Argentine Navy - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Navy
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...

of the Argentine Republic or Armada
Armada
Armada is the Spanish and Portuguese word for naval fleet, or an adjective meaning 'armed'; Armáda is the Czech and Slovak for armed forces...

of the Argentine Republic ( — ARA) is the navy

Navy

A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...

of Argentina

Argentina

Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...

. It is one of the three branches of the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic, together with the Army

Argentine Army

The Argentine Army is the land armed force branch of the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic and the senior military service of the country.- History :...

and the Air Force

Argentine Air Force

The Argentine Air Force is the national aviation branch of the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic. , it had 14,606 military and 6,854 civilian staff.-History:...

.

The Argentine Navy day

Navy Day

Several nations observe or have observed a Navy Day to recognize their navy. The term is also used in Britain to mean an open day at a dockyard such as HMNB Portsmouth, when the public can visit military ships and see air displays, roughly along the lines of an American Fleet Week .- Argentina...

is celebrated on May 17, anniversary of the victory achieved in 1814 in the Battle of Montevideo

Action of 14 May 1814

The Battle of Buceo took place on 14–17 May 1814, during the Argentine War of Independence between an Argentine fleet under William Brown and a Spanish fleet under Admiral Sienna off the coast of Montevideo, in today's Uruguay.-Outcome:...

over the Spanish fleet during the war of Independence

Argentine War of Independence

The Argentine War of Independence was fought from 1810 to 1818 by Argentine patriotic forces under Manuel Belgrano, Juan José Castelli and José de San Martín against royalist forces loyal to the Spanish crown...

.

Each ship of the Argentine Navy is designated with the prefix

Ship prefix

A ship prefix is a combination of letters, usually abbreviations, used in front of the name of a civilian or naval ship.Prefixes for civilian vessels may either identify the type of propulsion, such as "SS" for steamship, or purpose, such as "RV" for research vessel. Civilian prefixes are often...

ARA before its name.

19th Century

The Argentine Navy was created in the aftermath of the May Revolution

May Revolution

The May Revolution was a week-long series of events that took place from May 18 to 25, 1810, in Buenos Aires, capital of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, a Spanish colony that included roughly the territories of present-day Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay...

of May 25, 1810, which started the war for independence

Argentine War of Independence

from Spain

Spain

Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

. The first navy was created to support Manuel Belgrano

Manuel Belgrano

Manuel José Joaquín del Corazón de Jesús Belgrano , usually referred to as Manuel Belgrano, was an Argentine economist, lawyer, politician, and military leader. He took part in the Argentine Wars of Independence and created the Flag of Argentina...

at the Paraguay campaign

Paraguay campaign

The Paraguay campaign was the attempt by a Buenos Aires sponsored militia, commanded by Manuel Belgrano, to win the Intendency of Paraguay for the revolutionary cause. The first battle was fought in Campichuelo and the Argentines claimed victory. However, they were completely vanquished in the...

, but it was sunk by ships from Montevideo, and did not took part in that conflict. Renewed conflicts with Montevideo led to the creation of a second one, which captured the city. As Buenos Aires had little maritime history, most men in the navy were from other nations, such as the Irish admiral William Brown

William Brown (admiral)

Admiral William Brown was an Irish-born Argentine Admiral. Brown's victories in the Independence War, the Argentina-Brazil War, and the Anglo-French blockade of the Río de la Plata earned the respect and appreciation of the Argentine people, and today he is regarded as one of Argentina's national...

, who directed the operation.

As the cost of mantaining a navy was too high, most of the Argentine naval forces were composed of privateer

Privateer

A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...

s. Brown led the Argentine navy in further naval conflicts at the War with Brazil

Argentina-Brazil War

The Cisplatine War or the Argentine–Brazilian War was an armed conflict over an area known as Banda Oriental or "Eastern Shore" in the 1820s between the United Provinces of River Plate and the Empire of Brazil in the aftermath of the United Provinces' emancipation from Spain.-Background:Led by...

and the Anglo-French blockade of the Río de la Plata

Anglo-French blockade of the Río de la Plata

The Anglo-French blockade of the Río de la Plata was a five-year long naval blockade imposed by France and Britain on the Argentine Confederation ruled by Juan Manuel de Rosas. It was imposed in 1845 to support the Colorado Party in the Uruguayan Civil War and closed Buenos Aires to naval commerce...

.

In the late 1800s, the Argentine Navy began modernizing itself. At the close of the century, the force included:

5 armored cruiser
Armored cruiser
The armored cruiser was a type of warship of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Like other types of cruiser, the armored cruiser was a long-range, independent warship, capable of defeating any ship apart from a battleship, and fast enough to outrun any battleships it encountered.The first...

s
4 coastal defense ironclads
Ironclad warship
An ironclad was a steam-propelled warship in the early part of the second half of the 19th century, protected by iron or steel armor plates. The ironclad was developed as a result of the vulnerability of wooden warships to explosive or incendiary shells. The first ironclad battleship, La Gloire,...
3 second-class, high-speed, British-built cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...

s
7 modern small cruisers and gunboat
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...

s
4 destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...

s and
22 torpedo boat
Torpedo boat
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval vessel designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs rammed enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes, and later designs launched self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes. They were created to counter battleships and other large, slow and...

s.

The most powerful ships (counted in the list above) included the Italian-built Garibaldi

ARA Garibaldi

ARA Garibaldi was the lead ship of her class of armoured cruiser for the Argentine Navy. The ship was built in Italy and is considered part of the Italian . The ship was launched on 27 May 1895 and served the Argentine Navy until she was stricken on 20 March 1934.- Further reading : Burzaco,...

and her sister ships, the General Belgrano

ARA General Belgrano (1896)

ARA General Belgrano was a Garibaldi-class armoured cruiser of the Argentine Navy. The ship was built in Italy, along with three sisters ships for the Argentine Navy and is considered part of the Italian...

, Pueyrredón

ARA Pueyrredón

ARA Pueyrredón was a Garibaldi-class armoured cruiser of the Argentine Navy. The ship was built in Italy and is considered part of the Italian . The ship was launched on 27 July 1898 and served the Argentine Navy until she was stricken on 2 August 1954....

