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Proposals from shipbuilders for two dreadnoughts (along with a possible third, to match Brazil should a third ship be ordered) and twelve destroyers were solicited in 1908 by [[Call for bids|open tender]].<ref name=Conways>Schenia, "Argentina," 401.</ref><ref>Schenia, ''Latin America'', 82.</ref><ref name=Whitley18>Whitley, ''Battleships of World War II'', 18.</ref> In order to ensure that the design encompassed "the most up-to-date practice[s]" from shipyards, the requirements were intentionally vague.<ref name=Conways/><ref name=Schenia83>Schenia, ''Latin America'', 83.</ref>
Proposals from shipbuilders for two dreadnoughts (along with a possible third, to match Brazil should a third ship be ordered) and twelve destroyers were solicited in 1908 by [[Call for bids|open tender]].<ref name=Conways>Schenia, "Argentina," 401.</ref><ref>Schenia, ''Latin America'', 82.</ref><ref name=Whitley18>Whitley, ''Battleships of World War II'', 18.</ref> In order to ensure that the design encompassed "the most up-to-date practice[s]" from shipyards, the requirements were intentionally vague.<ref name=Conways/><ref name=Schenia83>Schenia, ''Latin America'', 83.</ref>


Fifteen shipyards from the United States, Great Britain, Germany, France, and Italy began bidding on the battleships.<ref name=Conways/><ref name=Whitley18/><ref name=Schenia83/> Diplomatic pressure to give the contracts was brought to bear from all these countries, especially the first three.<ref name=Livermore34>Livermore, "Battleship Diplomacy," 34.</ref>{{#tag:ref|Although the United States had done little to promote American armament interests in Latin America under President [[Theodore Roosevelt]]; this was drastically reversed after the election of [[William Howard Taft]] in 1912, most notably demonstrated with the creation of the [[Division of Latin American Affairs]] and the appointment of [[Charles H. Sherrill (ambassador)|Charles H. Sherrill]] to be the [[United States Ambassador to Argentina|American minister to Argentina]]. As part of this, American bankers were persuaded to offer a $10,000,000 loan to Argentina to help pay for the dreadnoughts should they be built in the United States.<ref name=Livermore34/>|group=N}} Still, since Europe was the traditional arms supplier to Argentina (and to all of South America), industry leaders in the United States believed that they had no chance in the bidding without assistance from their government.<ref>Livermore, "Battleship Diplomacy," 35–36.</ref> Even when this was given, including the removal of import tariffs on [[hides]] from Argentina, promises for additional concessions if American shipbuilders were selected,<ref name=Livermore36>Livermore, "Battleship Diplomacy," 36.</ref> and an offer to include the most technologically advanced [[fire-control system]] and [[torpedo tube]]s available on the Argentine battleships, the United States was widely viewed as a non-contender.<ref name=Schenia83/> Historian [[Seward W. Livermore]] remarked:
Fifteen shipyards from the United States, Great Britain, Germany, France, and Italy began bidding on the battleships.<ref name=Conways/><ref name=Whitley18/><ref name=Schenia83/> Diplomatic pressure to give the contracts was brought to bear from all these countries, especially the first three.<ref name=Livermore34>Livermore, "Battleship Diplomacy," 34.</ref>{{#tag:ref|Although the United States had done little to promote American armament interests in Latin America under President [[Theodore Roosevelt]]; this was drastically reversed after the election of [[William Howard Taft]] in 1912, most notably demonstrated with the creation of the [[Division of Latin American Affairs]] and the appointment of [[Charles H. Sherrill (ambassador)|Charles H. Sherrill]] to be the [[United States Ambassador to Argentina|American minister to Argentina]]. As part of this, American bankers were persuaded to offer a $10,000,000 loan to Argentina to help pay for the dreadnoughts should they be built in the United States.<ref name=Livermore34/>|group=N}} Even with this assistance, industry leaders in the United States believed that they had no chance in the bidding without active cooperation from their government, as Europe was the traditional arms supplier to Argentina (and to all of South America).<ref>Livermore, "Battleship Diplomacy," 35–36.</ref> Even when this was given, including the removal of import tariffs on [[hides]] from Argentina, promises for additional concessions if American shipbuilders were selected,<ref name=Livermore36>Livermore, "Battleship Diplomacy," 36.</ref> and an offer to include the most technologically advanced [[fire-control system]] and [[torpedo tube]]s available on the Argentine battleships, the United States was widely viewed as a non-contender.<ref name=Schenia83/> Historian [[Seward W. Livermore]] remarked:


