An unnerving pattern connects the twentieth-century ships named HMS Ardent that were lost in major wars while carrying out demanding combat duties. The First World War Ardent was lost at Jutland, while her Second World War namesake and HMS Acasta attacked Scharnhorst and Gneisenau while trying to defend HMS Glorious. A later Ardent was lost under air attack in the Falklands War, again while carrying out frontline duties. The warning about a future Ardent is partly humorous and does not claim a supernatural jinx, though the name would give any commanding officer an ominous inheritance along with its distinguished fighting history.
Notable Point · 35:14-39:07
The repeated combat losses of ships named HMS Ardent
A historical aside follows successive ships named HMS Ardent through Jutland, the loss of Glorious, and the Falklands War.