, and the San Martín

ARA San Martín

ARA San Martín was a Garibaldi-class armoured cruiser of the Argentine Navy. The ship was built in Italy and is considered part of the Italian . The ship was launched on 25 May 1896 and served the Argentine Navy until she was stricken on 18 December 1935.- Further reading : Burzaco, Ricardo....

, each at over 6,000 tons. Three older ships, the Almirante Brown

ARA Almirante Brown

The Almirante Brown was a Veinticinco de Mayo-class heavy cruiser in service with the Armada of the Argentine Republic during World War II. The ship was named in honour of Admiral Guillermo Brown, the Father of the Argentine Navy. Almirante Brown was built by OTO Livorno, laid down 27 November...

, Independencia

ARA Independencia

Two ships of the Armada of the Argentine Republic have been name Independencia in honour of the nation's Declaration of Independence from Spain:...

, and the Libertad dated from the 1880s and early 1890s.

The navy's ships were built primarily in Italy, Britain, France, and Spain and were operated by over 600 officers and 7760 seamen

Seaman

Seaman is one of the lowest ranks in a Navy. In the Commonwealth it is the lowest rank in the Navy, followed by Able Seaman and Leading Seaman, and followed by the Petty Officer ranks....

. These were supported by a battalion of marines and an artillery battery.

20th Century

Although Argentina

Argentina

remained neutral

Neutral country

A neutral power in a particular war is a sovereign state which declares itself to be neutral towards the belligerents. A non-belligerent state does not need to be neutral. The rights and duties of a neutral power are defined in Sections 5 and 13 of the Hague Convention of 1907...

in both world wars, the country's navy was a force to be reckoned with. In 1940, Argentina's navy was ranked the eighth most powerful in the world (after the European powers, Japan, and the United States) and the largest in Latin America. A ten-year building program costing $60 million had produced a force of 14,500 sailors and over a thousand officers. The fleet in 1940 included two First World War-era (but modernized) American-built Rivadavia class battleship

Rivadavia class battleship

The Rivadavia class was a two-ship group of battleships designed by the American Fore River Shipbuilding Company for the Argentine Navy...

s, three modern cruisers, a dozen British-built destroyers, and three submarines in addition to minelayers, minesweepers, coastal defense ships, and gunboats. A naval air force was also in operation.

In the postwar period, Naval Aviation

Argentine Naval Aviation

The Argentine Naval Aviation is the naval aviation branch of the Argentine Navy and one of its four operational commands...

and Marine Corps units were put under direct Navy's command. With Brazil

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

, Argentina is one of but two South America

South America

South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...

n countries to have operated two aircraft carrier

Aircraft carrier

An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...

s effectively: the ARA Independencia and ARA Veinticinco de Mayo

ARA Veinticinco de Mayo (V-2)

The ARA Veinticinco de Mayo was an aircraft carrier in the Argentine Navy from 1969 to 1997. The English translation of the name is the Twenty-fifth of May, which is the date of Argentina's May Revolution in 1810....

.

The Argentine Navy have been traditionally greatly involved in fishery inspection helping

Sinking of the Chian-der 3

The Sinking of the Chian-der 3 was an incident occuring on 28 May 1986, when the Taiwanese-flagged trawler Chian-der 3 was detected, tracked, fired upon, set on fire and eventually sunk by the Coast Guard vessel GC-28 Prefecto Derbes of the Prefectura Naval Argentina, at a location outside of the...

the Coast Guard : most notably in 1966 a destroyer fired and holed a Russian trawler which had refused to be escorted to Mar del Plata

Mar del Plata

Mar del Plata is an Argentine city located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, south of Buenos Aires. Mar del Plata is the second largest city of Buenos Aires Province. The name "Mar del Plata" had apparently the sense of "sea of the Río de la Plata region" or "adjoining sea to the Río de la Plata"...

, in the 1970s there were four more incidents with Soviet and Bulgarian ships and continued in recent years.

The Navy also took part in all military coups through the 20th century. During the last dictatorship, Navy personnel were involved in the Dirty War

Dirty War

The Dirty War was a period of state-sponsored violence in Argentina from 1976 until 1983. Victims of the violence included several thousand left-wing activists, including trade unionists, students, journalists, Marxists, Peronist guerrillas and alleged sympathizers, either proved or suspected...

in the late 1970s in which thousands of people were kidnapped, tortured and killed by the forces of the Military Junta. The Naval Mechanics School, known as ESMA

ESMA

The Navy Petty-Officers School of Mechanics , commonly referred to by its abbreviation ESMA, is a facility of the Argentine Navy that was employed as an illegal detention center during the dictatorial rule of the National Reorganization Process...

, was a notorious centre used for torture. Amongst their more well-known victims were the Swedish teenage Dagmar Hagelin

Dagmar Hagelin

Dagmar Hagelin was an Argentine-Swedish girl who disappeared during the Dirty War on January 27, 1977 and is presumed to have been arrested by security forces in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and murdered in a case of mistaken identity...

and French nuns, Alice Domon

Alice Domon

Alice Domon, Caty, was a Roman Catholic nun from France whose forced disappearance occurred in Argentina during the military dictatorship of the "National Reorganization Process" .-Life:Alice Domon was born in Charquemont in France's Doubs region...

and Léonie Duquet

Leonie Duquet

Léonie Duquet was a French nun who was killed by the military regime of Argentine President Jorge Rafael Videla during the Dirty War.-Biography:...

(In October 2007 the Argentine navy formally handed possession of the School to human rights groups which will now be turned into a memorial museum). During this regimen, the Navy was also the main supporter of a military solution for the country's two long standing disputes: The Beagle Conflict

Beagle conflict

The Beagle Conflict was a border dispute between Chile and Argentina over the possession of Picton, Lennox and Nueva islands and the scope of the maritime jurisdiction associated with those islands that brought the countries to the brink of war in 1978....

with Chile and the Falklands Islands ( ) with the United Kingdom.