{{quote|Opposition to the United States was formidable. The naval commission was pro-British; the vice-president of the republic, [[Roque Sáenz Peña]], favored Italy, where he had been the Argentine envoy for many years; and the minister of war wanted the contracts to go to Germany, so as to standardize the military and naval equipment of the country.<ref name=Livermore36/>}}
{{quote|Opposition to the United States was formidable. The naval commission was pro-British; the vice-president of the republic, [[Roque Sáenz Peña]], favored Italy, where he had been the Argentine envoy for many years; and the minister of war wanted the contracts to go to Germany, so as to standardize the military and naval equipment of the country.<ref name=Livermore36/>}}

Revision as of 14:47, 25 August 2010

ARA Rivadavia
Class overview
Builderslist error: <br /> list (help)
Fore River Shipbuilding Company (Rivadavia)
New York Shipbuilding Corporation (Moreno)
Operators Argentine Navy
Preceded byIndependencia class
Succeeded byNone
Cost$10,900,000[1][N 1]
Built1910–15
In commission1914–56
Completed2
Retired0
General characteristics 1915
TypeDreadnought battleship
Displacement27,500 long tons (27,900 t) standard, 30,100 long tons (30,600 t) full load
Length594 feet 9 inches (181.28 m)
Beam98 feet 4.5 inches (29.985 m)
Draft27 feet 8.5 inches (8.446 m)
Propulsion3-shaft, Curtis geared turbines, 18 Babcock & Wilcox boilers; 40,000 shaft horsepower
Speed22.5 knots (25.9 mph; 41.7 km/h)
Rangelist error: <br /> list (help)
7,000 nautical miles (8,100 mi; 13,000 km) at 15 knots (17 mph; 28 km/h)
11,000 nautical miles (13,000 mi; 20,000 km) at 11 knots (13 mph; 20 km/h)
Armamentlist error: <br /> list (help)
12 × 12 inch (305 mm) guns
12 × 6 inch (152 mm) guns
16 × 4 inch (102 mm) guns
2 × 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes
Armorlist error: <br /> list (help)
Belt: 12–10 inches (300–250 mm)
Turrets: 12 inches (305 mm)
Casemates: 91/3–61/5 inches (238–159 mm)
Conning tower: 12 inches (300 mm)

The Rivadavia class was a two-ship group of battleships (Spanish: acorazados) designed by the American Fore River Shipbuilding Company for the Argentine Navy. Named Rivadavia and Moreno after important figures in Argentine history, they were Argentina's counter to Brazil's two Minas Geraes-class battleships.

In 1904, Brazil scrapped a previous naval building program in favor of an order that included two dreadnoughts, despite signs that such an action would spark a South American naval arms race. To counter this acquisition by a major rival, Argentina began seeking bids for at least two dreadnoughts in 1908. Over the next two years, multiple shipbuilders from five countries vied for the contracts, complemented by efforts from their respective governments. Argentina was able to play this hyper-competitive environment to its own advantage by rejecting all of the initial proposals and calling for new ones that required the best aspects of each. They then repeated this process, despite complaints from shipbuilders that their trade secrets were being given away. The contracts were awarded to the lowest bidder, Fore River, in early 1910. This move shocked the European bidders, but could largely be explained by the American steel trust's ability to produce steel at a much lower cost than any other country.

During their construction, the Argentine battleships were frequently subject of rumors involving their sale to a foreign country, especially after the beginning of the First World War. Under diplomatic pressure not to sell, Argentina kept the two ships. Throughout their careers, Rivadavia and Moreno were based in Puerto Belgrano and served principally as training ships and diplomatic envoys. They were modernized in the United States in 1924 and 1925 and were inactive for much of the Second World War due to Argentina's neutrality. Struck from the navy lists on 1 February 1957, Rivadavia was scrapped in Italy beginning in 1959. Moreno was struck on 1 October 1956 and was towed to Japan in 1957 for scrapping in what was then the world's longest tow (96 days).

