Almirante Brown-class Destroyer

The Almirante Brown-class is a class (MEKO 360H2 type) of warships built in Germany for the Argentine Navy. They were commissioned between 1983 and 1984, after the Falklands War. Argentina classifies them as destroyers, reflecting that they are the main warships of the Argentine fleet, but they are similar to general-purpose frigates of other nations.

The Argentine Navy struggles to meet maintenance and training requirements because of financial problems and import restrictions. The Almirante Brown-class were reported to be short of spares and suffering engine problems. In addition it has been reported that the ordinance for the ships is past its expiration date.

Specifications

 * Type: Destroyer
 * Service Period: 1983-Present
 * Characteristics:
 * Length: 413 feet (125.88 meters)
 * Beam: 49 feet (14.94 meters)
 * Draught: 19 feet (5.79 meters)
 * Displacement: 2,900 tons (Empty); 3,360 tons (Full Load)
 * Crew: 224
 * Propulsion: COGAG, 2 x shafts
 * 2 x Rolls-Royce Tyne RM-1C cruise gas turbines, 10,200 shp (7,600 kW)
 * 2 x Rolls-Royce Olympus TM-3B boost gas turbines, 25,800 shp (19,200 kW)
 * Range: 4,500 nautical miles (8,334 kilometers) at 18 knots (33.34 km/h)
 * Speed: 30.5 knots (56.49 km/h)
 * Sensor Suite:
 * DA-08A Air/Surface Search Radar
 * WM-25 Gun Fire Control Radar
 * STIR SAM Fire Control Radar
 * Krupp-Atlas 80 Hull Sonar
 * Countermeasures:
 * Racal Scimitar jammer
 * Graseby G1738 towed torpedo decoy x 1
 * 20-round OTO Melara SCLAR decoy launching system x 2
 * Armament:
 * 1 x OTO Melara 127mm/54-caliber Compact naval gun
 * 1 x 8-cell Albatros SAM Launcher (fires 24 x Aspide SAMs)
 * 8 x MM40 Exocet AShMs
 * 8 x 40mm/70-caliber OTO-Melara anti-aircraft guns (4x2)
 * 2 x 12.75" triple torpedo tubes (fires ILAS-3 lightweight torpedoes)
 * 1 x depth charge rack
 * 6 x 12.7mm machine guns
 * Aircraft Carried: 1 x Aerospatiale Alloute III of Eurocopter Fennec
 * Aviation Facilities: Helicopter deck and hangar

Unit Run

 * ARA Almirante Brown (D-10)
 * ARA La Argentina (D-11)
 * ARA Heroína (D-12)
 * ARA Sarandí (D-13)