Falklands War

During the 1982 Falklands conflict termed by the Argentines Guerra de las Malvinas / Guerra del Atlántico Sur the Main Argentine Naval Fleet consisted of modernised World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

era ships (one GUPPY

Greater Underwater Propulsion Power Program

The Greater Underwater Propulsion Power Program was initiated by the United States Navy after World War II to improve the submerged speed, maneuverability, and endurance of its submarines....

-type submarine, one British-built Colossus-class

Colossus class aircraft carrier

The 1942 Design Light Fleet Carrier, commonly referred to as the British Light Fleet Carrier, was a light aircraft carrier design created by the Royal Navy during World War II, and used by eight naval forces between 1944 and 2001...

carrier, a cruiser, and four destroyers ) supported with new ones (2 Type 42 class destroyers, 3 French built corvettes and one German built Type 209

Type 209 submarine

The Type 209 is a class of diesel-electric attack submarine developed exclusively for export in the late 1960s by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft of Germany...

submarines). This fleet was supported by several ELMA

Empresa Líneas Marítimas Argentinas

Empresa Líneas Marítimas Argentinas was an Argentine cargo shipping line formed in 1960.-History:It was dismantled during the 1990s as part of president Carlos Menem's 1990s state reform laws...

tankers and transports as well as two ice breakers/polar ships.

The new German design MEKO

MEKO

The MEKO family of warships was developed by the German company Blohm + Voss.MEKO is a registered trademark. The portmanteau stands for "Mehrzweck-Kombination" . It is a concept in modern naval shipbuilding based on modularity of armament, electronics and other equipment, aiming at ease of...

class destroyers, corvettes and Thyssen-Nordseewerke

Nordseewerke

Nordseewerke is a shipbuilding company located in Emden, Germany. The name Nordseewerke means "North Sea shipyard" in German. The shipyard employs some 1,400 people and is the second-largest plant in Emden, following Volkswagen...

(Type TR-1700) submarines were still under construction.

Despite leading the invasion of the Falkland Islands

Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...

, in both strategic and tactical aspects the Argentine fleet played only a small part in the subsequent conflict with the Royal Navy

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...

. After HMS Conqueror

HMS Conqueror (S48)

HMS Conqueror was a nuclear-powered fleet submarine that served in the Royal Navy from 1971 to 1990. She was built by Cammell Laird in Birkenhead...

sank the ARA General Belgrano

ARA General Belgrano

The ARA General Belgrano was an Argentine Navy light cruiser in service from 1951 until 1982. Formerly the , she saw action in the Pacific theater of World War II before being sold to Argentina. After almost 31 years of service, she was sunk during the Falklands War by the Royal Navy submarine ...

, the Argentine surface 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 (SSNs).

The Argentine Navy's contributions to the war were, among the initial amphibious assaults, with naval aviation

Argentine Naval Aviation

The Argentine Naval Aviation is the naval aviation branch of the Argentine Navy and one of its four operational commands...

its Exocet

Exocet

The Exocet is a French-built anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface vessels, submarines, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Hundreds were fired in combat during the 1980s.-Etymology:...

armed Super Étendards sinking HMS Sheffield

HMS Sheffield (D80)

HMS Sheffield was the second Royal Navy ship to be named after the city of Sheffield in Yorkshire. She was a Type 42 Guided Missile Destroyer laid down by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering at Barrow-in-Furness on 15 January 1970, launched on 10 June 1971 and commissioned on 16 February 1975.An...

and the Atlantic Conveyor
Atlantic Conveyor
The Atlantic Conveyor was a British merchant navy ship, registered in Liverpool, that was requisitioned during the Falklands War and sunk on 25 May 1982 after being hit by two Argentine Exocet missiles, killing 12 sailors...

, its A-4Q Skyhawk

A-4 Skyhawk

The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a carrier-capable ground-attack aircraft designed for the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. The delta winged, single-engined Skyhawk was designed and produced by Douglas Aircraft Company, and later McDonnell Douglas. It was originally designated the A4D...

s sinking HMS Ardent (F184)

HMS Ardent (F184)

HMS Ardent was a Royal Navy Type 21 frigate. Built by Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd, Glasgow, Scotland. She was completed with Exocet launchers in 'B' position...

; and the Marines, with the 5th Marine Corps Battalion

Batallón de Infantería de Marina 5

The 5th Marine Infantry Battalion is a battalion of the Argentine Marine Corps.- Current :...

role at Mount Tumbledown. In addition, a landbased Exocet battery outside Port Stanley scored a direct hit on HMS Glamorgan

HMS Glamorgan (D19)

HMS Glamorgan was a County-class destroyer of the Royal Navy with a displacement of 5,440 tonnes. The ship was built by Vickers-Armstrongs in Newcastle Upon Tyne and named after the Welsh county of Glamorgan. She was launched on 9 July 1964, and was delivered to the Navy two years later...

. Naval aviation also carried out intensive maritime patrol

Maritime patrol

Maritime patrol is the task of monitoring areas of water. Generally conducted by military and law enforcement agencies, maritime patrol is usually aimed at identifying human activities....

s searching to locate the British Fleet for the strike aircraft whilst their transports provided logistical support.

The ARA San Luis

ARA San Luis

The ARA San Luis is a Type 209 diesel-powered submarine of the Argentine Navy. Built in Germany, San Luis has a displacement of 1,285 tonnes and was introduced to the ARA in 1978. She was struck in 1997 after an incomplete overhaul.- History :...

submarine also played a strategic role, and was a real concern to the British, although she scored no hits. The submarine ARA Santa Fe, after a successful resupply mission, was attacked and disabled off South Georgia

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is a British overseas territory and overseas territory of the European Union in the southern Atlantic Ocean. It is a remote and inhospitable collection of islands, consisting of South Georgia and a chain of smaller islands, known as the South Sandwich...

, where her crew then surrendered along with the Argentine detachment at Grytviken

Grytviken

Grytviken is the principal settlement in the British territory of South Georgia in the South Atlantic. It was so named in 1902 by the Swedish surveyor Johan Gunnar Andersson who found old English try pots used to render seal oil at the site. It is the best harbour on the island, consisting of a...

. She was later scuttled by the British.

