During the 1980s, the Argentine government used its German connection (storied shipbuilder Blohm & Voss) to have several classes of warships and submarines built. One of the former became ARA Sarandi (D-13) which was the fourth of four ships built to the MEDO 360H2 standard. These destroyers were commissioned during the middle of the decade and all four survive today (2017) in active service (though their age has restricted their general usefulness). ARA Sarandi saw her keel laid down on March 9th, 1982 and was launched on August 31st of that year. She was formally commissioned for service on April 23rd, 1984.
Walk-Around
As built, the warship carries a displacement of 3,360 tons with an overall length of 413 feet, a beam of 46 feet and a draught of 19 feet. Power is through a COmbined Gas And Gas (COGAG) arrangement which features 4 x Marine diesel turbines generating 36,000 horsepower to 2 x Shafts. Maximum speed in ideal conditions can reach over 30 knots and range is out to 4,500 miles.
Armament
On board there is a crew of about 224. A single light utility helicopter is supported through a hangar and helipad fitted aft. The vessel is modestly armed through 1 x 5" (127mm) OTO-Melara Dual-Purpose (DP) turreted deck gun (over the forecastle), 8 x MM40 Exocet anti-ship missiles and 1 x Albatross quadruple missile launcher with 24 x "Aspide" surface-to-air missiles. For close-in air defense there are 8 x 40mm Bofors autocannons. The warship also carries 6 x 324mm torpedoes in two triple launchers.
Structural
Her profile is conventional with the primary deck gun set towards the bow and one pair of Bofors AA turrets set just aft on a stepped superstructure. Beyond this is the bridge superstructure which contains a simple mastwork and the usual communication and sensor fits. A secondary mast is installed aft of this and just ahead of the split smoke funnels which are of a low profile design. The aft superstructure contains a third mast structure and additional point defense weaponry as well as sensor equipment. At the extreme aft end of the ship is its hangar and helipad.
Service Record
ARA Sarandi completed a tour in Mediterranean waters during 2003 and took part in joint actions with the American Navy during this time. She accidentally fired on "Rademaker", a Brazilian frigate, during joint exercises in 2004 which injured four. Beyond that, the warship has seen little in the way of notable service.
In November of 2017, she was being used as part of the search to locate ARA San Juan (detailed elsewhere on this site), an Argentine diesel-electric submarine lost on November 15th.
Specifications
Year: 1984
Ship Class [ Almirante-class ] Ships-in-Class [ 4 ]Ship Names:ARA Almirante Brown (D-10); ARA La Argentina (D-11); ARA Heroina (D-12); ARA Sarandi (D-13)
Argentina
- Blue Water Operations
- Fleet Support
- Hunter
- Direct-Attack
Length:
413 ft (125.88 m)
Width / Beam:
46 ft (14.02 m)
Height / Draught:
19 ft (5.79 m)
Displacement (Surface):
3,360 tons
2 x Rolls-Royce Tyne RM-1C gas turbines developing 10,000 horsepower with 2 x Rolls-Royce Olympus TM-3B gas turbines developing 25,800 in COGAG arrangement driving 2 x Shafts.
Speed (Surface):
31 kts (35 mph)
Range:
3,910 nm (4,500 miles; 7,242 km)
1 x 5" (127mm) /54 caliber OTO-Melara Otobreda Dual Purpose (DP) turreted deck gun.
8 x MM40 "Exocet" anti-ship missiles
1 x Albatros surface-to-air missile launcher (24 x Aspide missiles).
8 x 40mm Bofors AA autocannons in four twin-gunned turrets.
8 x 12.7mm heavy machine guns
6 x 324mm torpedo tubes in two triple launchers (18 torpedo reloads).
1 x Medium-lift navalized helicopter fulfilling general transport, anti-ship, anti-submarine and Search and Rescue (SAR) duties.
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Argentina