Background

In 1902, Argentine–Chilean territorial disputes over the boundary of Patagonia and control of the Beagle Channel were settled via British mediation. As part of the treaty that ended the dispute, restrictions were placed on the navies of both countries. The British Royal Navy bought two Swiftsure-class pre-dreadnought battleships that were being built for Chile, and Argentina sold its two Rivadavia-class armored cruisers under construction in Italy to Japan.[2]

By 1904, however, Brazil—the largest country in South America in both size and population—began to seriously consider upgrading its navy to compete with Argentina and Chile.[3] Soaring demand for coffee and rubber brought the Brazilian economy an influx of revenue,[4][5] which paid for a massive 1904 $31,250,000[N 2] naval repair scheme. The bill authorized 28 ships, including three battleships and three armored cruisers.[4] It was not possible to lay down the battleships until 1906, the same year the trend-setting HMS Dreadnought was constructed. This ship prompted the Brazilians to cancel their battleship plans in favor of two so-called "dreadnoughts".[3] These dreadnoughts, which were designed to carry the heaviest armament in the world at the time[6] and were later described as "the last word in heavy battleship design" by Scientific American,[7] came as an abrupt shock to the Argentine and Chilean navies. Historian Robert Schenia comments that those two ships alone "outclassed the entire [elderly] Argentinian fleet."[8]

Debates raged in Argentina over the wisdom of acquiring dreadnoughts to counter Brazil's. The cabinet was in favor, despite a probable cost of over $9,740,000,[N 3] but a specific plan for two 14,000-long-ton (14,225 t) battleships and ten destroyers was not popular with the public. The American ambassador to Brazil sent a cablegram to the U.S. State Department, warning them of the destabilizing effects that would occur if the situation devolved into a full naval arms race.[9]

Despite American entreaties to preclude the naval arms race, Brazil continued development on the ships. This, combined with renewed border disputes, particularly in the River Plate (Río de la Plata, literally "Silver River") area, spurred Argentina to move forward with plans for their own battleships. Inflamed by newspaper editors, the public was now fully supportive of a naval building program. While an early plan called for $35,000,000 to be invested—$7,000,000 from foreign loans—a $55,000,000 plan was adopted in August 1908.[N 4] Hoping to end the arms race, Argentina made an offer to purchase one of the two Brazilian ships, but the refusal prompted the despatch of an Argentine naval commission to Europe to acquire dreadnoughts.[10]

Design

Rivadavia under construction, 2 December 1912

Proposals from shipbuilders for two dreadnoughts (along with a possible third, to match Brazil should a third ship be ordered) and twelve destroyers were solicited in 1908 by open tender.[11][12][13] In order to ensure that the design encompassed "the most up-to-date practice[s]" from shipyards, the requirements were intentionally vague.[11][14]

Fifteen shipyards from the United States, Great Britain, Germany, France, and Italy began bidding on the battleships.[11][13][14] Diplomatic pressure to give the contracts was brought to bear from all these countries, especially the first three.[15][N 5] Even with this assistance, industry leaders in the United States believed that they had no chance in the bidding without active cooperation from their government, as Europe was the traditional arms supplier to Argentina (and to all of South America).[16] Even when this was given, including the removal of import tariffs on hides from Argentina, promises for additional concessions if American shipbuilders were selected,[17] and an offer to include the most technologically advanced fire-control system and torpedo tubes available on the Argentine battleships, the United States was widely viewed as a non-contender.[14] Historian Seward W. Livermore remarked:

Opposition to the United States was formidable. The naval commission was pro-British; the vice-president of the republic, Roque Sáenz Peña, favored Italy, where he had been the Argentine envoy for many years; and the minister of war wanted the contracts to go to Germany, so as to standardize the military and naval equipment of the country.[17]

The president of the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company believed that the United States would not receive contracts due to what he saw as a large amount of European meddling in Argentina:

The political influence of foreign powers is being exerted in a very forceful manner to turn the business to English and Continental firms; the King of Italy, the German Emperor, and the force of English diplomacy are being made use of; and American firms will have very little consideration, I fear, unless our government will exert some very powerful influence in favor of this country.[18]

