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Argentine Navy
The Navy of the Argentine Republic or Armada of the Argentine Republic 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
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
During the 1982 Falklands conflict termed by the Argentines Guerra de las Malvinas / Guerra del Atlantico Sur the Main Argentine Naval Fleet consisted of old World War II era ships supported with new ones . This fleet was supported by eight tankers and transports as well as two ice breakers.
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 Georgias, where she then surrendered and was later scuttled by the British.
Aftermath
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 asbestos concerns.
France also transferred the Durance, now B-1 ARA Patagonia, multi-product replenishment ship (AOR) enhancing the capabilities of the fleet.
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 Sao Paulo or United States Navy carriers when they are in transit in the south Atlantic.
Present day
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 Operacion Alfil 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 Antartica Naval Combinada to guarantee safety to all touristic and scientific ships that are in transit within the Antarctic Peninsula.
Sea Fleet
The surface fleet of the Argentine Navy is under the command of the Sea Fleet Command .
Destroyers (DDG)
Almirante Brown-class (MEKO 360)
ARA Almirante Brown (D-10)
ARA La Argentina (D-11)
ARA Heroina (D-12)
ARA Sarandi (D-13)Hercules-class (Type 42 destroyers)
ARA Santisima Trinidad (D-2) - in reserve
Frigates (FFG) (classified by the Argentine Navy as "corvettes")
Espora -class (MEKO 140)
ARA Espora (P-41)
ARA Rosales (P-42)
ARA Spiro (P-43)
ARA Parker (P-44)
ARA Robinson (P-45)
ARA Gomez Roca (P-46)Drummond -class (D'Estienne d'Orves class)
ARA Drummond (P-31)
ARA Guerrico (P-32)
ARA Granville (P-33)
Large Patrol Vessels
Murature -class
ARA Murature (P-20)
ARA King (P-21)
Fast Attack Craft
Intrepida -class
ARA Intrepida (P-85)
ARA Indomita (P-86)
Patrol Boats
Baradero -class
ARA Baradero (P-61)
ARA Barranqueras (P-62)
ARA Clorinda (P-63)
ARA Concepcion del Uruguay (P-64)
Supply ship (AOR)
ARA Patagonia (B-1)
Amphibious Command Ship (LCC)
ARA Hercules (B-52) - formerly a Type 42 destroyer, reconverted to fast Marine transport and command vessel.
Amphibious Assault Vessel (LKA)
ARA Bahia San Blas (B-4)
Icebreaker (AGOS)
ARA Almirante Irizar (Q-5)
Auxiliary Ships
ARA Teniente Olivieri (A-2)
ARA Comandante General Irigoyen (A-1)
ARA Francisco de Gurruchaga (A-3)
ARA Suboficial Castillo (A-6)
ARA Alferez Sobral (A-9)
ARA Ciudad de Zarate (Q-61)
ARA Ciudad de Rosario (Q-62)
ARA Punta Alta (Q-63)
School Ship
ARA Libertad (Q-2)
Submarine Force
The COFS 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)
1 Tactical Divers Group (Buzos Tacticos)
1 Rescue Ship
1 Patrol Boat
Naval Aviation
The Naval Aviation is abbreviated COAN 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 Rio Grande, Tierra del Fuego.
Naval Aviation Force 2
The Fuerza Aeronaval Numero 2 is based at navy airbase Comandante Espora, near Bahia Blanca and concentrate all the embarked aircraft.
2da Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Caza y Ataque (2nd naval Fighter/Attack Sqd) : Dassault-Breguet Super Etendard
Escuadrilla Aeronaval Antisubmarina (Antisubmarine naval Sqd) : Grumman/IAI S-2T Turbo Tracker and Pilatus PC-6B2/H2 Turbo Porter
1ra Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Helicopteros (1st naval Helicopters Sqd) : Aerospatiale SA-316B Alouette III and Eurocopter AS-555SN Fennec
2da Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Helicopteros (2nd naval Helicopters Sqd) : Sikorsky S-61 D4 H-3 Sea King and Agusta AS-61 Sea King
3ra Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Helicopteros (3rd naval Helicopters Sqd) : Bell UH-1 Iroquois, assigned to the marines
Naval Aviation Force 3
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 Exploracion (Exploration naval Sqd) : Lockheed P-3B Orion
Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Vigilancia Maritima (Maritime Survey Naval Sqd) : Beechcraft B200 Cormoran, locally converted for the maritime patrol role
2da Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Sosten Logistico Movil (2nd naval Transport Sqd) : Based at Ezeiza international Airport in Buenos Aires, they use Fokker F28 Mk.3000C Fellowship for support all navy units.
Naval Instruction Command
The Comando de Instruccion Naval is based at navy airbase Punta Indio, near La Plata, Buenos Aires.
Escuela de Aviacion Naval (Naval Air School) : Beechraft T-34 C.1 Turbo Mentor
1ra Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Ataque (1st Naval Attack Sqd) : Embraer EMB-326GB Xavante
Agrupacion Aeronaval Aerofotografica (Naval Air photograph Sqd) : Beechcraft B200 Super King Air in the recognition, training and transport roles.
Naval aircraft inventory
The COAN operates a total of 67 aircraft, of which 47 are fixed-wing.
! 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"", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15 2007.
! style="text-align: left; background: aacccc;"|Notes
|----- | Aerospatiale SA 316 Alouette III | | Helicopter | SA 316B | 4 | |----- | Beechcraft Super King Air | | Transport / Special missions | | 7 | |----- | Beechcraft T-34 Mentor | | Trainer | T-34C-1 | 9 | |----- | Bell 205 | | Utility helicopter | UH-1H | 6 | |----- | Dassault-Breguet Super Etendard | | Attack | | 8 | |----- | Embraer EMB-326 | | Trainer / Attack | | 9 | |----- | Eurocopter AS 555 Fennec | | Utility helicopter | AS 555 | 4 | |----- | Fokker F28 Fellowship | | Transport | F28-3000 | 2 | |----- | Grumman S-2 Tracker | | Maritime Patrol / Anti-submarine | IAI S-2T Turbo Tracker | 5 | |----- | Lockheed P-3 Orion | | Maritime patrol | P-3B | 6 | |----- | Pilatus PC-6 Porter | | Utility | PC-6/B | 1 | |----- | Sikorsky S-61 Sea King || 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.
Naval Infantry
The Naval Infantry of the Armada of the Argentine Republic 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 , a Southern Marine Force (2 Marine Battalions), a River Operations Battalion, a Special Forces Unit and several Security Battalions and Companies.
Ranks
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 .
The Line Corps is divided into three branches: the Naval branch , 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 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. Joaquin 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. Saenz 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.
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.
See also
Argentine naval forces in the Falklands War
External links
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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Argentine Navy