Aftermath

The core of the fleet was reformed with the retirement of all the World War II

World War II

era Fletcher

Fletcher class destroyer

The Fletcher class were a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II. The class was designed in 1939 as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types...

and Gearing class destroyer

Gearing class destroyer

The Gearing class was a group of 98 destroyers built for the US Navy during and shortly after World War II. The Gearing design was a minor modification of the immediately preceding Allen M. Sumner class...

s and their replacement with the MEKO

MEKO

360

MEKO 360

The MEKO 360 is a class of five destroyers built in Germany for the Argentine and Nigerian Navies. The 360 was the first ship of the MEKO family of vessels built by Blohm und Voss.-Variants:...

and 140

MEKO 140

The MEKO 140 is a frigate design by the German Blohm + Voss shipyard as part of the MEKO family of vessels.- Concept and development :MEKO is a concept in modern naval shipbuilding based on modularity of armament, electronics and other equipment, aiming at ease of maintenance and cost reduction...

classes designed by the German shipyard Blohm + Voss

Blohm + Voss

Blohm + Voss , is a German shipbuilding and engineering works. It is a subsidiary of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems; there were plans to sell 80% of Blohm + Voss to Abu Dhabi Mar Group, but talks collapsed in July 2011.-History:It was founded on April 5, 1877, by Hermann Blohm and Ernst Voss as a...

.

Also, the submarine force

Argentine Submarine Force

The Argentine Submarine Force is the submarine service branch of the Argentine Navy. Argentine submarines have traditionally been named after the provinces of the Republic and they are home based at Mar del Plata naval base. COFS members have the same rank insignia and titles as the rest of the Navy...

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

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

were delivered.

The amphibious force was drastically affected with the retirement of their only LST

Tank landing ship

Landing Ship, Tank was the military designation for naval vessels created during World War II to support amphibious operations by carrying significant quantities of vehicles, cargo, and landing troops directly onto an unimproved shore....

landing ship ARA Cabo San Antonio and replacement by a modified cargo vessel, the San Blas

ARA Bahía San Blas (B-4)

ARA Bahía San Blas is an Amphibious cargo ship of the Argentine Navy, capable of discharging landing craft, troops, vehicles and cargo. Is the first ship to bear the name of the Bay of San Blas in the south of Buenos Aires Province.-History:...

. This situation was to be improved during 2006 with the delivery made by France

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

of the first of the LPD

Amphibious transport dock

An amphibious transport dock, also called a landing platform/dock , is an amphibious warfare ship, a warship that embarks, transports, and lands elements of a landing force for expeditionary warfare missions. Several navies currently operate this kind of ship...

Ouragan

Ouragan class landing platform dock

The Ouragan was a class of French landing platform docks operated by the French Navy. They were called Transport de chalands de débarquement .-Overview:The ships in this class were used for:...

s but the whole operation was placed in stand by the Argentine Government due to asbestos

Asbestos

Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...

concerns. On 2010 France offered the Foudre (L 9011)

Foudre (L 9011)

The Foudre is an amphibious assault ship of the French Navy, the twelfth vessel to bear the name, and lead ship of her class.She served during the war in Yugoslavia, and has been the central element of Operation Licorne in Côte d'Ivoire....

instead.

France also transferred the Durance, now B-1 ARA Patagonia, multi-product replenishment ship (AOR

Replenishment Oiler

A replenishment oiler or fleet tanker is a naval auxiliary ship with fuel tanks and dry cargo holds, which can replenish other ships while underway in the high seas. Such ships are used by several countries around the world....

) enhancing the capabilities of the fleet.

In 1988 the A-4Q Skyhawks were withdrawn leaving the Super Étendard as the only fighter jets in the navy inventory. The already paid for A-4Hs bought in Israel

Israel

The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...

as their replacement could not be delivered due the embargo imposed by the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

after the war. Instead IAI

Israel Aircraft Industries

Israel Aerospace Industries or IAI is Israel's prime aerospace and aviation manufacturer, producing aerial systems for both military and civilian usage. It has 16,000 employees as of 2007...

used the money to refurbish the S-2E Trackers

S-2 Tracker

The Grumman S-2 Tracker was the first purpose-built, single airframe anti-submarine warfare aircraft to enter service with the US Navy. The Tracker was of conventional design with twin engines, a high wing and tricycle undercarriage. The type was exported to a number of navies around the world...

to the S-2T Turbo Tracker current variant.

In the 1990s, the embargo was lifted and the Lockheed L-188 Electra

Lockheed L-188 Electra

The Lockheed Model 188 Electra is an American turboprop airliner built by Lockheed. First flying in 1957, it was the first large turboprop airliner produced in the United States. Initial sales were good, but after two fatal crashes which prompted an expensive modification program to fix a design...

s (civilian aircraft converted for maritime patrol

Maritime patrol

Maritime patrol is the task of monitoring areas of water. Generally conducted by military and law enforcement agencies, maritime patrol is usually aimed at identifying human activities....

) were finally retired and replaced with similar P-3B Orions

P-3 Orion

The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a four-engine turboprop anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft developed for the United States Navy and introduced in the 1960s. Lockheed based it on the L-188 Electra commercial airliner. The aircraft is easily recognizable by its distinctive tail stinger or...

and civilian Beechcraft King Air Model 200

Beechcraft Super King Air

The Beechcraft Super King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation . The King Air line comprises a number of model series that fall into two families: the Model 90 series, Model 100 series , Model 200 series and Model 300 series...

were locally converted to the MP variant.

In 2000 the aircraft carrier ARA Veinticinco de Mayo

ARA Veinticinco de Mayo

ARA Veinticinco de Mayo may refer to the following specific vessels of the Argentine Navy* Cruiser ARA Veinticinco de Mayo, 1891-1916* Cruiser ARA Veinticinco de Mayo , 1931-1960* Aircraft carrier ARA Veinticinco de Mayo , 1969-1997...

was decommissioned without replacement, although the navy maintains the air group of Super Étendards jets and S-2 Tracker

S-2 Tracker

that routinely operates from Brazilian Navy

Brazilian Navy

The Brazilian Navy is a branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces responsible for conducting naval operations. It is the largest navy in Latin America...

aircraft carrier São Paulo

NAeL São Paulo

NAe São Paulo is a Clemenceau-class aircraft carrier currently in service with the Brazilian Navy. The São Paulo was first commissioned in 1963 as the French Navy's Foch, and transferred to Brazil in 2000.-Background:...