However, the United States found an ally in Buenos Aires' main daily newspaper, La Prensa. The owner, editor, and naval editor were all in favor of acquiring American-designed dreadnoughts. In addition, the paper found evidence of British wrongdoing in a related naval contract. Under public pressure, the naval commission was forced to reconsider its original list, which had placed Italy first and Britain second. It now featured the United States first, Britain second, and Italy last.[17]

In a surprise move, the Argentine naval commission then threw out all of the opening tenders and called for another round of bidding; they simultaneously updated the specifications to include what were judged to be the best aspects of all the plans.[14][19] The competitors were given three weeks to come up with new designs and cost estimates. After diplomatic protests, this was modified slightly; the original bids were kept, but alterations to attempt to conform to the new desired characteristics were allowed.[19]

While both Schenia and Livermore explicitly state that the commission threw out all the bids twice,[14][20] neither makes it clear when this occurred. Livermore only goes into detail about one of these occasions, of which it is not clear if it is the second or third round.[19]

The commission found that the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company bid was lowest on one battleship, and the Fore River Shipbuilding Company was lowest on the other. Despite a British attempt to allow the Armstrong Whitworth-Vickers team to lower their price by $570,000,[N 6] quick American diplomacy granting various assurances regarding recent events between the United States and Brazil, the upcoming 1910 Pan-American Conference, and a guarantee of American participation in the Argentine centennial celebrations secured the battleship contracts for Fore River on 21 January 1910.[21][N 7] The maximum price Fore River tendered, $10,700,000, underbid the British by more than $973,000.[N 8] Italy's tender was just $48,600 (£10,000) more, but their ship's displacement was 2,000 long tons (2,032 t) smaller, the belt armor was 2 inches (51 mm) thinner, and the top speed was slightly slower.[23][24]

Rivadavia's launch, 16 August 1911

Rivadavia was built by Fore River at its shipyard in Massachusetts; as called for in the final contract, Moreno was subcontracted out to the New York Shipbuilding Corporation of New Jersey.[14] The steel for the ships was largely supplied by the Bethlehem Steel Company of Pennsylvania,[23] which, due to their ability to produce steel at a lower price than other nations, was an integral cost-saving measure.[20] The Secretary of the Argentine Naval Commission, the body which chose the final design, said: "The reason why the United States' tender was lower than the English is that steel for construction work and armor-plating is a great deal cheaper in the United States than in England. Wages are higher there, but the contractors ... are able to obtain it more cheaply owing to the manipulations of the Steel Trust."[24][N 9]

A third dreadnought, provided for in the contract, was strongly supported by Argentina and by U.S. diplomats during 1910, while the Minas Geraes class was still under construction. La Prensa and one of its rivals, La Argentina, heavily advocated a third ship; the latter even started a petition to raise money for a new battleship.[25] An American diplomat wrote back to the United States that "this newspaper rivalry promises the early conclusion of a movement which means a third battleship whether by public subscription or by Government funds."[26] However, Brazil's 21–26 November Revolta da Chibata ("Revolt of the Whip"), in which the three most powerful ships in the fleet (the battleships Minas Geraes, São Paulo, and the cruiser Bahia) along with an older coast defense ship (Deodoro) violently rebelled, crushed the previous sentiment for a new battleship.[25][27] About two years later in October 1912, a third dreadnought was authorized by Argentina in case Brazil's Rio de Janeiro was completed and delivered. The ship was never named or built, as Rio de Janeiro was sold to the Ottoman Empire and later seized by the British, and another planned Brazilian ship (Riachuelo) was canceled due to the beginning of the First World War.[28][29]

International reaction

The choice of Fore River came as a complete surprise to the European bidders.[14] Britain's reaction in particular was scathing: John H. Biles, a naval architect, decried the bidding process as "unethical"[30] and remarked:

... it may be presumed that everything ... good in the first proposals [was] seized upon by the Argentine authorities and asked for in the new design. This second request went not only to British builders but to all the builders of the world, and in this way it is exceedingly probable that a serious leakage of ideas and practice of our ships was disseminated through the world by the Argentine government. ... The third inquiry that was issued showed to all the builders of the world what has been eliminated or modified in the second inquiry; and so the process of leakage went merrily on, and with it that of the education of foreign builders and the Argentine government.[31]

