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Argentine Navy

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Argentine Navy
Armada de la República Argentina
Argentine Navy Jack
(Ratio 50:57)
CountryArgentina
EngagementsArgentine War of Independence
Falklands War
Insignia
Service EmblemFile:Argentine navy service emblem.gif

The Navy of the Argentine Republic or Armada of the Argentine Republic (Template:Es icon: Armada de la República Argentina — ARA) is the navy of Argentina. It is one of the three branches of the Argentine Armed Forces, together with the Army and the Air Force.

History

Rivadavia class battleship under construction in the US for the Argentine Navy. Photo taken in 1912. Two ships of this class entered service in 1914–1915 and served until 1956

Introduction

The Argentine Navy was born as a result of the May 25, 1810 revolution. It was not until 1814, under the leadership of the Irishman Lt. Colonel (Navy) William Brown when it became a decisive player in the fight for independence from Spain.

In the late 19th century, the Argentine Army began modernizing itself. Although Argentina remained neutral in both world wars, the country's Navy was a force to be reckoned with. In the postwar period, Naval Aviation and Marine Corps units were created and developed. Along with Brazil, Argentina is one of the two South American countries that have operated two aircraft carriers effectively.

Falklands War

Main article: Falklands War
See also: Argentine naval forces in the Falklands War and 1982 invasion of the Falkland Islands

During the 1982 Falklands conflict termed by the Argentines Guerra de las Malvinas / Guerra del Atlántico Sur the Main Argentine Naval Fleet consisted of modernised World War II era ships ( 1 GUPPY class patrol submarine, one light fleet carrier, a cruiser and four destroyers ) supported with new ones ( 2 Type 42 class destroyers, 3 French built corvettes and one German built 209 Class submarines ). This fleet was supported by eight tankers and transports as well as two ice breakers.

Super Etendard. The Exocet platform.

The new German design MEKO class destroyers, corvettes and Thyssen-Nordseewerke (TR-1700) submarines were still under construction.

Despite leading the invasion of the Falkland Islands, in both strategic and tactical aspects the Argentine fleet played a small part in the subsequent conflict with the Royal Navy. After HMS Conqueror sank the ARA General Belgrano, the Argentine fleet did not venture from a 12 mile (22.2 km) coastal limit imposed by the British due to the threat posed by the Royal Navy fleet of nuclear powered submarines (SSN's).

The Argentine Navy's contributions to the war were with naval aviation and its Super Etendards armed with Exocet missiles, sinking HMS Sheffield and the Atlantic Conveyor; the A-4Q Skyhawks sinking HMS Ardent (F184); and the Marines, with the 5th Marine Corps Battalion role at Mount Tumbledown. In addition, a landbased exocet-battery outside Port Stanley scored a direct hit on HMS Glamorgan.

The ARA San Luis submarine also played a strategic role, and was of concern to the British. The submarine ARA Santa Fe was attacked and disabled off South Georgia, where she then surrendered and was later scuttled by the British.

Aftermath

ARA Almirante Brown (D-10) Meko 360 class destroyer

The core of the fleet was reformed with the retirement of all the World War II era Fletcher and Gearing class destroyers and their replacement with the MEKO 360 and 140 classes designed by the German shipyard Blohm + Voss.

Also, the submarine force greatly reinforced their assets with the introduction of the Thyssen Nordseewerke (TR-1700) class. Although the original program called for six units with the last four to be built in Argentina, only the two built in Germany were delivered.

The amphibious force was drastically affected with the retirement of their only landing ship LST Q-42 ARA Cabo San Antonio and replacement by modified commercial cargo ships. This situation was to be improved during 2006 with the delivery made by France of the first of the LPD Ouragans but the whole operation was placed in stand by the Argentine Government due to asbestos concerns.

France also transferred the Durance, now B-1 ARA Patagonia, multi-product replenishment ship (AOR) enhancing the capabilities of the fleet.

ARA San Juan TR1700 submarine class

In 1988 the A-4Q Skyhawks were withdrawn leaving the Super Etendards as the only fighter jets in the navy inventory. The already paid A-4Hs bought in Israel as their replacement could not been delivered due the embargo imposed by the United States after the War. Instead IAI used the money to refurbish the S-2E Trackers to the S-2T Turbo Tracker current variant.

