La Argentina 1939
La Argentina 1949
La Argentina 1965
| Name | No | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| La Argentina | C3 | 711 | Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow, UK | 11.1.1936 | 16.3.1937 | 31.1.1939 | stricken 1.1974 |
|
Displacement standard, t |
6500 |
|
Displacement full, t |
7500 |
|
Length, m |
155.4 pp 164.9 oa |
|
Breadth, m |
17.2 |
|
Draught, m |
5.03 |
|
No of shafts |
4 |
|
Machinery |
4 sets Parsons geared turbines, 4 Yarrow boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
54000 |
|
Max speed, kts |
30 |
|
Fuel, t |
oil 1500 |
|
Endurance, nm(kts) |
10000(12) |
|
Armour, mm |
belt: 76, deck: 51, turrets: 51, CT: 76 |
|
Armament |
3 x 3 - 152/50 Vickers-Armstrong W, 4 x 1 - 102/50 Vickers-Armstrong P, 6 x 2 - 25/70 Vickers, 12 x 1 - 7.7/87, 2 x 3 - 533 TT, 1 catapult, 2 seaplanes (Walrus) |
|
Complement |
800 (inc 60 cadets) |
Project history: Double-purpose ship:
light cruiser and training ship, some kind of analogue
of French Jeanne d`Arc, but with more expressed "battle" qualities. Intended for replacement
of outdated cruiser Pueyrredon
of Garibaldi class and TS Presidente Sarmiento.
She was built under special program accepted 29.9.1934, probably instead of the third
cruiser of Almirante Brown class.
Order for building was received by Vickers-Armstrong, developed the
design on a basis
of British cruiser Arethusa. Besides increased
dimensions and strengthened armament Argentine ship differed by presence of additional
accommodations for 60 cadets. The order has been signed 31.7.1935,
stock period lasted 14 months, but then building
rate was sharply fallen in connection with congestion of
builder by orders of own fleet. Ship cost has made 6 million pesoes.
152mm/50 guns were developed on the basis of Mk XXIII, differing
by more light construction and lighter shell. Triple turrets ensured an individual elevation guidance of
guns or joint homing or central gun together with any of side guns.
Being training, La Argentina had unusual
fire control system: two of three directors were two-level (lower for
main guns, upper for anti-aircraft guns), adapted for training of cadets.
Machinery on structure repeated Arethusa, differing
by decreased power. On trials La Argentina reached 30.46kts
at 7590t and 54500hp.
Ship arrived to Argentina in March, 1939.
Ship protection: Protection scheme reminded applied on British Town class. 76mm belt covered five compartments, and abreast both boiler rooms and engine room No1 on height reached upper, and out of them only main deck. 51mm armoured deck was connected with upper edge of main deck. Magazines had box-shaped protection.
Modernizations: 10.1946: + type 268 radar
1949: - 4 x 1 - 102/50, 6 x 2 - 25/70, 1 catapult, 2 seaplanes; + 4 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 1, 6 x 1 - 40/60 Mk 3, Mk 8 radar, displacement was 8500t (full)
1952: + SA-3 radar
Naval service: Till January, 1941 La Argentina was used for training. In 1951 she was reclassified from TC to cruiser, resuming her training role in 1961. In 1970 La Argentina was disarmed and decommissioned. 10.1.1974 she was stricken and sold for scrap 14.8.1975 and broken up in Buenos Aires.
La Argentina 1939
La Argentina 1951
Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.
© Ivan Gogin, 2011-15