Argentine naval forces in the Falklands War

This article describes the composition and actions of the Argentine naval forces in the Falklands War (Spanish: Guerra de las Malvinas). For a list of naval forces from the United Kingdom, see British naval forces in the Falklands War.

Background

The Argentine Navy (ARA), particularly its commander-in-chief and Junta member, Admiral Jorge Anaya, was the main architect and supporter of a military solution to resolve the long-standing claim of sovereignty over the islands. His first attempt came in 1976 when he was the Navy Chief's Operations of the recently established Military dictatorship but General Videla and Admiral Massera were more busy disappearing people at that time.[1] By 1982 the country was already in the midst of a devastating economic crisis and large-scale civil unrest against the repressive government and Anaya, now a member of the ruling Junta, ordered Operation Rosario to be brought forward to 2 April, after a group of Argentina military infiltrated a group of Argentine scrap metal merchants and raised the Argentine flag at South Georgia 19 March.

General Galtieri, acting president, agreed in his intention to mount a quick, symbolic occupation, followed rapidly by a withdrawal, leaving only a small garrison to support the new military governor and force the UK to begin talks on the long-delayed sovereignty claim. On 2 April an amphibious landing was made at Stanley and on 3 April Argentine marines used helicopters to take over the Georgias. Whilst the military junta was redeploying the assault units back to their home bases they found the British responded with a large-scale mobilisation to organise a naval task force and ground forces to retake the islands by force.

The war could not have happened at a worse time for the Argentines. They were expecting new destroyers, frigates and submarines being built in West Germany and their shipment of French Super Etendards and Exocets were not yet complete. On the other hand, the Royal Navy was in middle of great cutbacks that would have eliminated its force of aircraft carriers and amphibious forces in the coming months.

Argentine Navy

Operation Rosario (2 April)

Vice Admiral Juan José Lombardo
Ships that only participated in the initial invasion, 2 April:

Task Group 20

Commander José Sarcona

Task Group 40

Rear Admiral Jorge Allara

South Georgia (3 April)

Falklands Theatre of Operations [Teatro de Operaciones Malvinas] (2 April-14 June)

South Atlantic Theatre of Operations [Teatro de Operaciones del Atlántico Sur] (15 April-14 June)

Direct control from Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires Province.
Vice Admiral Juan Lombardo

Task Group 79.1

Rear Admiral Jorge Allara
ARA San Luis sister ship, ARA Salta, was not operational at the time of the war.

Task Group 79.3

Captain Héctor Bonzo

Task Group 79.4

Captain Juan Calmon

Submarine force

Others

Argentine Coast Guard

Stationed at the Falkland Islands.

Argentine Merchant Navy

Blockade Runners

Spy trawlers

Falkland Islands Company ships seized by the Argentine Navy

Coaster Monsunen.

Notes

  1. MALVINAS, LA TRAMA SECRETA, CARDOSO OSCAR RAUL, KIRSCHBAUM RICARDO, VAN DER KOOY EDUARDO ISBN 950-742-863-1
  2. "Battle for the Falklands (2)". Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  3. ARA Comodoro Somellera 1995 picture
  4. Macaed. "Lanchas patrulleras argentinas". Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  5. Morgan, David (2006). "Chapter 6". Hostile Skies. Phoenix. pp. 140–141. ISBN 978-0-7538-2199-2. She was later attacked by Argentine A4s, shelled by one of our frigates and finally attacked by Antelope's Lynx, which sank her on 23 May with 2 Sea Skua missiles.
  6. DDG Hansa (German)
  7. Mayorga, page 300
  8. 1 2 Los pesqueros argentinos en la Gesta de Malvinas (Spanish)
  9. 1 2 3 4 Muñoz, Jorge (2000) Misión Cumplida. Editorial Epopeya, p. 141 (Spanish)
  10. 1 2 3 4 Mayorga, pp. 170-171
  11. 1 2 Gambini, Hugo: Crónica documental de las Malvinas. V.2, page 1080. Editorial Redacción, 1982. (Spanish)
  12. Scheina, Robert L.: Latin America: a naval history, 1810-1987. Naval Institute Press, 1987, page 244. ISBN 0-87021-295-8
  13. Mayorga, page 169
  14. "Alacrity in action". Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  15. Mayorga, pp. 144-145
  16. Mayorga, page 313
  17. Herrscher, pp. 91-93, 104-105, 112-113

References

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