USS Tacoma, sister ship of the Santísima Trinidad |
|
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Class and type: | US Tacoma class patrol frigate, known in RN service as the Colony class frigate |
| Name: | HMS Caicos (K505) |
| Builder: | Walsh-Kaiser Yard, Providence, Rhode Island, USA |
| Laid down: | 23 April 1943[1] |
| Launched: | 6 September 1943 |
| Commissioned: | 2 January 1944 |
| Decommissioned: | 1945 |
| Out of service: | Returned to US on 12 December 1945 |
| Career (Argentina) | |
| Name: | ARA Santísima Trinidad (P-34) |
| Acquired: | July 1947 |
| Commissioned: | 1948 |
| Renamed: | Comodoro Augusto Laserre (Q-9) 1963 Comodoro Augusto Lasserre (Q-9) 1964 |
| Reclassified: | Buque de Investigacion (survey vessel) 1963 |
| Fate: | sold for scrap 1970 or 1971 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 1,430 tons standard 2,415 tons deep load |
| Length: | 285.5 ft (87.0 m) (waterline) 304.0 ft (92.7 m) (overall) |
| Beam: | 37.5 ft (11.4 m) |
| Draught: | 13.75 ft (4.19 m) |
| Propulsion: | Triple expansion, 2 x 3-drum type boilers, 2 shafts5,500 ihp (4,100 kW) |
| Speed: | 20.3 knots (37.6 km/h) (on first trials), 19 knots (35 km/h) (by 1963) |
| Range: | 7,800 nmi (14,400 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h) 700 tons oil |
| Complement: | 175 as frigate 100 as survey vessel |
| Armament: | 2 x 105 mm (4.1 inch) guns, 8 x 40 mm AA guns (or 4 x 47 mm), 1 Hedgehog, 6 x depth charge throwers |
The ARA Santisima Trinidad was one of a number of US Tacoma class patrol frigates, operated by the Argentine Navy (Armada de la Republica Argentina) during the Cold War period. These ships were named after Argentine frigates which saw prominent action during the War of Independence.[2]
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Santisima Trinidad was a US Tacoma class patrol frigate (type S2-S2-AQ1, hull number 1659) built by the Walsh-Kaiser Yard, Providence, Rhode Island, USA,[3] and transferred to Britain under the lease-lend program. The design was itself an adaptation of the Royal Navy River class frigate, with modifications made mainly to use materials and parts more readily available in the United States. She was laid down as USS Hannam (PF77);[4] but launched as HMS Caicos (K505) on 6 September 1943; and delivered on 31 December 1943.[3] She was commissioned by the Royal Navy as HMS Caicos (K505) on 2 January 1944; it is claimed that this frigate was partially funded by the Turks & Caicos Islands.[5]
Caicos, was assigned as an aircraft detection frigate, stationed in the North Sea to detect V-1 flying bombs, targeted at Britain.[1][6] Two of her crew died on war service.[7]
Caicos was returned to US on 12 December 1945.[8]. The US Maritime Commission sold Caicos for scrapping in June 1946 to N. B. Walcott, New York. However the plans to scrap her were cancelled and she was resold to Argentina in July 1947.
She was incorporated into the Argentine Navy under decree Nº 24,121 of 4 August 1947 (OG 224 47), and assigned the name Trinidad, in memory for the previous Santísima Trinidad. Commander(S)[9] D. Rodolfo A. Muzzio initiated a campaign to assign the full name Santísima Trinidad to her. She therefore became the ARA Santísima Trinidad under decree Nº 20.896 of 3 October 1950 (BNP 124,950).[10]
Santisima Trinidad (P-34) served as part of the Frigate Force of the Sea Fleet from 1948 until 1960. During this time she operated actively in the waters of the South Atlantic, participating in annual fleet exercises; especially anti-submarine warfare exercises since this was what she was designed for. In 1948-49 she participated in the 11th Antarctic Campaign. In 1959, she participated in Operation Neptune II, and received a battle honour[11] from Vicario General Castrense and Cardenal D. Antonio Caggiano on 8 December 1960. She then went into reserve in 1961-62.[10]
According to Janes Fighting Ships, her armament in Argentine service as Santísima Trinidad consisted of: 2 x 105 mm (4.1 inch) guns, 8 x 40 mm AA guns, 1 Hedgehog, and 6 x depth charge throwers.[8] Conways states that she had 4 x 47 mm AA guns instead of 8 x 40 mm AA guns.[12]
Starting in 1962, Bío Santiago Shipyard (AFNE) converted the Santísima Trinidad to a survey ship.[13] The conversion included, disarming her, installing eight specialised cabinets, nine probe basins, and a helicopter landing platform, as well as a general refit.[13] She was reclassified as a survey vessel (Spanish: Buque de Investigacion) and renamed Comodoro Augusto Lasserre (Q-9),[8][13] There was a spelling error in the original decree (Nº 811/63 - BNP Nº 37/63), which called her "Laserre" instead of "Lasserre"; this was corrected in 1964 in decree N° 7136/64 - BNP N° 211/964.[13] She was recommissioned as a survey ship on 27 January 1964.[13] She undertook surveys each year from 1964 to 1968. In 1968 she ran aground near Lion Island (Isla Leones) in the Palmer Archipelago during a storm. After she was refloated, she was inspected at BNPB, and it was recommended that she be taken out of service. She was struck from the navy list by a resolution of 20 February 1969. Her decommissioning ceremony was in March 1969.[13] She was sold for scrap in 1971.[12][13] under decree Nº 811963.[10]
As the frigate ARA Santisima Trinidad (P-34)
1948-49: Commander D. Raúl V. Franzini.[10]
1949-50: Commander D. Fernando V. Muro de Nadal.[10]
1950-51: Commander D. Helvio Guozden.[10]
1951-52: Commander D. Manuel A. Martínez.[10]
1952-53: Commander D. José M. Guzmán.[10]
1953: Commander D. Orlando Argento.[10]
1954: Commander D. Carlos García Favre.[10]
1955: Commander D. Alfredo Sánchez Pupulo.[10]
1956: Commander D. Jorge Aguirre Urreta.[10]
1957: Lieutenant Commander D. Roberto Ulloa.[10]
1958: Commander D. Raúl Francos.[10]
1959: Commander D. Alberto J. Oliver.[10]
1960: Commander D. Jorge Sciurano.[10]
1961-62: In reserve.[10]
As the survey ship ARA Comodoro Lasserre (Q-9)
1962-64 (refit): Lieutenant Commander D. Horacio Gómez Beret.[13]
1964: Lieutenant Commander D. Benjamín O. Cosentino.[13]
1965: Commander D. Marcos Oliva Day.[13]
1966: Commander D. Julio A. Gómez Dávila.[13]
1967: Commander D. Carlos E. Arnold.[13]
1968-69: Commander D. Roberto M. Ornstein.[13]
Note capitán de fragata is the Spanish translation of commander, whilst capitán de corbeta is the Spanish translation of lieutenant commander.