Falklands War Hero Ship Could Save UK’s Priceless Bravery Medals

A heroic Royal Navy frigate that played a crucial role in the Falklands War is making an emotional return to British waters—and it might just save over 200 of the nation’s most prestigious bravery medals from being lost to the UK forever.

HMS Ambuscade, a Type 21 frigate that served in the Falklands conflict, was sold to Pakistan in 1993, where it remained in service for two decades. Initially destined for the scrapyard, the ship has been gifted back to Britain and is set to become a floating museum, celebrating our rich military heritage.

The ship’s return is set to coincide with the controversial closure of The Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum (IWM) on June 1. The gallery, home to a staggering collection of Victoria Crosses (VCs) and George Crosses (GCs), will shut its doors permanently, sparking outrage among veterans and military history enthusiasts alike.

David O’Neill, 67, Chief Executive of Clyde Naval Heritage, has spearheaded the effort to bring HMS Ambuscade home and wants to see it become the new home for Lord Ashcroft’s collection of medals.

“HMS Ambuscade will be a fitting tribute to our servicemen and their incredible acts of bravery,” he said. “We have been offered many aircraft and vehicles for exhibition, but Lord Ashcroft’s collection would be the jewel in the crown. There’s no better place to honour these stories than on a warship that saw action in the Falklands, a conflict where courage was everything.”

Without an alternative venue, Lord Ashcroft, 79, might be forced to move the world’s largest collection of valour medals overseas. The Daily Express understands that he is aware of the proposal for HMS Ambuscade and is “considering all options.”

The warship will leave Karachi in June, embarking on a 7,000-mile journey back to the River Clyde—where it was originally built 50 years ago. On its way home, the ship will stop at Port Said in Egypt and Gibraltar before arriving in the UK in August.

HMS Ambuscade’s return was initially set in motion when film director Guy Ritchie searched for a warship for his action-packed film The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, released last year. Though the project ultimately proved too challenging, the ship’s real-life mission to preserve British military history has since taken centre stage.

Originally built by Yarrow Shipbuilders in Glasgow, HMS Ambuscade was launched in 1973 and commissioned in 1975. In the Falklands War of 1982, it served as an electronic warfare picket ship and took part in several bombardments of Argentine positions. On May 25, the frigate was targeted by two Exocet missiles but successfully deployed chaff decoys, diverting them toward the Atlantic Conveyor, which tragically sank after the attack.

During the final days of the war, the ship played a crucial role in the battle for Wireless Ridge, firing 228 shells in support of British forces. The victory paved the way for Argentina’s surrender on June 14.

After being decommissioned and handed over to Pakistan’s navy, HMS Ambuscade—renamed PNS Tariq—continued to serve in humanitarian and anti-piracy missions. In 2005, it was instrumental in rescuing 377 tourists in the Maldives following the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami.

Now, as the last surviving Royal Navy vessel from the Falklands War, HMS Ambuscade is on course for a new mission: safeguarding Britain’s military legacy. With support growing from the Royal Navy, the National Museum of the Royal Navy, politicians, and defence companies, the ship could soon serve as a permanent tribute to those who fought for the nation.

O’Neill and his team also hope to secure other Falklands-related assets, including a Vulcan bomber, a Harrier jump jet, and a Sea King helicopter, to enhance the museum’s historical significance.

As Lord Ashcroft weighs up his options, military families and historians alike are urging him to keep his collection in the UK. His medals, awarded for acts of extreme gallantry, include some of the rarest and most significant honours in British history. Since 1856, only 1,364 Victoria Crosses have been awarded, with just 418 George Crosses given since 1940. For now, the race is on to keep these national treasures on home soil, and HMS Ambuscade could be just the lifeline they need.