Various British newspapers also cried foul. The Evening Standard believed that as "Argentina's greatest creditor and greatest client",[32] Britain ought to have been awarded the two ships. The Times took a different tack, accusing American shipbuilders of slashing prices to an obscene degree,[N 10] and accusing the government of exerting undue diplomatic pressure to obtain the contracts.[20]

Rivadavia on her speed trials

New Zealand's Evening Post noted that the United States had previously built major warships for other countries, including Russia's and Britain's ally Japan, and commented, "The severity of the blow to England rests in ... the amount of English capital in [Argentina]", possibly echoing the Evening Standard's argument. They also made note of a "startling" fact printed by the Daily Mail: the steel used for the armor of the American design was much cheaper than that of Britain's; with Bethlehem's ability to produce it at £8 less per ton than British foundries, a cost savings of more than 10% in steel over the British ship could be realized.[23]

Germany asserted that the United States was given the opportunity to view the other nations' tenders and lower their price accordingly. Germany also alleged that the United States had secured the deal by pledging to come to Argentina's defense should they become embroiled in a military conflict.[34]

The New York Times noted that with Argentina's and Brazil's dreadnought orders, countries in North and South America were building the five biggest capital ships in the world (Brazil's Rio de Janeiro, Argentina's Rivadavia and Moreno, and the United States' New York and Texas) in addition to seven of the ten largest (including the United States' Wyoming and Arkansas).[35] Shortly after Rivadavia had completed her trials, the U.S. Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey remarked that she "handle[d] remarkably well ... with comparatively minor modifications the vessel would practically meet the requirements of our own vessels."[36] The Board of Inspection was less pleased with the wing turrets, stating that "while theoretically the Rivadavia has an ahead and astern fire of six guns, this is not so in reality, as it is almost certain that the blast from the waist turrets would dish in the smokepipes and damage the uptakes."[36]

Possible sale

After Brazil sold Rio de Janeiro to the Ottoman Empire, Argentina began to actively seek a buyer for their two ships so the profits could be invested in education. In the tension that preceded the First World War, there were many suitors. However, the United States abhorred the idea of the their latest technological advances falling into the hands of a possible future combat opponent. While the contract allowed the United States Navy an option to acquire the ships if a deal was reached with a third nation, the navy did not want the ships; with the rapid advances in dreadnought technology, such as the "all or nothing" armor arrangement, even new ships like Rivadavia and Moreno were seen as outmoded.[37]

Three bills directing that the battleships be sold were introduced into the Argentine National Congress in the summer of 1914, but all were defeated. Still, soon after the beginning of the First World War, the German ambassador to Argentina alleged to the U.S. State Department that Britain's Royal Navy was going to take over the ships as soon as the ships reached the River Plate, and the British put diplomatic pressure on the United States to try to ensure the ships were not sold to any other country (as this new country could in turn sell them to Germany).[N 11] The United States, worried that its neutrality would not be respected and its technology would be released for study to a foreign country, diplomatically pressured Argentina to keep the ships, which they eventually did.[40]

Specifications

Plans for the Rivadavia class published in Brassey's Naval Annual, 1923

General characteristics

The two ships of the Rivadavia class were 594 feet 9 inches (181.28 m) overall and 585 feet (178 m) between perpendiculars. They had a beam of 98 feet 4.5 inches (29.985 m), a normal draft of 27 feet 8.5 inches (8.446 m), and displaced 27,500 long tons (27,900 tonnes) normally and 30,100 long tons (30,600 tonnes) at full load. The ships were staffed by 130 officers and about 1000 enlisted men.[11]

Armament

The Rivadavia class was equipped with a main battery of twelve 12-inch/50 caliber guns, a secondary battery of twelve 6-inch (155 mm)/50 and twelve 4-inch (102 mm)/50 QF, and two 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes.[11]

The 12"/50 was a Bethlehem development. It was most likely based on the weapon used in the United States' Wyoming-class battleship, the 12"/50 caliber Mark 7 gun. The twelve guns were mounted in six dual turrets. Four turrets were superfiring fore and aft, while the other two were located en echelon in wing turrets. The latter weapons could, in theory, fire on a 180° range on their respective sides of the hull and 100° on the other, but in reality this was not possible, as the blast damage from the weapons would damage the ship. A more reasonable estimate would be 90° on their sides.[11][41]