In the 1990s, the embargo was lifted and the Lockheed L-188 Electras (civilian aircraft converted for maritime patrol) were finally retired and replaced with P-3B Orions and civilian Beechcraft King Air Model 200 were locally converted to the MP variant.

In 2000 the aircraft carrier ARA Veinticinco de Mayo was removed without replacement althougth the navy maintains the air group of Super Etendards jets and S-2 Tracker that routinely operates from Brazilian Navy aircraft carrier NAeL São Paulo or United States Navy carriers when they are in transit in the south Atlantic.

Present day

Joint operations

Argentina was the only Latin American country to participate in the 1991 Gulf War sending a destroyer and a corvette in first term and a supply ship and another corvette later to participate on the United Nations blockade and sea control effort of the gulf. The success of Operación Alfil (English: Operation Bishop) as is was known, with more than 700 interceptions and 25.000 miles sailed on the operations theatre helped to overcome the Malvinas syndrome.

Also, on 2003, as the first time, the Argentine Navy (classified as major non-NATO ally) interoperated with an United States Navy battlegroup when destroyer ARA Sarandi (D-13) joined the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) Carrier Strike Group and Destroyer Squadron 18 as a part of Exercise Solid Step during their tour in the Mediterranean Sea.

Today, the Argentine Navy participates in joint exercises with other friendly navies like Brazil, United States, Spain, France, Canada, South Africa, Italy, Uruguay, and since the 1990s Chile. Examples of such annual maneuvers are UNITAS, ARAEX, TEMPEREX, FRATERNO and ATLASUR.

Every year in conjunction with the Chilean Navy they join in the Patrulla Antártica Naval Combinada (English: Joint Antarctic Naval Patrol) to guarantee safety to all touristic and scientific ships that are in transit within the Antarctic Peninsula.

Sea Fleet

ARA Robinson (P-45) corvette
ARA Granville (P-33) corvette
ARA Patagonia (B-1) supply ship
ARA Almirante Irízar (Q-5) Antarctic icebreaker
ARA Ciudad de Rosario (Q-62) auxiliary ship
ARA Francisco de Gurruchaga (A-3) auxiliary ship

The surface fleet of the Argentine Navy is under the command of the Sea Fleet Command (Template:Es icon: COmando de la Flota de Mar — COFM).

Main article: List of ships of the Argentine Navy

Destroyers (DDG)

Almirante Brown-class (MEKO 360)

Hércules-class (Type 42 destroyers)

Frigates (FFG) (classified by the Argentine Navy as "corvettes")

Espora -class (MEKO 140)

Drummond -class (D'Estienne d'Orves class)

Large Patrol Vessels

Murature -class

Fast Attack Craft

Intrépida -class

Patrol Boats

Baradero -class

Supply ship (AOR)

Amphibious Command Ship (LCC)

Amphibious Assault Vessel (LKA)

Icebreaker (AGOS)

Auxiliary Ships

School Ship

Submarine Force

Type 209 (S-31) ARA Salta
File:ArgentineAPBT.jpg
Buzos Tacticos ⋅in training

The COFS (Template:Es icon: COmando de Fuerza de Submarinos) consists of :

Submarines

Santa Cruz -class (TR-1700)

  • ARA Santa Cruz (S-41)
  • ARA San Juan (S-42)

Salta -class (Type 209)

  • ARA Salta (S-31)
Super Étendard commencing a 'touch and go' landing on the USS Ronald Reagan
File:S2TrackerSaoPaulo.jpg
S-2T Tracker on NAeL Sao Paulo
Lockheed P-3B Orion
Fennec on ARA Almirante Brown
Fokker F28 at Aeroparque

The Naval Aviation is abbreviated COAN (Template:Es icon: COmando de Aviación Naval) and not CANA as a commonly erroneous acronym in English bibliography. COAN has 4 main airbases: Comandante Espora (BACE), Almirante Zar (BAAZ), Punta Indio (BAPI) and Almirante Quijada (BAAQ) at Río Grande, Tierra del Fuego.

