Rolls-Royce Tyne RM1A gas turbines for cruising
Speed:	32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph)
Range:	4,000 nautical miles at 17 knots (7,400 km at 31 km/h) 1,200 nautical miles at 30 knots (2,220 km at 56 km/h)
Complement:	177
Armament:	RN: 1 × 4.5 inch (114 mm) Mark 8 naval gun 2 × Oerlikon 20 mm cannon 4 × MM38 Exocet missiles 1 × quadruple Sea Cat SAMs 2 × triple ASW torpedo tubes 2 × Corvus chaff launchers 1 × Type 182 towed decoy Pakistan: 1 × 4.5 inch (114 mm) Mark 8 naval gun 2 × Oerlikon 20 mm cannon 1 × quadruple Harpoon missile launcher 1 × Phalanx CIWS 2 × triple ASW torpedo tubes 2 × Mark 36 SRBOC chaff launchers 1 × Type 182 towed decoy
Aircraft carried:	1 × Westland Wasp helicopter, later refitted for 1 × Lynx

HMS Arrow was a Type 21 frigate of the Royal Navy. Built by Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd, Glasgow, Scotland, she was completed with Exocet launchers in 'B' position.

Arrow participated in the Falklands War, and had the dual distinction of being both the first British warship to fire on the enemy (whilst firing on land forces at Port Stanley), and the first British warship to be hit by enemy fire, after being strafed by an Argentine Air Force fighter. On 4 May 1982 she assisted in extinguishing the fires and evacuating the crew of the Type 42 destroyer Sheffield, which had been struck by an Exocet missile. The crew showed conspicuous bravery in this rescue effort, saving 225 of the crew of HMS Sheffield, and Arrow's captain, Commander (later Captain) Paul Bootherstone was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for gallantry during the action.Arrow also helped extinguish the fires on the Rothesay class frigate Plymouth, on 8 June 1982.

The silhouette of Arrow is to be found, along with the date 1 May, painted on the side of Argentine Air Force Dassault Mirage 5/IAI Finger serial number C-412, along with a similar silhouette representation of HMS Brilliant and the date 21 May, implying a successful action by the aircrew against these vessels. These kill markings are however overstated, and refer merely to damage which both ships suffered during the conflict, which may or may not have been caused by this particular aircraft. Arrow was slightly damaged by cannon fire on 1 May 1982, and HMS Brilliant was slightly damaged by cannon fire on 21 May 1982 outside San Carlos Water. The aircraft was reportedly observed still bearing these distinguishing marks as late as November 2005 (twenty-three years after the conflict) at the multi-national Exercise Ceibo in Argentina.

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