ARA Almirante Brown (C-1)

Summary

Almirante Brown was a Veinticinco de Mayo-class heavy cruiser in service with the Argentine Navy. The ship was named in honour of Admiral Guillermo Brown, the Father of the Argentine Navy.

History
Argentina
NameAlmirante Brown
NamesakeGuillermo Brown
BuilderCantieri navali Odero, Genoa-Cantiere della Foce
Laid down12 October 1927
Launched28 September 1929
Commissioned18 July 1931
IdentificationC-1
FateScrapped 1962
General characteristics
Class and typeVeinticinco de Mayo-class cruiser
Displacement6,800t normal; 9,000t full load
Length560.3 ft (170.8 m)
Beam58.5 ft (17.8 m)
Draught15.3 ft (4.7 m)
Installed power85,000 hp (63,000 kW)
PropulsionParsons turbine, 2 screws
Speed32 knots (59 km/h)
Range8,000 nmi (15,000 km) at 14 knots (26 km/h)
Complement600
Armament
Armour
Aircraft carried2 × Grumman J2F Duck
Aviation facilitiesCatapult launcher

Design and construction edit

Almirante Brown was built by Odero in Genoa (Italy), laid down 27 November 1927, launched on 11 August 1929, and completed 11 July 1931. Her total displacement was 6,800 tons. The ship was broadly similar to the Italian Trento class but was armed with three twin 7.5 in (190 mm) gun turrets as against four twin 8-inch (200 mm) guns. Another important difference was the repositioning of the boilers, which gave the ship a single funnel. On trials the cruiser reached its contracted speed of 32 knots (59 km/h). As completed the ship had a short funnel but it was subsequently raised. During the Second World War the ship finally received the catapult which had been included in the original design. The catapult and crane were carried on the centreline between the funnel and mainmast, with two Grumman floatplanes. When built six twin 100 mm (3.9 in) anti-aircraft guns were mounted at forecastle deck level but these were later replaced by twin 40 mm (1.6 in) Bofors guns.

Almirante Brown was decommissioned on 27 June 1961 and sold for breaking up in Italy in 1962.

See also edit

References edit

Notes edit

Bibliography edit

  • David Miller, Illustrated Directory of Warships - from 1860 to the present day. (Salamander Books, London, 2001)
  • M. J. Whitley, Cruisers of World War II, An International Encyclopedia (1995) Arms and Armour Press
  • Purnell's Illustrated encyclopedia of Modern Weapons and Warfare

Further reading edit

  • Burzaco, Ricardo. Acorazados y Cruceros de la Armada Argentina. Eugenio B, Buenos Aires, 1997. ISBN 987-96764-0-8 (in Spanish)
  • Arguindeguy, Pablo. Apuntes sobre los buques de la Armada Argentina (1810-1970). Comando en Jefe de la Armada, Buenos aires, 1972. ISBN n/d (in Spanish)