^{ARAEX video} or United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

carriers when they are in transit in the south Atlantic during Gringo-Gaucho

Gringo-Gaucho

Gringo-Gaucho are a set of maneuvers performed between the Argentine Naval Aviation and United States Navy's aircraft carriers. The US Navy refers to them as Southern Seas in their last edition.-History:...

manoeuvers.

Present day

Argentina was the only Latin America

Latin America

Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...

n country to participate in the 1991 Gulf War

Gulf War

The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...

sending a destroyer and a corvette in first term and a supply ship and another corvette later to participate on the United Nations

United Nations

The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...

blockade and sea control effort of the gulf. The success of Operación Alfil ("Operation Bishop") as it was known, with more than 700 interceptions and 25,000 miles sailed on the operations theatre helped to overcome the so-called "Malvinas syndrome".

From 1990 to 1992, the Baradero class patrol boats were deployed under UN mandate ONUCA to the Gulf of Fonseca

Gulf of Fonseca

The Gulf of Fonseca , part of the Pacific Ocean, is a gulf in Central America, bordering El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua.-History:Fonseca Bay was discovered in 1522 by Gil Gonzalez de Avila, and named by him after his patron, Archbishop Juan Fonseca, the implacable enemy of Columbus.In 1849, E. G...

in Central America. In 1994, the three Drummond class

Drummond class corvette

The Drummond class are three corvettes designed and built in France basically similar to the D'Estienne d'Orves class . The ships were all commissioned between 1978 and 1982 in the Argentine Navy...

corvettes participated on Operation Uphold Democracy

Operation Uphold Democracy

Operation Uphold Democracy was an intervention designed to remove the military regime installed by the 1991 Haitian coup d'état that overthrew the elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide...

in Haiti

Haiti

Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...

.

Also, in 2003, as the first time, the Argentine Navy (classified as major non-NATO ally

Major non-NATO ally

Major non-NATO ally is a designation given by the United States government to close allies who have strategic working relationships with US armed forces but are not members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization...

) interoperated with an United States Navy

United States Navy

battlegroup when destroyer ARA Sarandi

ARA Sarandí (D-13)

ARA Sarandí is the fourth and last ship of the MEKO 360H2 series of four destroyers built for the Argentine Navy. The ship is the fourth ship in the history of the Argentine Navy to bear the name of the schooner Sarandí, which was a famous ship of the Argentine Navy during the Argentina-Brazil War...

(D-13) joined the USS Enterprise

USS Enterprise (CVN-65)

USS Enterprise , formerly CVA-65, is the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the eighth US naval vessel to bear the name. Like her predecessor of World War II fame, she is nicknamed the "Big E". At , she is the longest naval vessel in the world...

Carrier Strike Group and Destroyer Squadron 18 as a part of Exercise Solid Step during their tour in the Mediterranean Sea

Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...

.

Today, the Argentine Navy participates in joint exercises with other friendly navies like Brazil

Brazil

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, Spain

Spain

, France

France

, Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

, South Africa

South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

, Italy

Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

, Uruguay

Uruguay

Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...

, and since the 1990s, Chile

Chile

Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...

. Examples of such annual maneuvers are UNITAS
UNITAS
UNITAS are sea exercises and in port training involving several countries in North, South and Central America, conducted by the USA since 1959 in support of the U.S. policy.-External links:* * - Globalsecurity.org...

, ARAEX, TEMPEREX, FRATERNO, ATLASUR, PAMPAREX and when possible Gringo-Gaucho

Gringo-Gaucho

. Joint NCAGS exercises, such as TRANSOCEANIC, TRANSAMERICA and COAMAS are also routinely held, in order to develop a common operational doctrine. The NCAGS Organisation is headed by the Naval Shipping Command (Comando Naval de Transito Marítimo), acting as Local Operational Control Command ("COLCO in Spanish) with two subordinate Operational Control Authorities (OCA's) and several Naval Control of Shipping Officers (NCSO's) bureaus along the Coastline, both Navy and Coast Guard manned.

Every year in conjunction with the Chilean Navy

Chilean Navy

-Independence Wars of Chile and Peru :The Chilean Navy dates back to 1817. A year before, following the Battle of Chacabuco, General Bernardo O'Higgins prophetically declared "this victory and another hundred shall be of no significance if we do not gain control of the sea".This led to the...

they join in the Patrulla Antártica Naval Combinada (Joint Antarctic Naval Patrol) to guarantee safety to all touristic and scientific ships that are in transit within the Antarctic Peninsula

Antarctic Peninsula

The Antarctic Peninsula is the northernmost part of the mainland of Antarctica. It extends from a line between Cape Adams and a point on the mainland south of Eklund Islands....

where the Navy is also directly responsible of maintaining the Argentine bases

Argentine Antarctica

Argentine Antarctica is a sector of Antarctica claimed by Argentina as part of its national territory. The Argentine Antarctic region, consisting of the Antarctic Peninsula and a triangular section extending to the South Pole, is delimited by the 25° West and 74° West meridians and the 60° South...

there.

In 2010 the construction start of four 1.800 ton offshore patrol ships

Proyecto Patrulleros de Zona Marítima OPV

The Patrulleros de Zona Marítima are a series of offshore patrol vessels being built for the Navies of Chile, Argentina and Colombia.-History:...

was announced.

In May 2010, Defense Minister Nilda Garre announced that the Navy would continue working on a system that would enable the launch of Exocet missiles from the Navy’s P3 Orion aircraft. In addition, the financing of the local development and construction of a coastal Naval defense system that may also be based on the use of Exocet missiles similar to the Excalibur system.

Current fleet

The Argentine Navy operates 42 ships. The four Destroyers and three SSKs represent the Argentine Navy's central combat force while its 9 Corvettes operate in the defence of coasts, naval bases and territorial waters.