The 6-inch secondary armament was placed in casemates, with six on either side of the ship. For protection, they were provided with 6 inches of armor. The 4-inch weaponry, intended for use against marauding destroyers, was mounted unarmored in various places around the ship, including the main deck, superstructure, and far up near the bow. The torpedo tubes were located underneath the waterline and were loaded in a dedicated compartment.[11]

Full ammunition loads were 1440 rounds for the 12-inch guns (120 per gun), 3600 rounds for the 6-inch (300), 5600 rounds for the 4-inch (350), and 16 torpedoes manufactured by Whitehead. To assist the main battery with targeting during a battle, the two ships were equipped with two Barr & Stroud rangefinders that were located above the conning towers.[11]

Propulsion

Rivadavia and Moreno used Brown–Curtis geared steam turbines, powered by 18 Babcock & Wilcox boilers and connected to three propellers. With a total output of about 40,000 shaft horsepower (30,000 kW), the ships were designed to travel at a maximum speed of 22.5 knots (41.7 km/h; 25.9 mph) and may have been capable of slightly more. At speeds of 11 to 15 knots (20 to 28 km/h; 13 to 17 mph), their endurance ranged from 11,000 to 7,000 nautical miles (20,000 to 13,000 km; 12,700 to 8,100 mi), respectively. Their fuel was a coal–oil mix and the ships carried 3,900 long tons (4,000 t) of the former and 590 long tons (600 t) of the latter.[11]

Armor

Typical of American dreadnoughts at the time, the Rivadavia class included substantial armor protection. A 12-inch (300 mm) belt was fitted amidships, covering 5 feet (1.5 m) above and 6 feet (1.8 m) below the designed waterline, gradually decreasing towards the bow and stern to 5 inches (130 mm) and 4 inches (100 mm), respectively. The gun turrets received heavy armor, including 12 inches (300 mm) on the front, 9 inches (230 mm) on the sides, 9.5 inches (240 mm) on the back, and 4 inches (100 mm) on the top. Deck armor consisted of .5 inches (13 mm) medium steel and 2 inches (51 mm) nickel steel.[11]

Influences

The Rivadavia design was very similar to a 1906 proposal from Fore River for an American dreadnought class.[42][N 12] This ship would have mounted a main battery of fourteen 12-inch (300 mm) guns in dual turrets (two superfiring fore, two wing, and three non-superfiring aft), a secondary battery of twenty 4-inch (102 mm) guns and four torpedo tubes on a hull of 22,000 long tons (22,353 t) that would be capable of 21 knots (24 mph; 39 km/h).[44]

Foreign practices also bore a large influence on the design; most were acquired through the unique design process of rejecting multiple bids and calling for the best aspects of each.[11][14] For example, the superfiring arrangement of the main battery was an American innovation, while the wing turrets were similar to British designs of the time. The secondary battery of 6-inch (152 mm) guns and the three-shaft system were influenced by German design practices, while the engine and boiler layout was reminiscent of the Italian battleship Dante Alighieri.[2][45]

Service histories

Moreno in drydock, c. 1915

Rivadavia was named after Bernardino Rivadavia, the first president of Argentina, and was built by Fore River Shipyard. She was laid down on 25 May 1910, launched on 26 August 1911, and completed in December 1914. Moreno was named after Mariano Moreno, a member of the first Argentine government in May 1810, and was built by New York Shipbuilding Corporation. She was laid down on 10 July 1910, launched on 23 September 1911, and completed in February 1915.[46][47][11] Both ships had engine trouble soon after completion: Rivadavia's commissioning was delayed due to a damaged turbine,[48] while Moreno had an entire turbine fail while on her trials.[49]

The ships finally arrived in Argentina in February and May 1915, respectively.[47] From 1915 to 1939, they participated in training exercises, diplomatic cruises, and stints in the reserve fleet, apart from a brief period in the early 1920s, when the Argentine government had the ships modernized in the United States. Both refits included a conversion from coal to fuel oil, a new fire-control system,[47] and "a general machinery overhaul".[28] Notable voyages included Moreno's visit to Brazil with Argentine president Agustín Pedro Justo aboard in 1933 and a later visit in 1934 to mark the centennial of Brazilian independence; Rivadavia's and Moreno's trip to Europe in 1937, where the two ships visited Brest (France), Wilhelmshaven, Bremen, and Hamburg (Germany) between them in addition to Moreno's participation in the British Spithead Naval Review; and a 1939 visit by both battleships to Brazil with naval cadets embarked—destroyers had to be sent from Argentina to escort them home, as the Second World War had broken out during their stay.[50]

