HMS Brilliant (F90)

HMS "Brilliant" (F90) was a Type 22 frigate of the Royal Navy.

She was part of the Task Force that took part in the Falklands War. There, her two helicopters were involved in attacking the Argentine submarine "Santa Fe". She was the first Royal Navy warship to fire the Sea Wolf missile in anger when, on 12 May 1982, she shot down three A-4 Skyhawks. On 21 May HMS "Brilliant" came under Argentine air attack outside San Carlos Water and was slightly damaged by cannon fire. On 23 May, she joined HMS "Yarmouth" in the chase of the Argentinian supply ship ARA "Monsunen". She rescued 24 survivors from "Atlantic Conveyor" on 25 May.

"Brilliant" starred in a BBC documentary series called "HMS Brilliant" in the early 1990s. She decommissioned in 1996 and was sold to the Brazilian Navy on 31 August 1996 and renamed "Dodsworth".

The silhouette of HMS "Brilliant" is to be found, along with the date 21 May, painted on the side of Argentine Air Force IAI Finger serial number C-412. Also painted on C-412 is the silhouette of HMS "Arrow" and the date 1 May. These kill markings (without crossing) has to do with the damage both ships suffered in the Falklands War, HMS "Arrow" being slightly damaged by cannon fire 1 May 1982 and HMS "Brilliant" also being slightly damaged by cannon fire, this on 21 May. "Fingers" markings were spotted was during the November 2005 multi-national Exercise Ceibo in Argentina. Having been painted soon after the War, as of 2007, the markings remain extant.

References

* AirForces Monthly Magazine February 2006, page 61.

External links

* [http://www.naval-history.net/F62brshipslost.htm British Ships lost and damaged 1st May - 12th June 1982]
* [http://www.naviosdeguerrabrasileiros.hpg.ig.com.br/D/D025/D025.htm F47 "Dodsworth"] pt icon