HMS Dauntless sets sail for Falklands as tensions mount between Britain and Argentina Former First Sea Lord Alan West, who was sunk on HMS Ardent during the conflict in 1982, said: "The great thing about military forces, particularly the navy, is they are a very good deterrent and we need to use it as a deterrent. We need to show that this isn't a game and if they tired something again there we would take it very seriously. Foreign Secretary William Hague, who has led a push to improve UK trade and other links with South America, has described Argentina's recent actions as "deeply regrettable." Dauntless, commissioned in 2010, will relieve HMS Montrose carrying out operations off West Africa and the wider South Atlantic. It carries a crew of 190 and is one of the world's most advanced air-defence warships with stealth features which make it look like a fishing boat on radar. Navy chiefs insist the ship's six-month deployment was "pre-planned and routine" and that the timing with the anniversary of the start of war was coincidence. Commanding Officer Captain Will Warrender said: "HMS Dauntless' ship's company has been working extremely hard over the last year or so to prepare for our first operational deployment. We are now ready to provide a reassuring presence in the region and protect British interests. A total of 255 British servicemen and about 650 Argentines died after the UK sent a task force following the Argentine invasion on 2 April 1982. Britain has controlled the Falklands since 1833 but Argentina claims the territory - which it calls the Malvinas - saying it inherited rights to them from Spain. At a ceremony to mark the 30th anniversary in Argentina, President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner attacked the UK government's stance on the Falkland Islands. She said: "Every day that goes by it looks more ridiculous, more absurd to the eyes of the world. It is an injustice that in the 21st Century there are still colonial enclaves... 16 colonial enclaves throughout the world - 10 of those belonging to the United Kingdom. Dauntless, a Type 45 destroyer, will maintain a continuous presence protecting British interests in the region and will carry out maritime security operations off West Africa and the wider South Atlantic. Her programme includes planned port visits in West and South Africa.