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Argentine Navy




The ''' 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 was born as a result of the May 25 , 1810 Revolution . It was not until 1814 , under the leadership of the Irishman 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 America n countries that have operated two Aircraft Carrier s effectively.


Falklands War

See Also: 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 Exocet platform.]]

The new German design MEKO class destroyers, corvettes and Thyssen-Nordseewerke ( 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 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 Etendard s armed with Exocet missiles, sinking 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 . 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.


Aftermath

Meko 360 class destroyer]]
The core of the fleet was reformed with the retirement of all the World War II era Fletcher and Gearing Class Destroyer s 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 Ouragan s but the whole operation was placed in stand 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 Electra s (civilian aircraft converted for Maritime Patrol ) were finally retired and replaced with 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 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 are 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 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 .


SEA FLEET


corvette]]

corvette]]

supply ship]]

Antarctic icebreaker]]

The surface fleet of the Argentine Navy is under the command of the Sea Fleet Command (: ''COmando de la Flota de Mar'' — COFM).

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

Fast Attack Craft

''Intrépida'' -class

Patrol Boats

''Baradero'' -class

Supply ship (AOR)

Amphibious Command Ship (LCC)

Amphibious Assault Vessel (LKA)

Icebreaker (AGOS)

Auxiliary Ships


School Ship


SUBMARINE FORCE


The COFS (: ''COmando de Fuerza de Submarinos'') consists of :

Submarine s

''Santa Cruz'' -class ( TR-1700 )

  • ARA Salta (S-31)




NAVAL AVIATION

]]
on NAeL Sao Paulo ]]
]]
]]
at Aeroparque ]]

The Naval Aviation is abbreviated COAN (: ''COmando de Aviación Naval'') and not ''CANA'' as a commonly erroneous acronym in English bibliography. COAN has 4 main airbases: Comandante Espora (BACE), Almirante Zar (BAAZ), Punta Indio (BAPI) and Almirante Quijada (BAAQ) 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 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 Uruguay an 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.



Naval aircraft inventory


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

In addition to naval aviation, a small air fleet is maintained by the Argentine Coast Guard .


NAVAL INFANTRY


The Naval Infantry of the Argentine Armada, in Spanish '''''Infantería de Marina Armada Republica Argentina''''', or '''''IMARA''''', consists of :

Fleet Marine Force

Southern Marine Force

River Operations Unit


Marine Security Forces

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 Vehicleshttp://www.ara.mil.ar/pnav_infmarina.asp#02


3rd Naval Helicopter Sqn. (Bell UH-1H ) is usually attached to the Fleet Marine Force.


RANKS


Naval Base]]

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 Beard s 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 ''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. Sáenz 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.


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