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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 America n countries that have operated two Aircraft Carrier s effectively.


Falklands/Malvinas War

See Also: Falklands War


See Also: 1982 invasion of the Falkland Islands



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 Etendard s armed with Exocet missiles, sinking the HMS ''Sheffield'' and the ''Atlantic Conveyor'' ; the A-4Q Skyhawk s 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 Destroyer s 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 Ouragan s.

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 Electra s (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 Etendard s 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 America n 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 help to overcame the ''Malvinas syndrome''.

Also, on 2003 , as the first time, the Argentine Navy (classified as Major Non-NATO Ally ) interoperate with an United States Navy battlegroup when destroyer ARA ''Sarandi'' (D-13) joins the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) Carrier Strike Group and Destroyer Squadron 18 as part of Exercise ''Solid Step'' during their tour in the Mediterranean Sea .

Today, the Argentine Navy participate 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 .


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.

]]
See Also: List of ships of the Argentine Navy



Destroyers (DDG)

''Almirante Brown''-class ( MEKO 360)


Frigates (FFG) (classified by the Argentine Navy as " Corvettes ")

''Espora''-class ( MEKO 140)


Large Patrol Vessels

''Murature''-class

Supply ship (AOR)

Amphibious Command Ship (LCC)

Amphibious Assault Vessel (LKA)

Icebreaker (AGOS)

Auxiliary Ships


NAVAL AVIATION

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The COAN ( in 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 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-326 GB 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

Southern Marine Force

River Operations Unit

Marine Security Forces

Auxiliary Units


SUBMARINE FORCE


Submarine s

Santa Cruz-class (TR-1700)
  • ARA Santa Cruz (S-41)

  • ARA San Juan (S-42)

  • Salta-class ( Type 209 )

  • ARA Salta (S-31)




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 pin-on collar metal insignia.

Officers may belong to either the Command (line) Corps or the Professional Corps. 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), white (paymasters) and others. The background color for Command Corps officers is navy blue.

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



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