Mothballed ARA Trinidad Sinks in Harbour

D

delft

Brigadier
Such sudden sinkings have also happened to ships in commission. Probably the worst such incident was the loss of the Royal George in 1782,
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with the loss of 900 - 1200 people. She was only 26 years old.


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Obi Wan Russell

Obi Wan Russell

Jedi Master
VIP Professional
Jeff Head said:
Well, they do have the one remaining Type 42 Destroyer which, IMHO, is a true destroyer sized vessel, that still has decent capability if it is well maintained, and partocularly if its systems were upgraded.
ARA Hercules was converted some years ago to be a fast amphibious transport, having her helipad and hangar enlarge to take two Sea King. Her Sea Dart system was not upgraded and has been non operational since at least the early nineties if not earlier. her aft type 909 fire control radar was removed when the new hangar was fitted, and the forward one if operational now only controls the 4.5inch mk8. The main type 965 air search radar may not be functional (in photos it is usually non rotating and stowed sideways) and would now be of dubious value, being 1960s technology, its great for tracking high and medium level aircraft over the ocean (eg bombers over the North Atlantic, airliners etc) but next to useless for low level small fighter bombers. 965 was also a British development of the US AN/SPS-6 radar developed postwar, so it's genesis is over 60 years old. She may be relying on just her type 992 target indication radar and her navigation set.
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P

Pointblank

Senior Member
Obi Wan Russell said:
Jeff Head said:
Well, they do have the one remaining Type 42 Destroyer which, IMHO, is a true destroyer sized vessel, that still has decent capability if it is well maintained, and partocularly if its systems were upgraded.
ARA Hercules was converted some years ago to be a fast amphibious transport, having her helipad and hangar enlarge to take two Sea King. Her Sea Dart system was not upgraded and has been non operational since at least the early nineties if not earlier. her aft type 909 fire control radar was removed when the new hangar was fitted, and the forward one if operational now only controls the 4.5inch mk8. The main type 965 air search radar may not be functional (in photos it is usually non rotating and stowed sideways) and would now be of dubious value, being 1960s technology, its great for tracking high and medium level aircraft over the ocean (eg bombers over the North Atlantic, airliners etc) but next to useless for low level small fighter bombers. 965 was also a British development of the US AN/SPS-6 radar developed postwar, so it's genesis is over 60 years old. She may be relying on just her type 992 target indication radar and her navigation set.
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Not to mention that the ASW suite was also probably taken out as well... she's not a combat capable ship that can defend herself no more. There is probably more reconfiguration of the internal spaces as well depending on the extent of the reconfiguration (unlikely as they didn't even take out the old Sea Dart launcher, but rendered it inoperative).
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Miragedriver

Miragedriver

Brigadier
ARA Hercules was converted some years ago to be a fast amphibious transport, having her helipad and hangar enlarge to take two Sea King. Her Sea Dart system was not upgraded and has been non operational since at least the early nineties if not earlier. her aft type 909 fire control radar was removed when the new hangar was fitted, and the forward one if operational now only controls the 4.5inch mk8. The main type 965 air search radar may not be functional (in photos it is usually non rotating and stowed sideways) and would now be of dubious value, being 1960s technology, its great for tracking high and medium level aircraft over the ocean (eg bombers over the North Atlantic, airliners etc) but next to useless for low level small fighter bombers. 965 was also a British development of the US AN/SPS-6 radar developed postwar, so it's genesis is over 60 years old. She may be relying on just her type 992 target indication radar and her navigation set.
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Good to hear from you Obi Wan. What you say is correct. The other type 42 has been converted into a “Fast Attack Force” intervention ship, but mostly as a support vessel for international disasters. As used in Haiti along with the troop transport vessel the ARA Bahia San Blas.
In responding to point blanks comments the vessels which needed for every day patrol and use (yes they use the Meko’s to patrol the South Atlantic) in fishery protection. Apparently a good portion of the Navy's operating budget comes from fines of sequestered Korean and Japanese fishing vessels.
In short the Navy that is used (i.e. the Meko’s and the Drummond class corvettes) are very well maintained museum pieces. With no upgrades or fancy systems.
 
