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Argentine Navy
The Navy of the Argentine Republic or Armada of the Argentine Republic ( 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.
The Argentine Navy day is celebrated on May 17, anniversary of the victory achieved in 1814 in the Battle of Montevideo over the Spanish fleet during the war of Independence.
Ships of the Argentine Navy are designated with the prefix ARA before its name.
History
Introduction
The Argentine Navy was created in the aftermath of the May Revolution of May 25, 1810. Not until 1814, under the leadership of the Irishman Lt. Colonel (Navy) William Brown did the Argentine Navy become a decisive player in the war 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. With Brazil, Argentina is one of but two South American countries to have operated two aircraft carriers effectively.
Beagle conflict
The Dirty War
Personnel from the Argentine Navy were involved in the Dirty War in the late 1970s in which thousands of people were kidnapped, tortured and killed by the forces of the Military Junta. The Naval Mechanics School, known as ESMA, was a notorious centre used for torture. Amongst the more well-known victims of the Argentine Navy was the Swedish teenage Au pair Dagmar Hagelin and French nuns, Alice Domon and Leonie Duquet. In October 2007 the Argentine navy formally handed possession of the School to human rights groups which will now be turned into a memorial museum.
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 modernised 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 (Type 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 only a small part in the subsequent conflict with the Royal Navy. After HMS Conqueror sank the ARA General Belgrano, the Argentine surface 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 (SSNs).
The Argentine Navy's contributions to the war were with naval aviation its Exocet armed Super Etendards sinking HMS Sheffield and the Atlantic Conveyor, its 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. Naval aviation also carried out intensive maritime patrols searching to locate the British Fleet for the strike aircraft whilst their transports provided logistical support.
The ARA San Luis submarine also played a strategic role, and was a real concern to the British, although she scored no hits. The submarine ARA Santa Fe, after a successful resupply mission, was attacked and disabled off South Georgia, where her crew then surrendered along with the Argentine detachment at Grytviken. She 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 to 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 Etendard 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 similar 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 decommissioned without replacement, although the navy maintains the air group of Super Etendards jets and S-2 Tracker that routinely operates from Brazilian Navy aircraft carrier 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 it was known, with more than 700 interceptions and 25,000 miles sailed on the operations theatre helped to overcome the so-called "Malvinas syndrome".
On 1994, the three Drummond class corvettes participated on Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti con el proposito de asegurar el cumplimiento del embargo comercial, dispuesto por el Consejo de Seguridad, por medio de las corbetas ARA Grandville, ARA Guerrico y ARA Drummond..
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 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. Joint NCAGS exercises, such as TRANSOCEANIC, TRANSAMERICA and COAMAS are also routinely held, in order to develop a common operational doctrine. The NCAGS Organisation is headed by the Naval Shipping Command (Comando Naval de Transito Maritimo), acting as Local Operational Control Command ("COLCO in Spanish) with two subordinate Operational Control Authorities (OCA's) and several Naval Control of Shipping Officers (NCSO's) bureaus along the Coastline, both Navy and Coast Guard manned.
[[Image:Q61 Ciudad de Zarate.jpg|180px|thumb|[[ARA Ciudad de Zarate (Q-61)]|ARA Ciudad de Zarate (Q-61)]] auxiliary ship.]]
.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.
On 2010 the construction start of four 1.800ton offshore patrol ships was announced mindef: El comienzo en agosto proximo en los Astilleros Tandanor (en Buenos Aires) de la construccion primera de las cuatro Patrulleras Oceanicas Multiproposito, cuya ingenieria basica fue adquirida a la industria chilena..
Sea Fleet
The surface fleet of the Argentine Navy is under the command of the Sea Fleet Command . The maintenance of the ships is made at Tandanor and Rio Santiago shipyards and in the main naval base Puerto Belgrano.
Combat ships
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 (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)
Support ships
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)
Oceanographic Ship
ARA Puerto Deseado (Q-20)
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 the following 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 Command is abbreviated COAN ( ) and is one of two south american countries to have operated two aircraft carriers. The service became famous worldwide during the 1982 Falklands War.
Naval Infantry
The Infanteria de Marina de la Armada de la Republica Argentina (IMARA) ( ) is the land warfare amphibious branch of the Argentine Navy. Argentine Marines have the same rank insignia and titles as the rest of the Navy and they are currently deployed abroad on UN mandates.
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. Line Corps' reserve officers are considered Restricted Line ( Escalafon Complementario ) officers in any of the Warfare Communities , and can only raise to OF-4 rank ( Capitan de Fragata ).
All Line Corps officers were distinctive branch/sub-branch insignia on the right breast. Some Staff Corps officers also wear specialization badges . Other common insignia is the Naval War College insignia, parachute wings, etc., also worn on the right breast. Medals and Ribbons, if awarded, are worn on the left breast, just above the chest pocket.
The rank insignia of Staff 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 20th 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.
References
Further reading
Guia de los buques de la Armada Argentina 2005-2006. Ignacio Amendolara Bourdette, ISBN 987-43-9400-5, Editor n/a. (Spanish/English text)
See also
Argentine naval forces in the Falklands War
List of ships of the Argentine Navy
List of auxiliary ships of the Argentine Navy
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