Troop Transport and Command (2)

Command Ship (LCC)
- Type 42 (1)
  - ARA Hércules (B-52)
    ARA Hércules
    ARA Hércules is a Type 42 destroyer of the Argentine Navy or Armada de la República Argentina.She was transformed into a multi-purpose transport ship with Pennant Number B-52 and commissioned to the amphibious force in 1999.- History :...
    
    - formerly a Type 42 destroyer, reconverted to fast Marine transport and command vessel.
Amphibious cargo ship
Amphibious cargo ship
Amphibious cargo ships were U.S. Navy ships designed specifically to carry troops, heavy equipment and supplies in support of amphibious assaults, and to provide naval gunfire support during those assaults. A total of 108 of these ships were built between 1943 and 1945—which worked out to an...

(LKA)
- Costa Sur modified (1)
  - ARA Bahía San Blas (B-4)
    ARA Bahía San Blas (B-4)
    ARA Bahía San Blas is an Amphibious cargo ship of the Argentine Navy, capable of discharging landing craft, troops, vehicles and cargo. Is the first ship to bear the name of the Bay of San Blas in the south of Buenos Aires Province.-History:...

Major combat vessels Destroyers (Frigates)(4)

Destroyers/Frigates
- Almirante Brown class
  Almirante Brown class destroyer
  The Almirante Brown is a class of destroyers commissioned between 1983 and 1984 for the Argentine Navy. As of 2005, ARA Sarandí is the Argentinian fleet flagship.-Specifications:...
  
  (4)
  - ARA Almirante Brown (D-10)
    ARA Almirante Brown (D-10)
    ARA Almirante Brown is the lead ship of the MEKO 360H2 series of four destroyers built for the Argentine Navy. The ship is the ninth ship in the history of the Argentine Navy to be named for Admiral William Brown, the founder and commander of the Argentine Navy during Argentina's war of...
  - ARA La Argentina (D-11)
    ARA La Argentina (D-11)
    ARA La Argentina is the second ship of the MEKO 360H2 series of four destroyers built for the Argentine Navy. The ship is the eighth ship in the history of the Argentine Navy to bear the name of the corsair frigate La Argentina which conducted a privateer raid around the world against Spanish...
  - ARA Heroína (D-12)
    ARA Heroína (D-12)
    ARA Heroína is the third ship of the MEKO 360H2 series of four destroyers built for the Argentine Navy. The ship is the third ship in the history of the Argentine Navy to bear the name of the corsair frigate Heroína, which claimed the Falkland Islands for the United Provinces of the River Plate on...
  - ARA Sarandí (D-13)
    ARA Sarandí (D-13)
    ARA Sarandí is the fourth and last ship of the MEKO 360H2 series of four destroyers built for the Argentine Navy. The ship is the fourth ship in the history of the Argentine Navy to bear the name of the schooner Sarandí, which was a famous ship of the Argentine Navy during the Argentina-Brazil War...

Submarine SSK (3)

SSK
- TR-1700 Class (2)
  - ARA Santa Cruz (S-41)
  - ARA San Juan (S-42)
SSK
- Type 209
  Type 209 submarine
  The Type 209 is a class of diesel-electric attack submarine developed exclusively for export in the late 1960s by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft of Germany...
  
  (1)
  - ARA Salta (S-31)

Minor combat vessels Corvettes (9)

Corvettes
- Espora class
  Espora class frigate
  The Espora class corvettes were all commissioned between 1985 and 2004 for the Argentine Navy, the first four in 1985-1990 and the last two in 2001-2004....
  
  (6)
  - ARA Espora (P-41)
    ARA Espora (P-41)
    ARA Espora is the lead ship of the MEKO 140A16 of six corvettes built for the Argentine Navy. The ship is the sixth ship to bear the name of Colonel Tomás Espora, who fought in the Argentine Navy during the Argentina-Brazil War.- Origin :...
  - ARA Rosales (P-42)
    ARA Rosales (P-42)
    ARA Rosales is the second ship of the MEKO 140A16 Espora series of six corvettes built for the Argentine Navy. The ship is the fourth ship to bear the name of Colonel Leonardo Rosales, who fought in the Argentine Navy during Argentina's war of independence and the Argentina-Brazil...
  - ARA Spiro (P-43)
    ARA Spiro (P-43)
    ARA Spiro is the third ship of the MEKO 140A16 Espora series of six corvettes built for the Argentine Navy. The ship is the second ship to bear the name of the Greek-born Captain Samuel Spiro, who fought during the Argentine War of Independence and blew himself up with his ship rather than...
  - ARA Parker (P-44)
    ARA Parker (P-44)
    ARA Parker is the fourth ship of the MEKO 140A16 Espora series of six corvettes built for the Argentine Navy. The ship is the second ship to bear the name of Captain Enrique Guillermo Parker, who fought in the Argentine Navy as its second-in-command during the Argentina-Brazil War.-Origin:Parker...
  - ARA Robinson (P-45)
    ARA Robinson (P-45)
    ARA Robinson is the fifth ship of the MEKO 140A16 Espora series of six corvettes built for the Argentine Navy. The ship is the second ship to bear the name of Captain Carlos Robinson, who fought in the Argentine Navy during the Argentina-Brazil War and died commanding a squadron of gunboats during...
  - ARA Gómez Roca (P-46)
    ARA Gómez Roca (P-46)
    ARA Gómez Roca is the sixth and last ship of the MEKO 140A16 Espora series of six corvettes built for the Argentine Navy. The ship is the first ship to bear the name of Lieutenant Commander Sergio Gómez Roca, who commanded the Argentine patrol ship ARA Alferez Sobral during the Falklands War and...
- Drummond class
  Drummond class corvette
  The Drummond class are three corvettes designed and built in France basically similar to the D'Estienne d'Orves class . The ships were all commissioned between 1978 and 1982 in the Argentine Navy...
  
