List of ships of the Argentine Navy explained

This list includes all major warships that entered service with the Argentine Navy since being formally established in the 1860s.[1] It also includes ships that were purchased by Argentina but did not enter service under Argentine flag. The list does not include vessels prior to the 1860s; and it also excludes auxiliary ships (tugs, transports, colliers, tankers, scientific vessels, etc.) which are listed separately.

In addition, there is a separate list of ships currently in service with the Argentine Navy, regardless the type.

The list is organized by type of ship, by class within each type, and by entry date within each class. Service entry dates indicate the ship's commissioning into the Argentine Navy, and not the ship's entry in service with another navy unless specifically said.

Naming tradition

The current norms establish naming conventions for Argentine Navy ships according to their type, some of them specific to warships are summarized below.[2]

Destroyers, Frigates, Corvettes: Naval heroes, or names of significantly historic ships.
  • Submarines: Province names, with priority those starting with S.
  • Mine warfare ships: Province names, not used by Submarines.
  • Amphibious warfare ships: Coastal geographic features.
  • Fast attack ships: Adjectives symbolizing qualities of combat ships.
  • List of ships

    Aircraft carriers

    (British-built)

    Ship namePennant numberPictureLaunchedService entryDecommissionedOther namesFate
    V-1194419591970ex-, ex-HMCS WarriorScrapped 1971
    V-2194319691999ex-, formerly Scrapped 1999

    Battleships

    Almirante Brown ironclad (British-built)

    Libertad-class coastal battleships (British-built)

    Ship namePennant numberPictureLaunchedService entryDecommissionedOther namesFate
    none189218921946noneTo coast guard 1947
    none189118931946noneTo coast guard 1949

    dreadnoughts (US-built)

    Ship namePennant numberPictureLaunchedService entryDecommissionedOther namesFate
    none191119151957noneSold for scrap 1957
    none191119151957noneSold for scrap 1957

    Monitors

    (British-built)

    Ship namePennant numberPictureLaunchedService entryDecommissionedOther namesFate
    none187418751930noneScrapped
    none187418751930noneScrapped

    Cruisers

    Patagonia protected cruiser (Austro-Hungarian-built)

    Protected Elswick cruisers (British-built)

    Ship namePennant numberPictureLaunchedService entryDecommissionedOther namesFate
    none189018911916Ordered as Necochea, renamed before completionScrapped 1927
    none189218931930noneScrapped
    none189518961932noneSold for scrap 1935

    Patria torpedo cruiser (British-built)

    armoured cruisers (Italian-built)

    Ordered from Italian shipyards. Two ships, Rivadavia and Mariano Moreno, were sold to Japan prior to completion as per naval disarmament agreements with Chile.

    Ship namePennant numberPictureLaunchedService entryDecommissionedOther namesFate
    none189518961934Sold for scrap 1937
    none189518981935Scrapped 1947
    none189718981933To coast guard 1933, stricken 1947, sold for scrap 1953
    none189718981954Sold for scrap 1957
    ARA Rivadavianone1902Sold before completion to Japan, no service.
    (1903−1942 in Japan)
    Ordered as Mitre, later renamed. Japanese name Sunk 1945, salvaged and broken up for scrap 1948
    ARA Mariano Morenonone1903Sold before completion to Japan, no service.
    (1903−1935 in Japan)
    Ordered as Roca, later renamed. Japanese name Sunk as target 1936, raised and sunk as target again 1942

    Almirante Brown-class heavy cruisers (Italian-built)

    Ship namePennant numberPictureLaunchedService entryDecommissionedOther namesFate
    C-1192919311961noneSold for scrap 1962
    C-2192919311961noneScrapped 1960

    La Argentina light cruiser (British-built)

    ARA La Argentina was a light cruiser, designed for training naval cadets.