The Fuerza Aeronaval Numero 2 is based at navy airbase Comandante Espora, near Bahía Blanca and concentrate all the embarked aircraft.

  • 2da Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Helicópteros (2nd naval Helicopters Sqd) : Sikorsky S-61 D4 H-3 Sea King and Agusta AS-61 Sea King
  • 3ra Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Helicópteros (3rd naval Helicopters Sqd) : Bell UH-1 Iroquois, assigned to the marines - transferred to the army on February 7 2008.[1]

The Fuerza Aeronaval Numero 3 is based at navy airbase Almirante Zar, near Trelew to perform sea control and Search and rescue duties along the Argentine coast from the Uruguayan border to the Antarctic Peninsula.

  • Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Exploración (Exploration naval Sqd) : Lockheed P-3B Orion
  • Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Vigilancia Marítima (Maritime Survey Naval Sqd) : Beechcraft B200 Cormorán, locally converted for the maritime patrol role
  • 2da Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Sostén Logístico Móvil (2nd naval Transport Sqd) : Based at Ezeiza international Airport in Buenos Aires, they use Fokker F28 Mk.3000C Fellowship for support all navy units.

The Comando de Instruccion Naval is based at navy airbase Punta Indio, near La Plata, Buenos Aires.

  • Escuela de Aviación Naval (Naval Air School) : Beechraft T-34 C.1 Turbo Mentor
  • 1ra Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Ataque (1st Naval Attack Sqd) : Embraer EMB-326GB Xavante
  • Agrupación Aeronaval Aerofotográfica (Naval Air photograph Sqd) : Beechcraft B200 Super King Air in the recognition, training and transport roles.

The COAN operates a total of 67 aircraft, of which 47 are fixed-wing.

Template:Standard table ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service[2] ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes |----- | Aérospatiale SA 316 Alouette III |  France | Helicopter | SA 316B | 4 | |----- | Beechcraft Super King Air |  United States | Transport / Special missions | | 7 | |----- | Beechcraft T-34 Mentor |  United States | Trainer | T-34C-1 | 9 | |----- | Bell 205 |  United States | Utility helicopter | UH-1H | 6 | |----- | Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard |  France | Attack | | 2 | 6 out of service |----- | Embraer EMB-326 |  Brazil | Trainer / Attack | | 9 | |----- | Eurocopter AS 555 Fennec |  Europe | Utility helicopter | AS 555 | 4 | |----- | Fokker F28 Fellowship |  Netherlands | Transport | F28-3000 | 2 | |----- | Grumman S-2 Tracker |  United States | Maritime Patrol / Anti-submarine | IAI S-2T Turbo Tracker | 5 | |----- | Lockheed P-3 Orion |  United States | Maritime patrol | P-3B | 6 | |----- | Pilatus PC-6 Porter |  Switzerland | Utility | PC-6/B | 1 | |----- | Sikorsky S-61 Sea King |  Italy
 United States | Anti-submarine helicopter | Agusta ASH-3H
S-61 | 2
4 | |}

In addition to naval aviation, a small air fleet is maintained by the Argentine Coast Guard.

File:Guillermo brown1.jpg
Argentine stamp with the image of Admiral Guillermo Brown

The Naval Infantry of the Armada of the Argentine Republic (Infantería de Marina de la Armada de la República Argentina, IMARA) is a part of the Argentine Navy. Argentine Marines have the same rank insignia and titles as the rest of the Navy. It is composed of a Fleet Marine Force (one Marine Battalion, plus artillery, air defence, communications, logistics, engineer and vehicle units), a Southern Marine Force (2 Marine Battalions), a River Operations Battalion, a Special Forces Unit and several Security Battalions and Companies.

Ranks

File:Puerto Belgrano.jpg
Puerto Belgrano Naval Base

Officers

Rank insignia consists of a variable number of gold-braid stripes worn on the sleeve cuffs or on shoulderboards. Officers may be distinguished by the characteristic loop of the top stripe (in the manner of British Royal Navy officers). Combat uniforms may include metal pin-on or embroidered collar rank insignia. Rank insignia is worn on the chest when in shipboard or flying coveralls.

