Former HMS Penelope (F127) delivered to Ecuador in 1991
Career (UK)
Name:	HMS Penelope (F127)
Operator:	Royal Navy
Laid down:	14 March 1961
Launched:	17 August 1962
Commissioned:	31 October 1963
Decommissioned:	1991
Fate:	Sold to Ecuador 1991
Career (Ecuador)
Name:	Presidente Eloy Alfaro (FM 01)
Namesake:	Eloy Alfaro
Operator:	Ecuadorian Navy
Commissioned:	1991
General characteristics
Class and type:	Leander class frigate

HMS Penelope (F127) was a Leander-class frigate of the Royal Navy (RN). Batch 1 The first batch comprising 8 ships and built between 1963 and 1965 were general purpose alternatives to the far more expensive single-role classes such as the Rothesay The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) Like other ships of the class, Penelope was named after a figure of mythology. In Homer 's Odyssey, Penelópē ( Πηνελόπεια/Πηνελόπη) is the faithful wife of Odysseus, who keeps her suitors HMS Penelope was launched on the 17th August 1962 and commissioned on the 31st October 1963. Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 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. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located 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. Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. 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. Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Flight 712, operated by Aer Lingus crashed en route from Cork to London on March 24, 1968 killing 61 passengers and crew The Irish Sea ( Irish: Muir Éireann or Muir Meann; Scottish Gaelic: Muir Eireann Welsh: Môr Iwerddon, 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 Ministry of Defence ( MoD) is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters

The following year, Penelope was present in West Germany during the Kiel Week festival which combined a yachting race and festival events. West Germany ( Inf German: Westdeutschland or West-Deutschland) was the common English name for the Federal Republic of Germany ( Kiel Week (Kieler Woche is an annual sailing event in Kiel, Germany. Penelope took part in a variety of tests in the 1970s, including Sea Wolf missile tests in 1977. This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. Sea Wolf is a naval Guided missile system designed and built by BAC, later to become British Aerospace Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays In 1981, Penelope was fitted with the Exocet missile with the intention of using Penelope to test it. Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 The Exocet is a French -built Anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface vessels submarines and airplanes

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. Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) The Falklands War (Guerra de las Malvinas/Guerra del Atlántico Sur also called the Falklands Conflict/Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the A group of British warships that went to the " Total Exclusion Zone " as reinforcements late in the Falklands War, consisting of Destroyers * 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. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The Sea Skua is a British lightweight short range Air-to-Surface missile (ASM designed use from Helicopters against ships 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. Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) 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. Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) Departments Air Combat Combat System Engineering Deck Dental Executive Logistics 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. Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Ecuador topics. She was renamed Presidente Eloy Alfaro for President Eloy Alfaro, a prominent Ecuadorian martyred reformer of the early 20th Century. José Eloy Alfaro Delgado ( June 25, 1842 in Montecristi - January 28, 1912 in Quito) was president of Ecuador

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