    General Belgrano class (US)

    Ship namePennant numberPictureLaunchedService entryDecommissionedOther NamesFate
    C-4193819511982†ARA Diecisiete de Octubre till 1956, ex- Sunk by British submarine HMS Conqueror during the Falklands War
    C-5193619511977ex-Scrapped 1983

    Torpedo boats

    Maipu-class torpedo ram (British-built)

    Bathurst class (British-built; Yarrow 1890 type - Mod GB TB 79 type)[3]

    Ship namePennant numberOther namesService entryDecommissioned
    ARA Bathurstnonenone18901927
    ARA Buchardononenone18901927
    ARA Jorgenonenone18901926
    ARA Kingnonenone18901926
    ARA Pinedononenone18901926
    ARA Thornenonenone18901926

    Espora class (British-built)

    1st class Thornycroft class (British-built)

    2nd class Thornycroft class (British-built)

    2nd class Yarrow class (British-built)

    Riverine Yarrow class (British-built)

    Destroyers

    (British-built)

    Ship namePennant numberOther namesService entryDecommissioned
    ARA Corrientesnonenone18971930
    ARA Misionesnonenone18971930
    ARA Entre Riosnonenone18961930
    ARA Santa Fenonenone18961897 [4]

    (German-built)

    Ship NamePennant numberOther namesService entryDecommissioned
    nonenone19121957
    nonenone19121957

    (German-built)

    Ship NamePennant numberOther namesService entryDecommissioned
    nonenone19121957
    nonenone19121957

    Eight other destroyers were ordered around this time but never entered service with the Argentine Navy. See (Greece) and (France).

    (Spanish-built)

    Ship namePennant numberOther namesService entryDecommissioned
    D-1ex-Alcalá Galiano19281961
    D-2ex-Churruca19281960

    Ordered by the Spanish Navy and sold to Argentina prior to completion.

    (British-built)

    Ship NamePennant numberOther namesService entryDecommissioned
    D-3none19291961
    D-4none19291962
    D-5none19291962

    (British-built)

    Ship NamePennant numberOther namesService entryDecommissioned
    T-6 / D-6none19381971
    T-7 / D-7none19381971
    T-8none19381941 [5]
    T-9 / D-9none19381971
    T-10 / D-10none19381970
    T-11 / D-11none19381970
    T-12 / D-12none19391972

    Brown/Almirante Domecq García class (leased US)

    Ship NamePennant NumberPictureLaunchedService EntryDecomm.Other NamesFate
    ARA BrownD-20194219611979ex-Scrapped 1982
    ARA EsporaD-21194319611979ex-Scrapped 1979
    ARA RosalesD-22194319611981ex-Scrapped 1981
    D-23194319711982ex-Sunk in live fire missile test 1983
    ARA Almirante StorniD-24194319711981ex-Scrapped 1982

    Seguí class (modified US)

    Ship namePennant numberPictureLaunchedService entryDecommissionedOther namesFate
    ARA SeguíD-25194419721983ex-Scrapped 1983
    ARA BouchardD-26194419721984ex-Scrapped 1984
    ARA Piedra Buena [6] D-29194419771985ex-Sunk by missile in naval exercise 1988

    Py class (modified US)

    Hércules class (British Type 42 destroyers)

    Ship namePennant numberPictureLaunchedService entryDecommissionedOther namesFate
    D-28, D-1, now B-5219721976noneSince 1999 transformed into a multi-purpose transport ship; inactive as of 2020
    D-219741981noneFormally in reserve since 2004. Sunk 2013, salvaged 2015, awaiting possible conversion to museum ship

    (German MEKO 360H2 type)

    Ship namePennant numberPictureLaunchedService entryDecommissionedOther namesFate
    D-1019811983noneIn active service
    D-1119811983noneIn active service
    D-1219821983noneInactive
    D-1319821984noneIn active service

    Frigates and corvettes

    (Locally designed and built)

    Ship namePennant numberOther namesService entryDecommissioning
    P-20none19462014 [7]
    P-21none1946in service [8] [9]

    Hércules class (/-class World War II frigates)

    Ship namePennant numberOther namesService entryDecommissioning
    ARA HérculesP-31ex-,
    ex-HMS Adur
    18 February 19481961, transferred[10]
    sold 1969
    ARA HeroínaP-32ex-8 February 1947sold 5 August 1964
    ARA SarandíP-33ex-,
    ex- USSChattanooga
    18 February 1948sold 29 June 1967
    P-34ex-,
    ex-USS Hannam
    19481963, converted[11]
    sold 1970 or 1971