Officers are commissioned in either the Command (line) Corps (those who attend the Escuela Naval Militar- Naval College) or the Staff Corps (Professional Officers who only attend a short course in the Naval Academy after getting a civilian degree, except for the Paymasters who indeed attend the Naval College). The Line Corps is divided into three branches: the Naval branch (including Surface Warfare, Submarine Warfare and Naval Aviation sub-branches), the Marine Corps branch, and Executive -Engineering- branch. ll line officers were distinctive branch/sub-branch insignia on the right breast. The rank insignia of Professional Corps' officers is placed over a background color denoting the wearer's field, such as purple (Chaplains), blue (Engineers), red (Health Corps), white (Paymasters), green (Judge Advocate Officers), brown (Technical Officers, promoted from the ranks) and gray (special branch). The background color for Command Corps officers is navy blue/black.

Grooming

Following a global trend, Argentine armed forces have outlawed beards since the 1920s. This was reinforced in the Cold War era when they were deemed synonymous with leftist leanings. The only exception were Antarctic service within the three armed forces as a protection from cold weather, and submarine service within the Navy as a way of saving water. However, shaving was mandatory upon return to headquarters. Before the end of XX century the Navy became a singularity within the Argentine armed forces as Adm. Joaquín Stella, then Navy Chief of Staff allowed beards in 2000 for officers with ranks above Teniente de Corbeta (Ensign), according to Section 1.10.1.1 of the Navy Uniform regulations (R.A-1-001). Adm. Stella gave the example himself by becoming the first bearded Argentine admiral since Adm. Sáenz Valiente in the 1920s. Non commissioned officers can wear beards from Suboficial Segundo rank, and upwards. Protocol still requires officers to appear clean-shaved on duty, thus forcing those who choose to sport beards to grow them while on leave. Both full beards and goatees are allowed, as long as they profer a professional, non-eccentric image. Nowadays, bearded Argentine naval officers and senior NCO's are a relatively common sight.

Insignia Argentine Rank (in Spanish) Argentine Rank (in English) Equivalent Royal Navy Rank Equivalent US Navy Rank NATO Rank Code
Almirante Admiral Admiral/Vice-Admiral Admiral/Vice-Admiral OF-9/OF-8
Vicealmirante Vice-Admiral Rear Admiral Rear Admiral (Upper Half) OF-7
Contraalmirante Rear Admiral Commodore Rear Admiral (Lower Half) OF-6
Comodoro de Marina Naval Commodore No equivalent - honorary rank No equivalent - honorary rank OF-6
Capitán de Navío Ship-of-the-Line Captain Captain Captain OF-5
Capitán de Fragata Frigate Captain Commander Commander OF-4
Capitán de Corbeta Corvette Captain Lieutenant-Commander Lieutenant Commander OF-3
Teniente de Navío Ship-of-the-Line Lieutenant Lieutenant Lieutenant OF-2
Teniente de Fragata Frigate Lieutenant Sub-Lieutenant Lieutenant (Junior Grade) OF-1
Teniente de Corbeta Corvette Lieutenant Acting Sub-Lieutenant Ensign OF-1
Guardiamarina Midshipman Midshipman no equivalent OF-D

Enlisted men and Non-Commissioned Officers

Other ranks' insignia (not including Seamen) is worn on either shoulderboards or breast or sleeve patches. First and Second Seamen wear their insignia on their sleeves. The shoulderboards denote the wearer's specialty.

Insignia Argentine Rank (in Spanish) Argentine Rank (in English) Equivalent RN Rank (approximate)
Suboficial Mayor Sub-Officer Major Warrant Officer
Suboficial Principal Principal Sub-Officer Warrant Officer 2
Suboficial Primero Sub-Officer First Class Chief Petty Officer
Suboficial Segundo Sub-Officer Second Class Petty Officer
Cabo Principal Principal Corporal Leading Rate
Cabo Primero Corporal First Class (No equivalent)
Cabo Segundo Corporal Second Class Able Rate
Marinero Primero Seaman First Class Ordinary Rate
Marinero Segundo Seaman Second Class (No equivalent)

References

  1. ^ Air Forces Monthly April 2008 issue, pp.18.
  2. ^ "", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15 2007.

See also

.

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