  (3)
  - ARA Drummond (P-31)
    ARA Drummond (P-31)
    ARA Drummond is the lead ship of the Drummond class of three corvettes of the Argentine Navy. She is the second vessel to be named after Navy Sgt Francisco Drummond.-Service history:...
  - ARA Guerrico (P-32)
    ARA Guerrico (P-32)
    ARA Guerrico is a Drummond class corvette of the Argentine Navy. She is the first vessel to be named after Rear Admiral Martin Guerrico who fought in the 19th century War of the Triple Alliance....
  - ARA Granville (P-33)

Patrol Vessels (8)

Patrol Vessel
- Murature class (2)
  - ARA Murature (P-20)
    ARA Murature (P-20)
    Murature is a 900 ton World War II era Argentine navy warship, originally classified as minelayer and later as patrol boat. The vessel was named after José Luis Murature, Foreign Minister of Argentina from 1916-18. Murature was laid down in 1944 and commissioned in 1945...
  - ARA King (P-21)
- Baradero class (4)
  - ARA Baradero (P-61)
  - ARA Barranqueras (P-62)
  - ARA Clorinda (P-63)
  - ARA Concepción del Uruguay (P-64)
Fast Attack Craft
Fast Attack Craft
Fast Attack Craft are small, fast, agile and offensive warships, that are armed with anti-ship missiles, guns or torpedoes. These are usually operated in close proximity to land as they lack both the sea-keeping and all-round defensive capabilities to survive in blue water. The size of the vessel...
- Intrépida class
  Intrépida class fast attack craft
  The Intrépida class is a class of fast attack craft that was built by Lürssen for the Argentine Navy in the early 1970s. The ships are based on Lürssen's TNC 45 design.-Bibliography:...
  
  (2)
  - ARA Intrépida (P-85)
  - ARA Indómita (P-86)

Supply ships (11)

Supply ship (AOR)
- Durance class
  Durance class tanker
  The Durance class is a series of multi-product replenishment oilers, originally designed and built for service in the French Navy. Besides the five ships built for the French Navy, a sixth was built for the Royal Australian Navy, while the lead ship of the class currently serves with the Argentine...
  
  (1)
  - ARA Patagonia (B-1)
Oiler
- (1)
  - ARA Ingeniero Julio Krause
Transport ship
- (2) Costa Sur class
  - ARA Canal de Beagle (B-3)
  - ARA Cabo de Hornos (B-5)
Auxiliary Ships
- (7)
  - ARA Teniente Olivieri (A-2)
    ARA Teniente Olivieri (A-2)
    The ARA Teniente Olivieri is a fleet ocean tug in service at the Argentine Navy classified as aviso.Homebased at Ushuaia is normally assigned to operate in Antarctica during the summer campaigns in the Patrulla Antártica Naval Combinada with the Chilean Navy to guarantee safety to all touristic...
  - ARA Francisco de Gurruchaga (A-3)
  - ARA Suboficial Castillo (A-6)
    ARA Suboficial Castillo (A-6)
    The ARA Suboficial Castillo is a Abnaki class tug patrol boat of the Argentine Navy. She previously served in the US Navy as USS Takelma from 1944 to 1976....
  - ARA Alférez Sobral (A-9)
    ARA Alferez Sobral (A-9)
    ARA Alferez Sobral is an aviso in Argentine Navy service since 1972. She had previously served in the US Navy as .-US Navy service:...
  - ARA Ciudad de Zárate (Q-61)
    ARA Ciudad de Zárate (Q-61)
    ARA Ciudad de Zárate is a multi-purpose auxiliary ship of the Argentine Navy based at Puerto Madero. It was formerly known as the USCGC Red Cedar .-References:*...
  - ARA Ciudad de Rosario (Q-62)
    ARA Ciudad de Rosario (Q-62)
    ARA Ciudad de Rosario is a multi-purpose auxiliary ship of the Argentine Navy based at Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires. It was formerly known as the USCGC Red Wood .-References:*...
  - ARA Punta Alta (Q-63)

Others (5)

School Ship
- (1)
  - ARA Libertad (Q-2)
    ARA Libertad (Q-2)
    ARA Libertad is a tall ship which serves as a school ship in the Argentine Navy. She was built in the 1950s at the Río Santiago Shipyard near La Plata, Argentina...
Icebreaker
Icebreaker
An icebreaker is a special-purpose ship or boat designed to move and navigate through ice-covered waters. Although the term usually refers to ice-breaking ships, it may also refer to smaller vessels .For a ship to be considered an icebreaker, it requires three traits most...

(AGOS)
- (1)
  - ARA Almirante Irizar (Q-5)
    ARA Almirante Irízar (Q-5)
    The ARA Almirante Irízar is a large icebreaker of the Argentine Navy. The ship is currently out of service since 2007, when a fire broke out in the auxiliary generator compartment...
Oceanographic Ship
- (1)
  - ARA Puerto Deseado (Q-20)
    ARA Puerto Deseado (Q-20)
    The ARA Puerto Deseado is an oceanographic survey ship in service in the Argentine Navy. She has a reinforced hull in order to operate in waters around Antarctica.-History:...
Hydrographic Vessels
- (2)
  - ARA Comodoro Rivadavia (Q-11)
    ARA Comodoro Rivadavia (Q-11)
    The ARA Comodoro Rivadavia is a survey ship of the Argentine Navy assigned to the national Hydrographic Naval Service which among other things is responsible of the maintenance of nautical charts, balises and lighthouses.-History:Comodoro Rivadavia was built by Mestrina shipyard in Tigre, Buenos...
  - ARA Cormoran (Q-15)

Submarine Force

Headquartered at Mar del Plata

Mar del Plata

the Navy started using submarine

Submarine

A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...

s in 1927. The elite group Buzos Tácticos

Tactical Divers Group

The Tactical Divers Group is the premier special operations force of the Argentine Navy. The Buzos Tácticos are based at Base Naval Mar del Plata on the Atlantic coast of Argentina. Its men are highly qualified combat divers, EOD/demolition technicians, and parachutists.The APBT was the first...

in under the submarine force command and as of 2010 three ships are in service.

Naval Aviation

The Naval Aviation Command is abbreviated COAN ( ) and is one of two South American countries to have operated two aircraft carriers. The service became famous worldwide during the 1982 Falklands War

Falklands War

The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...