    República class

    (Locally designed and built)

    Ship namePennant numberOther namesService entryDecommissioning
    P-35none19571972
    [12] P-36none19571973

    (French)

    Ship namePennant numberOther namesService entryDecommissioning
    P-31ex-SAS Good Hope1978[13] In reserve
    P-32ex-SAS Transvaal1978[14] In reserve
    P-33none1981active

    (German MEKO 140A16 type, locally built)

    Ship NamePennant NumberOther namesService entryDecommissioning
    P-41none1985active
    P-42none1986Inactive
    P-43none1988active
    P-44none1990active
    P-45none2000[15] active
    P-46none2004[16] active

    Patrol, torpedo and fast attack craft

    (Argentine-built)[17]

    (German-built) - known as "fast craft" (lánchas rápidas)[20]

    Ship namePennant numberOther namesService entryDecommissioning
    P-85none1974active[21]
    P-86none1974active[22]

    (Israeli-built) [23]

    Ship namePennant numberOther namesService entryDecommissioning
    P-61none1978active
    P-62none1978active
    P-63none1978active
    P-64none1978active

    (US-built)[24]

    Ship namePennant numberOther namesService entryDecommissioning
    P-65ex-Point Hobart (WPB-82377)1999active
    P-66ex-Point Carrew (WPB-82374)2000active

    Gunboats

    Paraná class (British-built) - also classified as "corvettes"

    Ship NamePennant NumberOther namesService entryDecommissioning
    nonenone18751921 [25]
    nonenone1875active [26]

    Constitución class (British-built) - locally classified as "bombarderas", they were of the Rendel gunboat type.[27]

    Ship namePennant numberOther namesService entryDecommissioning
    nonenone18751955
    nonenone18751955

    Bermejo class (British-built) - locally classified as "bombarderas",[28] they were of the Rendel gunboat type.[29]

    Ship NamePennant NumberOther namesService entryDecommissioning
    nonenone18751932
    nonenone18751935

    (British-built) - armoured river gunboats

    Ship namePennant numberOther namesService entryDecommissioning
    nonenone19091959
    nonenone19091959

    Amphibious warfare

    Cabo San Bartolome class (ex-United States Landing Ship, Tank)

    Ship namePennant numberOther namesService entryDecommissioning
    BDT-1 / Q-41USS LST-85119481968
    BDT-2USS LST-995 / Don Nicolas 19481966
    BDT-3USS LST-998 / Don Ernesto 19481968
    BDT-4 / Q-44USS LST-872 / Doña Micaela19481979

    Cabo San Antonio class (Locally-built De Soto County)

    Cándido de Lasala class (ex-United States)

    Mine warfare

    Bathurst class (German-built M1915 and M1916 classes) [30]

    Ship namePennant numberOther namesService entryDecommissioning
    M-1ex-German M-4819221960s
    M-2ex-German M-5119221960s
    M-3ex-German M-5219221960s
    M-4ex-German M-5319221960s
    M-5ex-German M-7419221960s
    M-6ex-German M-7519221960s
    M-7ex-German Margot19221960s
    M-8ex-German M-9019221960s
    M-9ex-German M-10119221960s
    M-10ex-German M-10519221960s

    Neuquén class (British-built)[31] [32]

    Ship namePennant numberOther namesService entryDecommissioning
    ARA NeuquénM-1ex-British Hickleton (M1131)19681996
    ARA Río NegroM-2ex-British Tariton (M1186)19681977
    ARA ChubutM-3ex-British Santon (M1178)19681995
    ARA Tierra del FuegoM-4ex-British Bevington (M1108)19681995
    ARA ChacoM-5ex-British Rennington (M1176)19692003
    ARA FormosaM-6ex-British Ilmington (M1148)19682003

    (Argentine-built minesweepers/minelayers) [33] [34]

