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Argentine Navy

Era: Cold War · Source: Naval Wargames Society

Argentine Navy vessel data, including ships involved in the Falklands/Malvinas conflict.

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The Argentinean Navy in “Victory at Sea” Page 1 of 11 Armada de la República Argentina The Argentinean Navy in “Victory at Sea” Until the outbreak of WW2 Argentina possessed the most powerful navy in South America. The “Rivadavia” class battleships of the Armada de la República Argentina (ARA) were the best ships of their types, although their effectiveness was on the wane as the rest of the world dipped into war. An ambitious rearming programme was undertaken in the interwar years with new ships purchased from Britain and Italy. This gave Argentina a well balanced and modern supporting fleet. Argentina was also the last of the main South American “ABC” countries (Argentina / Brazil / Chile) to join the “submarine owners club”, which probably gave her the most modern boats of their type in the continent. In common with other South American countries Argentina remained neutral for much of the war. The government of Roberto Ortiz came to and end with his resignation in 1942, after which vice president Castillo took office. Castillo was ousted in a military coup in 1943. The military government had fascist leanings; one of its leading lights and future president, Peron, was a great admirer of Mussolini. Despite this, internal political divisions meant that it was unlikely that Argentina would join the Axis (although it does make an interesting background for “what if” scenarios) and, in common with many other countries eager to make a good impression on the inevitable victors, Argentina declared war on Germany in March 1945. The Argentinean Fleet List The following forms the fleet list for the Argentinean Navy. Priority Level: Patrol Buenos Aires class destroyer Churucca class destroyer Mendoza class destroyer Santa Fe class submersible Curtiss Hawk 75 (4 flights) Curtiss Hawk III (5 flights) Douglas 8A-2 (3 flights) Vought V-142 (3 flights) Martin B-10 (4 flights) Priority Level: Skirmish Vienticinco de Mayo class cruiser La Argentina class cruiser Priority Level: Battle Rivadavia class battleship

The Argentinean Navy in “Victory at Sea” Page 2 of 11 Rivadavia class Battleship The Rivadavias were designed and built in the US as a response to the Brazilian Minas Gerais class. They followed US design practice and featured a heavy armament (for their day) of 12” and 6” guns. Ships of this class: Rivadavia, Moreno Speed: 5” Turning: 2 Target: 5+ Armour: 4+ Damage: 31/11 Crew: 45/15 Special Traits: In Service: 1914 Weapon Range AD DD Special A Turret (2x 12”) 24” 2 1 B Turret (2x 12”) 24” 2 1 P Turret (2x 12”) 24” 2 1 Q Turret (2x 12”) 24” 2 1 X Turret (2x 12”) 24” 2 1 Y Turret (2x 12”) 24” 2 1 Secondary Armament 12” 2 1 Weak Port torpedoes - 1 3 AP, slow loading Starboard torpedoes - 1 3` AP, slow loading AAA 5” 3 - Length: 594 ft. Displacement: 30,600 tons Speed: 22.5 kts. Crew: 1130 Note: P and Q turrets are wing turrets, able to fire to either broadside. P turret can also fire at any target on the starboard side of the ship, Q at any target on the port side.

The Argentinean Navy in “Victory at Sea” Page 3 of 11 Vienticinco de mayo class Cruiser Ships of this class: Vienticinco de Mayo, Almirante Brown These two ships were based on the Italian Trento class cruiser. They were criticised for being overloaded, but were popular with their crews. They were refitted in 1939 (reduce aircraft to 1), and later received radar. Speed: 6” Turning: 2 Target: 5+ Armour: 3+ Damage: 9/3 Crew: 24/8 Special Traits: Aircraft 2 In Service: 1931 Weapon Range AD DD Special A Turret (2 x 7.5” in) 30” 1 1 B Turret (2 x 7.5” in) 30” 1 1 X Turret (2 x 7.5” in) 30” 1 1 Secondary Armament 8” 2 1 Weak AAA 6” 5 - Port Torpedoes - 2 3 AP, One-Shot Starboard Torpedoes - 2 3 AP, One-Shot Length: 560 ft. Displacement: 9,000 tons Speed: 32 kts. Crew: 600