During the war, both ships were mainly inactive due to Argentine neutrality. Rivadavia undertook a last diplomatic cruise to Trinidad, Venezuela, and Colombia in 1946, but both ships were immobile by 1948. Moreno was stricken from the naval register on 1 October 1956 and was brought to Japan in 1957 for scrapping in a then-world-record 96-day tow. Rivadavia was stricken on 1 February 1957 and scrapped in Italy beginning in 1959.[50][51]

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ The source uses £2,214,000 pounds sterling; the figure was converted into 1914 dollars using Measuring Worth. Also by using this tool, the ships would have cost $245,000,000 / £207,000,000 in 2008 terms.
  2. ^ Argentines use "$" to represent their peso and "US$" or similar for the U.S. dollar; however, "$" generally means "dollar" in English sources and in this article.
  3. ^ In British pounds sterling, these figures are equal to £2,000,000, or £158,000,000 in 2008. The 2008 dollar amount would have been approximately $232,000,000.
  4. ^ In 1904 terms, $7,000,000 is £1,440,000; $35,000,000 is £7,190,000; and $55,000,000 is £11,300,000. In 2008 terms, these numbers are (respectively) $137,000,000 / £125,000,000; $687,000,000 / £625,000,000; and $1,080,000,000 / £982,000,000.
  5. ^ Although the United States had done little to promote American armament interests in Latin America under President Theodore Roosevelt; this was drastically reversed after the election of William Howard Taft in 1912, most notably demonstrated with the creation of the Division of Latin American Affairs and the appointment of Charles H. Sherrill to be the American minister to Argentina. As part of this, American bankers were persuaded to offer a $10,000,000 loan to Argentina to help pay for the dreadnoughts should they be built in the United States.[15]
  6. ^ This equals £117,000 in 1910, or $9,880,000 / £8,870,000 in 2008.
  7. ^ The aforementioned twelve destroyers were divided up between Britain, France, and Germany.[21][22]
  8. ^ These figures equal £2,190,000 in 1910, or $246,000,000 / £211,000,000 in 2008; £200,000 in 1910, or $22,500,000 / £19,200,000 in 2008.
  9. ^ The disparity in cost per ton was quite large (units are pounds sterling): American, 78.3; Italian, 85.9; British, 86.3; French, 87.4; and German, 88.2.[20][24]
  10. ^ Ironically, on 17 January 1909, the New York Herald had opined that the British would eventually win the Argentine contracts by utilizing this practice.[33]
  11. ^ This was possibly referencing an earlier (March 1914) incident where French bankers—given direction by Russia—offered Argentina twice the amount they paid for the Rivadavia-class ships so that the ships could be turned over to Greece.[38] Schenia mentions a 1913 Russian attempt to purchase both Argentine and both Chilean battleships, but gives no specifics.[39]
  12. ^ The plan from the Bureau of Construction and Repair was selected over that of Fore River and was used for the two Error: Error: {{sclass}} missing required parameter: class name (help) invalid format code: 6. Should be 0–5, or blank (help)s, Delaware and North Dakota.[43]