    Ship namePennant numberOther namesService entryDecommissioning
    ARA BouchardM-7Nanawa (Paraguayan Navy)19371964[35]
    ARA DrummondM-2none19371964
    ARA GranvilleM-4none19371967
    ARA ParkerM-11none19371963
    ARA SpiroM-13none19381962[36]
    ARA RobinsonM-3none19391967
    ARA SeaverM-12Capitán Meza (Paraguayan Navy)19391968[37]
    ARA PyM-10Teniente Fariña (Paraguayan Navy)19391968[38]
    ARA FournierM-5none19401949[39]

    Submarines

    By tradition, Argentine submarines bear the names of provinces whose names begin with the letter "S", thus, the pool of names is limited to only six ("Santa Fe", "Salta", "Santiago del Estero", "San Luis", "San Juan" and "Santa Cruz") resulting in repeated class and ship names.

    Santa Fe (1) class (Italian-built Tarantinos)

    Ship namePennant numberOther namesService entryDecommissioning
    ARA Santa FeS-1none19331956
    ARA SaltaS-2none19331960
    ARA Santiago del EsteroS-3none19331959

    Santa Fe (2) class (US-built)

    Ship namePennant numberOther namesService entryDecommissioning
    ARA Santa FeS-11ex-19601972
    ARA Santiago del EsteroS-12ex-19601971

    Santa Fe (3) class (US-built Guppy class)

    Ship namePennant numberOther namesService entryDecommissioning
    ARA Santa FeS-21ex-19721982 [40]
    ARA Santiago del EsteroS-22ex-19711981

    Salta class (German-built Type 209)

    Ship namePennant numberOther namesService entryDecommissioning
    ARA SaltaS-31none1974Inactive [41]
    ARA San LuisS-32none19741997 [42]

    Santa Cruz class (German-built TR-1700 type)

    Six of these ships were planned by the Navy. Only the first two, built in Germany, were actually completed. The other four, to be built in Argentina, were never completed due to budgetary concerns.

    Ship namePennant numberOther namesService entryDecommissioning
    ARA Santa CruzS-41none1984Inactive[43]
    ARA San JuanS-42none1985Lost 2017
    ARA Santa FeS-43nonenever completednever completed
    ARA Santiago del EsteroS-44nonenever completednever completed
    align="center" -no name-S-45nonenever completednever completed
    align="center" -no name-S-46nonenever completednever completed

    Sailing warships

    La Argentina class (Austria-Hungary-built) formally classified as a sailing corvette

    Presidente Sarmiento class (British-built)

