HMS Penelope (F127)

HMS "Penelope" (F127) was a "Leander"-class frigate of the Royal Navy (RN). Like other ships of the class, "Penelope" was named after a figure of mythology. HMS "Penelope" was launched on the 17th August 1962 and commissioned on the 31st October 1963. "Penelope" was intended to be part of the "Salisbury"-class and was to have been named "Coventry" (and before that "Panther"), but instead became part of the "Leander"-class.

Upon commissioning, "Penelope" joined the 20th Frigate Squadron which was based in the UK. In 1966, "Penelope" underwent a refit that re-roled her into a trials ship and led to the removal of much of her weapons including her one twin 4.5-in gun and later the whole turret.

In 1968, "Penelope" assisted in the aftermath of the Aer Lingus Flight 712 crash in the Irish Sea. There has been a number of conspiracy theories about the crash, including the alleged involvement of "Penelope". The theory goes that "Penelope", while performing tests, mistook the aircraft for a target drone and shot her down. All conspiracy theories have been refuted by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

The following year, "Penelope" was present in West Germany during the Kiel Week festival which combined a yachting race and festival events. "Penelope" took part in a variety of tests in the 1970s, including Sea Wolf missile tests in 1977. In 1981, "Penelope" was fitted with the Exocet missile with the intention of using "Penelope" to test it.

In 1982, "Penelope" took part in the Falklands War as part of 'Bristol Group', which included two other "Leanders", and did not reach the Falkland Islands area of operations until the 26th May. Upon arrival, "Penelope" mainly performed escort duties, including escorting the damaged "Leander" "Argonaut" in late May, who had suffered damage after being hit by cannon fire and bombs.

On the 13th June, "Penelope's" Lynx helicopter struck the Argentinian patrol boat "Rio Iguazu" with a Sea Skua missile. "Penelope" returned home in September 1982.

Soon after, "Penelope" undertook a Falklands patrol in the tense aftermath of the war, and did not return home until June 1983. The following year, "Penelope" deployed to the South Atlantic yet again, patrolling and performing other duties in that region. In 1988, "Penelope" lost steering and collided with the starboard side of the HMCS "Preserver", a Canadian supply ship. The "Penelope" caught the "Preserver's" starboard anchor, cutting her port side open. The Canadian vessel suffered $260,000 damage, while the "Penelope" suffered damage estimated in the millions.

In 1991, "Penelope" was decommissioned and subsequently sold, along with "Danae", to Ecuador. She was renamed "Presidente Eloy Alfaro" for President Eloy Alfaro, a prominent Ecuadorian martyred reformer of the early 20th Century.

"Presidente Eloy Alfaro" was decommissioned on 19 March 2008, after 17 years in the Ecuadorian Navy.