Naval Infantry

The Infantería de Marina de la Armada de la República Argentina (IMARA) ( Naval Infantry of the Armada of the Argentine Republic ) is the land warfare amphibious branch of the Argentine Navy. Argentine Marines have the same rank insignia and titles as the rest of the Navy and they are currently deployed abroad on UN mandates.

Other branches

The Servicio de Hidrografia Naval

Argentine Hydrographic Service

The Argentine Hydrographic Service is the branch of the Argentine Navy responsible for providing hydrographic services.-Background:...

provides the national hydrographics

Hydrography

Hydrography is the measurement of the depths, the tides and currents of a body of water and establishment of the sea, river or lake bed topography and morphology. Normally and historically for the purpose of charting a body of water for the safe navigation of shipping...

services.

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. Line Corps' reserve officers are considered Restricted Line ( Escalafon Complementario ) officers in any of the Warfare Communities (Surface, Submarine, Marines, Aviation and Propulsion), and can only raise to OF-4 rank ( Capitan de Fragata ).

All Line Corps officers were distinctive branch/sub-branch insignia on the right breast. Some Staff Corps officers also wear specialization badges (Aviation, Surface, Submarine and Marines). Other common insignia is the Naval War College insignia, parachute wings, etc., also worn on the right breast. Medals and Ribbons, if awarded, are worn on the left breast, just above the chest pocket.
The rank insignia of Staff 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

Beard

A beard is the collection of hair that grows on the chin, cheeks and neck of human beings. Usually, only pubescent or adult males are able to grow beards. However, women with hirsutism may develop a beard...

s since the 1920s. This was reinforced in the Cold War

Cold War

The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...

era when they were deemed synonymous with leftist leanings. The only exception were Antarctic

Antarctic

The Antarctic is the region around the Earth's South Pole, opposite the Arctic region around the North Pole. The Antarctic comprises the continent of Antarctica and the ice shelves, waters and island territories in the Southern Ocean situated south of the Antarctic Convergence...

service within the three armed forces as a protection from cold weather, and submarine

Submarine

A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...

service within the Navy

Navy

A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...

as a way of saving water. However, shaving was mandatory upon return to headquarters.

Before the end of 20th 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

Ensign

An ensign is a national flag when used at sea, in vexillology, or a distinguishing token, emblem, or badge, such as a symbol of office in heraldry...

), 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

Argentina

naval officers and senior NCO's are a relatively common sight.

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 Vice Admiral Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...	Rear Admiral	Rear Admiral (Upper Half)	OF-7
Contraalmirante	Rear Admiral Rear Admiral Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...	Commodore	Rear Admiral (Lower Half)	OF-6
Comodoro de Marina	Commodore Commodore (rank) Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always... of the Navy	No equivalent - honorary rank	No equivalent - honorary rank	OF-6
Capitán de Navío	Ship-of-the-Line Captain Ship-of-the-Line Captain Ship-of-the-line captain is a rank that appears in several navies...	Captain	Captain	OF-5
Capitán de Fragata	Frigate Captain Frigate Captain Frigate captain is a naval rank in the naval forces of several countries.It is, usually, equivalent to the Commonwealth/US Navy rank of commander.Countries using this rank include Argentina and Spain , France , Belgium , Italy ,...	Commander	Commander	OF-4
Capitán de Corbeta	Corvette Captain Corvette Captain Corvette captain is a rank in many navies which theoretically corresponds to command of a corvette . The equivalent rank in the United Kingdom, Commonwealth and USA is lieutenant commander...	Lieutenant-Commander	Lieutenant Commander	OF-3
Teniente de Navío	Ship-of-the-Line Lieutenant Ship-of-the-Line Lieutenant Ship-of-the-line lieutenant is a common naval rank, equivalent to the naval rank of Lieutenant in the UK, Commonwealth and US.The name of the rank derives from the name of the largest class of warship, the ship of the line, as opposed to smaller types of warship .The rank is lieutenant de vaisseau...	Lieutenant	Lieutenant	OF-2
Teniente de Fragata	Frigate Lieutenant Frigate Lieutenant Frigate lieutenant is a rank in some navies, especially those of Spain and Latin America, roughly equivalent to a sub-lieutenant in the Royal Navy or a lieutenant in the US Navy. The French Navy equivalent is a ship-of-the-line ensign .The NATO rank code is OF-1...	Sub-Lieutenant	Lieutenant (Junior Grade)	OF-1
Teniente de Corbeta	Corvette Lieutenant Corvette Lieutenant Corvette lieutenant is a rank in some navies, especially those of Spain and Latin America, roughly equivalent to a Royal Navy acting sub-lieutenant or a US Navy ensign....	Acting Sub-Lieutenant	Ensign	OF-1
Guardiamarina	Midshipman Midshipman A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...	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. Seamen and Seamen Recruits wear their insignia on their sleeves. The shoulderboards denote the wearer's specialty.

Argentine Rank (in Spanish)	Argentine Rank (in English)	Equivalent RN Royal Navy The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service... Rank (approximate)
Suboficial Mayor	Sub-Officer Major	Warrant Officer 1
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 Seaman
Cabo Primero	Corporal First Class	(No equivalent)
Cabo Segundo	Corporal Second Class	Able Seaman
Marinero Primero	Seaman Seaman Seaman is one of the lowest ranks in a Navy. In the Commonwealth it is the lowest rank in the Navy, followed by Able Seaman and Leading Seaman, and followed by the Petty Officer ranks....	Ordinary Seaman
Marinero Segundo	Seaman Recruit Seaman Recruit Seaman recruit is the lowest enlisted rank in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, just below seaman apprentice; this rank was formerly known as seaman third class...	(No equivalent)

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.

19th Century

20th Century

Falklands War

Aftermath

Present day

Current fleet

Troop Transport and Command (2)

Major combat vessels Destroyers (Frigates)(4)

Submarine SSK (3)

Minor combat vessels Corvettes (9)

Patrol Vessels (8)

Supply ships (11)

Others (5)

Submarine Force

Naval Aviation

Naval Infantry

Other branches

Officers

Enlisted men and Non-Commissioned Officers

See also

Further reading

External links