Argentine Navy

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.

History

Introduction

The Argentine Navy born as a result of the May 25, 1810 revolution, it was not until 1814, under the leadership of 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 Argentine 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/Malvinas War

During the war, the fleet consist of old WWII era destroyers and submarines with the new German design MEKO class destroyers, corvettes and Thyssen-Nordseewerke TR1700 submarines still under construction.

Despite leading the invasion of the Falkland Islands, in both political and military 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 navy's fleet dared not venture from a 12 mile (22.2 km) coastal limit imposed by the British lest they too were attacked by the Royal Navy's fleet of nuclear powered submarines.

The Naval success of the war were the naval aviation with its Super Etendards armed with Exocet missiles, sinking the 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.

The ARA San Luis submarine also played a strategic role.

Aftermath

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

Also, the submarine force greatly reinforce their assets with the introduction of the Thyssen Nordseewerke TR1700 class. Althougth the original program calls for six units with the last four build in Argentina, only 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 will be improved during 2006 with the delivery made by France of the first of the LPD Ouragans.

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.

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 annually maneuvers are UNITAS, ARAEX, TEMPEREX, FRATERNO and ATLASUR.

Every year in conjuntion 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

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

Destroyers (DDG)

Almirante Brown-class (MEKO 360)

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)

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

Large Patrol Vessels

Murature-class

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

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, Trelew, Punta Indio and Almirante Quijada at Río Grande, Tierra del Fuego.

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

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.

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.

Marine Corps

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

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 UNMISTAH and UNFICYP, respectively. 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 105mm Howitzer
M-56 105mm Pack Howitzer
M-114A1 155 Howitzer
SOLTAM 81mm 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.

Submarine Force

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 (APBT)
1 Rescue Ship
1 Patrol Boat

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 (Profesional 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 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.

NATO Rank Code	Insignia	Argentinian Rank	Transliteration
OF-9	Almirante	Admiral	Admiral
OF-8	Vicealmirante	Vice Admiral	Vice Admiral
OF-7	Contraalmirante	Rear Admiral	Rear Admiral (Upper Half)
OF-6	Comodoro de Marina	Navy Commodore	Rear Admiral (Lower Half)
OF-5	Capitán de Navío	Warship Captain	Captain
OF-4	Capitán de Fragata	Frigate Captain	Commander
OF-3	Capitán de Corbeta	Corvette Captain	Lieutenant Commander
OF-2	Teniente de Navío	Warship Lieutenant	Lieutenant
OF-1	Teniente de Fragata	Frigate Lieutenant	Lieutenant (Junior Grade)
OF-1	Teniente de Corbeta	Corvette Lieutenant	Ensign
OF-D	Guardiamarina	Midshipman	no equivalent

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	Argentinian Rank	Transliteration
Suboficial Mayor	Senior Sub-officer
Suboficial Principal	Master Sub-officer
Suboficial Primero	First Sub-officer
Suboficial Segundo	Second Sub-officer
Cabo Principal	Master Corporal
Cabo Primero	First Corporal
Cabo Segundo	Second Corporal
Marinero Primero	First Seaman
Marinero Segundo	Second Seaman

External links