Argentine Navy

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The Navy of the Argentine Republic (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.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Falklands War 1.3 Aftermath 1.4 Present day 2 Sea Fleet 3 Naval Aviation 3.1 Naval Aviation Force 2 3.2 Naval Aviation Force 3 3.3 Naval Instruction Command 3.4 Naval aircraft inventory 4 Marine Corps 5 Submarine Force 6 Ranks 7 References

[edit] History

[edit] Introduction

The Argentine Navy born as a result of the May 25, 1810 revolution, it was not until 1814, under the leadership of Irish man 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.

[edit] Falklands War

Main article: Falklands War

See also: 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 old World War II era ships ( 1 GUPPY class patrol submarine, one light fleet carrier, a crusier 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.

The new German design MEKO class destroyers, corvettes and Thyssen-Nordseewerke TR1700 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 destroying 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.

[edit] 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 TR1700 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 type 209 ARA San Luis was intended to be equipped with a small nuclear reactor but the program was abandoned and the ship retired.

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 standy 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 remaining 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 civilians 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 were in transit in the south Atlantic.

[edit] 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 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.

[edit] Sea Fleet

The surface fleet of the Argentine Navy is under the command of the Sea Fleet Command (Spanish: Comando de la Flota de Mar), known as COFM after its Spanish military acronym.

Main article: List of ships of the Argentine Navy

Destroyers (DDG)

Almirante Brown-class (MEKO 360)

• ARA Almirante Brown (D-10)
• ARA La Argentina (D-11)
• ARA Heroína (D-12)
• ARA Sarandí (D-13)

Hércules-class (Type 42 destroyers)

• ARA Santísima 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 Gómez 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)

Missile Boats

• ARA Intrépida (P-85)
• ARA Indómita (P-85)

Patrol Boats

• ARA Baradero (P-61)
• ARA Barranqueras (P-62)
• ARA Clorinda (P-63)
• ARA Concepción del Uruguay (P-64)

Supply ship (AOR)

• ARA Patagonia (B-1)

Amphibious Command Ship (LCC)

• ARA Hércules (B-52) - formerly a Type 42 destroyer, reconverted to fast Marine transport and command vessel.

Amphibious Assault Vessel (LKA)

• ARA Bahía 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 Alférez Sobral (A-9)

• ARA Ciudad de Zárate (Q-61)
• ARA Ciudad de Rosario (Q-62)
• ARA Punta Alta (Q-63)

School Ship

• ARA Libertad (Q-2)

[edit] Naval Aviation

The COAN (Spanish: Comando de Aviación Naval) and not CANA as is commonly wrong shortened by some foreign bibliography, has 4 main airbases: Comandante Espora (BACE), Almirante Zar (BAAZ), Punta Indio (BAPI) and Almirante Quijada (BAAQ) at Río Grande, Tierra del Fuego.

[edit] Naval Aviation Force 2

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 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 Helicópteros (1st naval Helicopters Sqd) : Aerospatiale SA-316B Alouette III and Eurocopter AS-555SN Fennec

• 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

[edit] 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 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.

[edit] Naval Instruction Command

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.

[edit] Naval aircraft inventory

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

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service[1]	Notes
Aerospatiale Alouette III	France	Helicopter	SA 316B	4
Beechcraft 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		8
Embraer EMB-326	Brazil	Trainer / Attack		9
Eurocopter Fennec	European Union	Utility helicopter	AS 555	4
Fokker F28	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	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.

[edit] Marine Corps

Official seal of the Almirante Brown Military Naval Lyceum (Liceo Naval Militar Almirante Brown)

Argentine stamp with the image of Admiral Guillermo Brown

The IMARA (Spanish: Infanteria de Marina Armada Republica Argentina) consists of :

Fleet Marine Force

• 2nd Marine Corps Battalion
• 1st Amphibious Vehicles Battalion
• Amphibious Engineers Battalion
• Command and Logistical Support Battalion
• 1st Communications Battalion
• 1st Field Artillery Battalion
• Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion
• Amphibious Commandos Group (APCA)

Southern Marine Force

• 4th Marine Corps Battalion
• 5th Marine Corps Battalion
• Naval Detachment Río Grande

River Operations Unit

• 3rd Marine Corps Battalion

Marine Security Forces

• Navy General Staff Security Battalion
• Puerto Belgrano Naval Base Security Battalion

Auxiliary Units The Marine Corps also makes up for most of the Security Companies at Naval and Naval Air Bases.

Current Deployment IMARA has two Inf. Coys deployed in Haiti and Cyprus under the auspices of MINUSTAH and UNFICYP respectively in joint operations with the Argentine Army and Argentine Air Force. A small platton is also deployed in Kosovo. Several Marine Officers and NCO's are routinely deployed as military observers for the UN.

Weapons and Equipment

-Weapons and Vehicles

• LVTP-7 Amphibious APC
• LARC-5 Amphibious Truck
• ERC-90F1 "Lynx" Recon. Vehicle
• VCR-TT 4x4 Wheeled APC
• VCR-AA 4x4 Wheeled AAA
• M-1025 HMMWV
• M-997 HMMWV
• M-997 HMMWV
• M-101 105 mm Howitzer
• M-56 105 mm Pack Howitzer
• M-114A1 155 Howitzer
• SOLTAM 81 mm Mortar
• Mk.19 AGL
• FN MAG GPMG
• M-249 LMG
• M-16A2 AR

3rd Naval Helicopter Sqn. is usually attached to the Fleet Marine Force.

[edit] Submarine Force

Type 209 (S-31) ARA Salta

Buzos Tacticos ⋅in training

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

[edit] 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 (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 Capitán de Corbeta (Lieutenant Commander). Adm. Stella gave the example himself by becoming the first bearded Argentine admiral since Adm. Sáenz Valiente in the 1920s. Protocol still requires officers to appear clean-shaved on duty , thus forcing those who choose to sport beards to grow them while on leave. Technically, only full beards are allowed (not goatees or other fancy uses); however, there is greater tolerance in practice regarding seniority as well as beard style. Nowadays, bearded Argentine naval officers 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)	(No equivalent)	(Honorary rank; no NATO equivalent)
	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)

[edit] References

1. ^ "", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15, 2007.

• (Spanish) Official website
• (Spanish) Unofficial website
• (Spanish) Organization and equipment