    See also

    References

    Bibliography

    Further reading

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. In 1861 the modern Argentine Republic was born, after the Battle of Pavón.
    2. http://www.ara.mil.ar/pag.asp?idItem=30 Historia - Tradiciones - Nombres de buques
    3. Gardiner, Robert and Randal Grey: Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906 - 1921 London: Conway's Maritime Press Ltd, 1985
    4. Sunk in shipwreck during patrol in the River Plate off Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay.
    5. Sunk after collision with the heavy cruiser ARA Almirante Brown during fleet exercises off Mar del Plata.
    6. Named alternatively Piedrabuena in some sources.
    7. http://www.gacetamarinera.com.ar/nota.asp?idNota=7155&idSec=7 El patrullero "Murature" cumple un ciclo de vida
    8. As of November 2015, ARA King is being overhauled.
    9. http://www.gacetamarinera.com.ar/nota.asp?idNota=10708 El jefe de la Armada visitó el patrullero ARA “King”
    10. Transferred to Prefectura Naval Argentina (Argentine Coast Guard) and renamed PNA Juan Bautista Azopardo
    11. Converted to a survey vessel and renamed ARA Comodoro Lasserre.
    12. Named alternatively Piedrabuena in some sources.
    13. Originally being built for the South African Navy before UN sanctions were applied to South Africa; was acquired prior to completion.
    14. Originally being built for the South African Navy before UN sanctions were applied to South Africa; was acquired prior to completion.
    15. Construction was halted due to budgetary issues, then resumed in 1997.
    16. Construction was halted due to budgetary issues, then resumed in 1997.
    17. Web site: Lancha Patrullera Clase "Zurubí" (Armada Argentina - Poder Naval - Flota de Mar - Unidades) . Argentine Navy . Argentine Navy official website . es . 2016-02-20 . 2011-06-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110621233130/http://www.ara.mil.ar/pag.asp?idItem=401 . dead .
    18. Transferred in 1944 to the Navy as a patrol boat with pennant number P-36. Decommissioned in 1985, refurbished and re-commissioned in 1993. As of February 2016 is in service based at Ushuaia.
    19. Web site: P-36 SURUBÍ/ZURUBI (Buques Históricos - Histarmar) . Fundacion Histarmar . es . 2016-02-20 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160328015243/http://www.histarmar.com.ar/Prefectura/Buques%20historicos/AvisosPracticos/Surubi-.htm . 2016-03-28 .
    20. Web site: Lanchas Rápidas Clase "INTRÉPIDA" . Argentine Navy . Argentine Navy official website . es . 16 January 2015 . 21 January 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160121005913/http://www.armada.mil.ar/pag.asp?idItem=273 . dead .
    21. A 40mm gun mount was replaced by MM38 Exocet launcher in 1998.
    22. At shipyard awaiting overhaul as of late 2014.
    23. Web site: Lanchas Rápidas Clase "BARADERO" . Argentine Navy . Argentine Navy official website . 24 December 2015 . 28 December 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141228062822/http://www.armada.mil.ar/pag.asp?idItem=287 . dead .
    24. Web site: Lanchas Patrulleras Clase Way Point . Way Point class Patrol Boats . es . Fundación Histarmar . Histarmar - Historia y Arqueología Marítima . 18 January 2016 .
    25. Converted to a transport and renamed ARA Piedra Buena. Sunk during a storm.
    26. Currently a museum ship docked at Buenos Aires; nominally in commission in the Argentine Navy and declared a National Historical Monument.
    27. Web site: LOS CAÑONEROS RENDELL - ARGENTINA . Osvaldo . Sídoli . es . 2009 . Historia y Arqueologia Marítima (Histarmar) . Carlos Mey . 2014-09-13 .
    28. "Histarmar" list this class as Pilcomayo rather than Bermejo.
    29. Web site: LOS CAÑONEROS RENDELL - ARGENTINA . Osvaldo . Sídoli . es . 2009 . Historia y Arqueologia Marítima (Histarmar) . Carlos Mey . 2014-09-13 .
    30. Web site: Los Barreminas Alemanes de 1922 . German 1922 Minesweepers . es . Historia y Arqueologia Marítima (Histarmar) . Fundación Histarmar . Buenos Aires, Argentina . 2016-01-17 .
    31. Web site: Cazaminas, Barreminas 1900/2000 . Minehunters, Minesweepers 1900/2000 . es . Historia y Arqueologia Marítima (Histarmar) . Fundación Histarmar . Buenos Aires, Argentina . 2016-01-19 .
    32. The service entry date shown in this article is the one listed in the individual ships history, while the page cited shows an earlier date.
    33. Web site: Rastreadores . Trackers . es . Historia y Arqueologia Marítima (Histarmar) . Fundación Histarmar . Buenos Aires, Argentina . 2016-01-21 .
    34. The Bouchard class ships were classified as mine Trackers (Rastreadores) by the Argentine Navy.
    35. Sold to Paraguay, renamed Nanawa.
    36. Transferred to the Argentine Coast Guard.
    37. Sold to Paraguay, renamed Capitán Meza.
    38. Sold to Paraguay, renamed Teniente Fariña.
    39. Sunk in the surroundings of Cono Point (Tierra del Fuego) with all hands.
    40. Sunk during the Falklands War.
    41. Incapable of navigation; used for dockside training as of 2020.
    42. Stricken from the fleet list after incomplete overhaul.
    43. Refit cancelled as of 2020.
    44. Used as a training vessel until 1930s, and retired from all training duties in 1961, is currently moored at Buenos Aires as a museum ship.