The Argentinean Navy in “Victory at Sea” Page 4 of 11 La Argentina class Cruiser La Argentina was the Argentinean Navy’s training cruiser. She was based on the British Arethusa class light cruiser but was armed with triple 6” turrets rather than twins. In times of war she would have landed her cadets and served as a regular cruiser. Ships of this class: La Argentina Speed: 6” Turning: 2 Target: 5+ Armour: 3+ Damage: 8/3 Crew: 23/8 Special Traits: Agile, Aircraft 1 In Service: 1939 Weapon Range AD DD Special A Turret (3 x 6 in) 24” 1 1 Weak, twin linked B Turret (3 x 6 in) 24” 1 1 Weak, twin linked X Turret (3 x 6 in) 24” 1 1 Weak, twin linked Secondary Armament 12” 1 1 Weak AAA 4” 3 - Port Torpedoes - 2 4 AP, One-Shot Starboard Torpedoes - 2 4 AP, One-Shot Length: 510 ft. Displacement: 7,500 tons Speed: 30 kts. Crew: 556

The Argentinean Navy in “Victory at Sea” Page 5 of 11 Buenos Aires class Destroyer The Buenos Aires class was based on the British “G” class destroyer. All were built in the UK. Corrientes was lost in a collision with the cruiser Almirante Brown in 1941 Ships of this class: Buenos Aires, Corrientes, Entre Rios, Misiones, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Cruz Speed: 7” Turning: 2 Target: 6+ Armour: 2+ Damage: 3/1 Crew: 6/2 Special Traits: Agile In Service: 1937 Weapon Range AD DD Special Secondary Armament 12” 1 1 Weak AAA 5” 1 - Port/Starboard Torpedoes - 4 4 AP, One-Shot Depth Charges 3” 4 2 Slow-Loading Length: 323 ft. Displacement: 2,095 tons Speed: 36 kts. Crew: 130

The Argentinean Navy in “Victory at Sea” Page 6 of 11 Churruca class Destroyer These destroyers were originally built for the Spanish Navy but were purchased whilst still building. Ships of this class: Cervantes, Juan de Garray Speed: 7” Turning: 2 Target: 6+ Armour: 2+ Damage: 3/1 Crew: 7/3 Special Traits: Agile In Service: 1925 Weapon Range AD DD Special Secondary Armament 12” 1 1 Weak AAA 5” 1 - Port/Starboard Torpedoes - 3 4 AP, One-Shot Depth Charges 3” 4 2 Slow-Loading Length: 323 ft. Displacement: 2,087 tons Speed: 36 kts. Crew: 160

The Argentinean Navy in “Victory at Sea” Page 7 of 11 Mendoza class Destroyer These ships were based on the British “Scott” class and were built by Whites on the Isle of Wight. La Rioja reached a top speed of nearly 40 knots on trials.. Ships of this class: La Rioja, Mnedoza, Tucuman Speed: 7” Turning: 2 Target: 6+ Armour: 2+ Damage: 3/1 Crew: 7/3 Special Traits: Agile In Service: 1925 Weapon Range AD DD Special Secondary Armament 12” 1 1 Weak AAA 5” 1 - Port/Starboard Torpedoes - 3 4 AP, One-Shot Depth Charges 3” 4 2 Slow-Loading Length: 332 ft. Displacement: 2,120 tons Speed: 36 kts. Crew: 160

The Argentinean Navy in “Victory at Sea” Page 8 of 11 Santa Fe Class Submersible The Santa Fe class was an Italian design. All boats of the class were built in Italy. They carried a heavy double ended armament of torpedoes. They were quite sprightly vessels when on the surface, making 18 knots. Boats of this class: Santa Fe, Salta, Santiago Del Estero Speed: 4”/2” Turning: 3 Target: 6+ Armour: 2+ Damage: 3/1 Crew: 3/1 Special Traits: Submersible In Service: 1932 Weapon Range AD DD Special AAA 4” 1 - Forward Torpedoes 10” 2 4 AP, Slow loading Aft Torpedoes 10” 2 4 AP, Slow loading Length: 227 ft. Displacement: 920 tons Speed: 18/9 kts. Crew: 35

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