Jeff Head

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Jeff Head said:
Well, they do have the one remaining Type 42 Destroyer which, IMHO, is a true destroyer sized vessel, that still has decent capability if it is well maintained, and partocularly if its systems were upgraded

ARA Hercules was converted some years ago to be a fast amphibious transport, having her helipad and hangar enlarge to take two Sea King. Her Sea Dart system was not upgraded and has been non operational since at least the early nineties if not earlier. her aft type 909 fire control radar was removed when the new hangar was fitted, and the forward one if operational now only controls the 4.5inch mk8. The main type 965 air search radar may not be functional (in photos it is usually non rotating and stowed sideways) and would now be of dubious value, being 1960s technology, its great for tracking high and medium level aircraft over the ocean (eg bombers over the North Atlantic, airliners etc) but next to useless for low level small fighter bombers. 965 was also a British development of the US AN/SPS-6 radar developed postwar, so it's genesis is over 60 years old. She may be relying on just her type 992 target indication radar and her navigation set.
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Thanks, Obi Wan...then they have no true DDG and really only have the Mekos...all of which are showing their age.
 
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Miragedriver

Miragedriver

Brigadier
Jeff Head said:
Obi Wan Russell said:
Thanks, Obi Wan...then they have no true DDG and really onlyu have the Mekos...all of which are showing their age.
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That’s basically it. Four large frigates, which are called destroyers and six large corvettes (in the MEKO class), call frigates. Below is a list of Active and operational Naval vessels:


Amphibious vessels
ARA Hércules Type 42 Amphibious command ship (1)
ARA Bahía San Blas (B-4) Amphibious Transport ship (1)

Destroyers (Frigates)
Almirante Brown class destroyer (4)
ARA Almirante Brown (D-10)
ARA La Argentina (D-11)
ARA Heroína (D-12)
ARA Sarandí (D-13)

Submarines
TR-1700 submarine (2)
ARA Santa Cruz (S-41)
ARA San Juan (S-42)
Type 209 submarine (1)
ARA Salta (S-31)

Corvettes
Espora class corvette (6)
ARA Espora (P-41)
ARA Rosales (P-42)
ARA Spiro (P-43)
ARA Parker (P-44)
ARA Robinson (P-45)
ARA Gómez Roca (P-46)
Drummond class corvette (3)
ARA Drummond (P-31)
ARA Guerrico (P-32)
ARA Granville (P-33)

Basically a fishery protection and patrol navy. Little or no power projection.
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P

Pointblank

Senior Member
Miragedriver said:
Good to hear from you Obi Wan. What you say is correct. The other type 42 has been converted into a “Fast Attack Force” intervention ship, but mostly as a support vessel for international disasters. As used in Haiti along with the troop transport vessel the ARA Bahia San Blas.
In responding to point blanks comments the vessels which needed for every day patrol and use (yes they use the Meko’s to patrol the South Atlantic) in fishery protection. Apparently a good portion of the Navy's operating budget comes from fines of sequestered Korean and Japanese fishing vessels.
In short the Navy that is used (i.e. the Meko’s and the Drummond class corvettes) are very well maintained museum pieces. With no upgrades or fancy systems.
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Probably best if the Argentinians invest their precious few dollars into a core of maybe 3-4 multirole frigates (3000-4000 tons) and 5-6 OPV's (1000-2000 tons), followed by maybe 7-8 missile or patrol boats (500-800 tons) as their primary force. The rest of the major and minor combatant's should be discarded, including the submarine force, which rarely sails at all.
 
J

joshuatree

Captain
Pointblank said:
Probably best if the Argentinians invest their precious few dollars into a core of maybe 3-4 multirole frigates (3000-4000 tons) and 5-6 OPV's (1000-2000 tons), followed by maybe 7-8 missile or patrol boats (500-800 tons) as their primary force. The rest of the major and minor combatant's should be discarded, including the submarine force, which rarely sails at all.
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Based on seeing how their present force is barely operational (vessels impounded or stranded waiting parts), combined with all the comments about their sad state of finances, I'm not even sure if your plan is even attainable for the ARA. If they could even field 5-6 modern corvette/OPVs at a high tempo and discard the rest, I would think that would already be a success. Maybe fold the CG into the ARA to better pool financial resources.
 
Miragedriver

Miragedriver

Brigadier
Just to clarify. The submarines are used occasionally in order for the crews to stay proficient. The MEKOs are used on a regular basis. They truly are the workhorses of the Navy. The are usually on deployment, either: patrolling the coast line in fishery protection, there is always at least two either one in the Persian Gulf, or the Mediterranean, one on good will missions/UN mission. They are the best kept and most reliable.

One of the better investments the Navy made in the early 80’s. but as mentioned before. They are well kept but have not been upgraded, and there is no money for new purchases, or upgrades. Fortunately they are meticulously maintained.
 
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