THE commanding officer of one of the Devonport-based frigates lost in the Falklands conflict has unveiled a commemorative plaque in Plymouth.

Captain Nick Tobin, who was the commanding officer of HMS Antelope during the campaign, was involved in the ceremony which marked the formal opening of HMS Raleigh's new accommodation blocks.

Four new blocks, named Antelope, Ardent, Sir Galahad and Conqueror, have been built at the Royal Navy training establishment in Torpoint as part of a major upgrade of facilities.

The blocks have been named after units which were part of the UK Task Force sent to recapture the Falkland Islands in 1982.

The operation was codenamed Operation Corporate.

The site's new commemorative plaque is mounted on a stone brought back from the Falkland Islands.

As part of the ceremony, Captain Tobin presented the original crest recovered from the bridge of HMS Antelope to officers at HMS Raleigh.

The crest was recovered 48 hours after the ship had been sunk.

Ardent and Antelope blocks are home to the trainees of Corporate Squadron who are undergoing their professional training within the Defence Maritime Logistics School, the Royal Navy Submarine School and the Royal Navy School of Seamanship.

Conqueror block is the new base for the National Sea Cadet Training Centre and Sir Galahad will be used to accommodate sailors returning to HMS Raleigh for career progression courses.

Each mess deck has its own utility area, common room and bathroom facilities.

Offices for instructional staff and a lecture room, complete with state-of-the-art audio visual equipment, are situated on the ground floor of each building.

Captain Steve Murdoch, the Commanding Officer of HMS Raleigh, said: "Corporate Squadron stood up in October 2009 and feedback from the trainees accommodated in the first two blocks to become available has been very positive.

"Although the rooms provide the trainees with a degree of privacy, they still have to live side by side with their mess mates as they will do at sea on board ship.

"Naming the blocks after some of the key units involved in 1982 is a fitting tribute to three of the fighting arms of Operation Corporate.

"The Corporate link is a constant reminder of those who took part in the action of 28 years ago.

"It encourages the trainees to learn about the Royal Navy's heritage and helps to instil the navy's core values in our young recruits.

"I'm delighted that so many members of the ship's associations were able to join us for the formal opening."

Veterans who served on the ships and the submarine were also invited to attend the ceremony at HMS Raleigh, along with Sea Cadets from the Training Ship Ardent from Bollington, Cheshire.

Following tours of the new buildings, Captain Tobin cut a commemorative cake during a reception assisted by trainee Logistician Natalie Skilton, 16, the youngest sailor undergoing specialist training at HMS Raleigh.

Type 21 frigates HMS Antelope and HMS Ardent were both victims of enemy air attack during the Falklands conflict in May 1982.

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel Sir Galahad was classed as a landing ship logistics.

The ship was hit by bombs and badly damaged while unloading soldiers from the Welsh Guards on June 8, 1982.

A total of 48 men lost their lives.

HMS Conqueror, a Churchill-class submarine, controversially fired the two torpedoes which sank the Argentinian cruiser General Belgrano.