Endnotes

  1. ^ Burzaco and Ortíz, Acorazados y Cruceros, 94.
  2. ^ a b Hore, Battleships of World War I, 91.
  3. ^ a b Livermore, "Battleship Diplomacy," 32.
  4. ^ a b Sondhaus, Naval Warfare, 216.
  5. ^ Schenia, "Brazil," 403.
  6. ^ "Germany may buy English warships," The New York Times, 1 August 1908, C8.
  7. ^ "The Brazilian Battleship "Minas Geraes"," Scientific American 102, (19 March 1910): 240–241. ISSN 0036-8733.
  8. ^ Schenia, "Argentina," 400.
  9. ^ Livermore, "Battleship Diplomacy," 32–33.
  10. ^ Livermore, "Battleship Diplomacy," 33.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Schenia, "Argentina," 401.
  12. ^ Schenia, Latin America, 82.
  13. ^ a b Whitley, Battleships of World War II, 18.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h Schenia, Latin America, 83.
  15. ^ a b Livermore, "Battleship Diplomacy," 34.
  16. ^ Livermore, "Battleship Diplomacy," 35–36.
  17. ^ a b c Livermore, "Battleship Diplomacy," 36.
  18. ^ Quoted in Livermore, "Battleship Diplomacy," 35.
  19. ^ a b c Livermore, "Battleship Diplomacy," 37.
  20. ^ a b c d Livermore, "Battleship Diplomacy," 39.
  21. ^ a b Livermore, "Battleship Diplomacy," 38.
  22. ^ "America to Build Argentine Ships," The New York Times, 23 January 1910, C4.
  23. ^ a b c "Argentine Navy; Dreadnought Orders," Evening Post, London, 23 March 1910, 4.
  24. ^ a b c Philip Alger, "Professional Notes; Ships of War, Budgets and Personnel; Argentine Republic," Proceedings of the United States Naval Institute 31, no. 1 (1910): 595.
  25. ^ a b Livermore, "Battleship Diplomacy," 44.
  26. ^ Quoted in Livermore, "Battleship Diplomacy," 44.
  27. ^ Schenia, Latin America, 104–107.
  28. ^ a b Schenia, "Argentina," 402.
  29. ^ Schenia, Latin America, 321.
  30. ^ Quoted in Schenia, Latin America, 83.
  31. ^ Quoted in Schenia, Latin America, 84.
  32. ^ Quoted in Livermore, "Battleship Diplomacy," 39.
  33. ^ Schenia, Latin America, 354.
  34. ^ "Accuse America of Unfair Competition," The New York Times, 26 November 1911, C4.
  35. ^ "Our Navy Close to England's Now," The New York Times, 11 December 1910, 8.
  36. ^ a b Quoted in Schenia, "Argentina," 402.
  37. ^ Livermore, "Battleship Diplomacy," 45–46.
  38. ^ Livermore, "Battleship Diplomacy," 47.
  39. ^ Schenia, Latin America, 355.
  40. ^ Livermore, "Battleship Diplomacy," 46–47.
  41. ^ Tony DiGiulian, "12"/50 (30.5 cm) Bethlehem," NavWeaps, accessed 11 June 2010.
  42. ^ Friedman, U.S. Battleships, 69.
  43. ^ Friedman, U.S. Battleships, 68.
  44. ^ Friedman, U.S. Battleships, 68–69.
  45. ^ Whitley, Battleships of World War II, 19–20.
  46. ^ "Moreno Launched For Argentine Navy," The New York Times, 24 September 1911, 12.
  47. ^ a b c Whitley, Battleships of World War II, 21.
  48. ^ "The Rivadavia Delayed," The New York Times, 24 August 1914, 7.
  49. ^ "New Battleship Disabled," The New York Times, 3 November 1914, 18.
  50. ^ a b Whitley, Battleships of World War II, 21–22.
  51. ^ "96 Day Tow," The New York Times, 18 August 1957, 61.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rivadavia class battleship.
  • Burzaco, Ricardo; Ortíz, Patricio. Acorazados y Cruceros de la Armada Argentina, 1881–1992. Buenos Aires: Eugenio B. Ediciones, 1997. ISBN 9879676408. OCLC 39297360.
  • Friedman, Norman. U.S. Battleships: An Illustrated Design History. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1985. ISBN 0-87021-715-1. OCLC 12214729.
  • Hore, Peter. Battleships of World War I. London: Southwater, 2007. ISBN 1844763773. OCLC 77797289.
  • Livermore, Seward W. "Battleship Diplomacy in South America: 1905–1925." The Journal of Modern History 16: no. 1 (1944), 31–44. JSTOR 1870986. ISSN 0022-2801. OCLC 62219150.
  • Schenia, Robert L. "Argentina" in Gardiner, Robert; Gray, Randal, eds. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships: 1906–1921. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1984. ISBN 0870219073. OCLC 12119866.
  • Sondhaus, Lawrence. Naval Warfare, 1815–1914. London and New York: Routledge, 2001. ISBN 0415214785. OCLC 44039349.
  • Whitley, M.J. Battleships of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. Annapolis, Maryland, United States: Naval Institute Press, 1998. ISBN 155750184X. OCLC 40834665.

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