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Noticias Argentinas

October 1
At the AFNE Shipyard the latest destroyer for the Navy, the Alerta, has been laid down today. The Tandanor Shipyard at Comodoro Rividavia has laid down her sister ship, La Plata.

October 6
Aeravias Argentinas S.A. today finally began services to Brazil and Chile with the first of its FMA I.Ae 7 four-engined long-range airliners. Owing to some technical issues delivery was delayed by three weeks and ground crew training has taken longer than expected but FMA confirms production of the remaining eight airliners is on schedule and the third I.Ae 7 should be delivered in January next year.

October 11
FMA has revealed the results of its flight test programme of its new 450hp “El Gaucho” 9-cylinder radial engine. Tucan has provided a special one-off modified T-17 without armour plating or military equipment as a flying engine test-bed. So far about 30 hours of flying has been achieved with good results. The modified T-17 has reached 174mph at 15,000 feet and 196mph at sea level. FMA agrees the T-17 is not the perfect aerodynamic testbed but overall they are pleased with the performance so far and a further set of 100 hours of testing will be completed by next summer. Certification is hoped for next May. Around 1,200 hours of bench tests have been carried out with another 1,000 hours planned. FMA has not yet revealed what aircraft will use the new engine or whether it has been specially developed for a particular design.

October 20
At the AFNE Shipyard at Bahia Blanca the hull of the Navy’s new repair ship, the Cabo San Gonzalo was launched by the Defence Minister, Vice Adm (ret). Juan Perez Benedicto Hood. The ship should be completed during the summer of 1940 and will provide the Navy for the first time with the ability to repair ships at remote ports and overseas. The Cabo San Gonzalo will be fitted with every possible workshop and modern equipment for its purpose and will be one of the finest repair ships existing in the Western Hemisphere.

The Chief of Staff of the Navy Almirante Dominguez was sat at his desk at Naval Headquarters in Bahia Blanca catching up with the endless stream of paperwork and reports on his desk. There was a knock at the door and his aide stepped in, “Sir, Capitan de Navio Pascal is here to make his report in person.” The Admiral looked up, “Hmm, yes show him in.”
Capitan de Navio Pascal marched in, in his immaculate white summer uniform and he smartly saluted as he approached the desk, “Capitan Pascal reporting Sir.” “Ah, yes Capitan. Please have a seat.” Admiral Dominguez waved his hand, “Thank you Sir. You told me to report to you as soon as there were any developments.” “Have there been any?” asked the Admiral, one eyebrow raised as he reached for another paper file. “Yes Sir. I’ve managed to acquire the vessel in question.” The Admiral seemed surprised at the young officer’s claim, “I thought it had been agreed not to purchase anymore second-hand vessels?” “The Defence Minister himself signed the pre-contract deal. He wanted the ship Sir.” The Admiral was not entirely pleased, to himself he cursed the Defence Minister for his meddling, and yet he knew that being a superior official he had to accept his will. “How much will this cost us? Does he think we can afford it? Our building programme is already a year behind schedule.” “Well the final payment schedule hasn’t been arranged yet but we won’t be able to pay for her until 1941.” “Is that worthy enough Capitan?” “Well Sir you know her stats, here is the file,” he handed over a chunky buff-coloured folder across the large oak desk, “the armament needs modifying but the preliminary constructors report is that we can mount several twin 100mm and quadruple 37mm mounts on her, the 130mm guns will need to be a special mount but no other problems are noted. She has a seaplane and her armour is well above the average for a ship this size…” the Admiral cut him off, “Yes, yes, she is a perfect ship for the Navy in a defensive role but we need to find the manpower and funds to refit her. Still, that isn’t your concern Capitan. We had better contact Almirante Galindez of the Argentine Naval Commission in Europe to see about acquiring another radio set for the ship too.” The Captain nodded in agreement as the Admiral closed the file, “I trust you will notify me the minute the deal is formally signed?” The Capitan nodded, “Yes Sir!” The Admiral waved his hand, “Then you may go I’m sure you have many other matters to attend to.” The Capitan rose, saluted and turned on his heel and left the room. The Admiral relaxed in his chair and spun round to face the large model of the battlecruiser Veinticinco de Mayo in a glass case behind his desk. “Ah sometimes I wonder if my predecessor was right after all. Maybe a carrier-based fleet would be cheaper” he murmured to himself. He turned round again to his desk and opened the next file of papers; the first line read ‘The Approval of Purchase for forty FMA I-02N Pulqui carrier-based fighters…’

Quoted

Maybe a carrier-based fleet would be cheaper” he murmured to himself.

Probably not when you include the airgroups. The ships themselves aren't too expensive but the extra manpower and aircraft cost add up to quite a lot. Running the airgroups on ship costs a lot as well. Italy is currently only keeping a few carriers with airgroups, most are in reserve with airgroups ashore (not that there are enough aircraft for all the carriers). I should really get around to selling some of the ships off and getting a more homogenous fleet.

December 1
At the AFNE Shipyard the slip vacated by the repair ship Cabo San Gonzalo is already in use again. The next vessel to be built by the yard is the large oilier Dona Dorothea. This ship will displace 22,050 tons at full load and is 158 metres long and two steam turbines developing 10,000hp will propel her to 15kts. The Dona Dorothea has been designed and built to support the new battlecruisers now being built in Germany and will provide the capital ships of the Navy with fuel at sea wherever they may be. Completion is planned for March 1941.

December 18
The aircraft builder Tucan has now begun full-scale production of their Tucan T-18B NB-2 bomber. Originally designed as a one-off prototype, this aircraft was the prototype T-18 fitted with a Spartan inline engine and new nose section ahead of the cockpit. The fuselage was strengthened, a section inserted aft to maintain the cg, new undercarriage fitted, altered fuel system and some aerodynamic refinements added. It first flew on July 6 1938 and then went for trials with the Aviacion Naval. Chile has also trialled the type and now they have placed a large order for T-18B for the land-based ground-attack role.

The T-18B has an all-metal monocoque fuselage in three sections with Z section fames and L section stringers with riveted stressed light alloy covering. Light alloy is used for the cantilever tail construction and tailplane covering. The cantilever metal wing has two steel spars of I section, all-metal split flaps and aluminium framed ailerons with aluminium covering and underwing hydraulic-operated aluminium dive-brakes are also fitted. Rudder and elevators are aluminium framed with aluminium covering. The retractable main undercarriage has single oleo-pneumatic legs with pneumatic brakes and a retractable castoring tail wheel. The engine is the 1300hp FMA Spartan 12V-1300S-SA V-12 inline engine with supercharger which provides a maximum speed of 324 mph; service ceiling is 34,500ft and range is 748 miles at full load. Armament consists of four wing-mounted 7.62mm Browning MGs, one manual dorsal mounting with twin 7.92mm FMG/M32 MGs (drum feed) and a bombload carried on one ventral (500lbs) or two wing racks (250lbs each).

December 19
Reports are coming in that the rocket-powered RP-1 has been destroyed in a crash.

Capitan de Aero Alfonso de Bastian was taking the RP-1 aloft for its third B-3D/RP-1 combination flight. The modified Accrisius B-3D bomber lifted off from the FMA test facility at 09:45am and slowly climbed to 15,000 feet. The RP-1 (I.Ae 10) was fully loaded with a full fuel load, the 5,000lb plane was dropped at 15,200 feet and some 2,000 feet below the bomber Bastian fired the FNO-104 rocket engine and after some delay the engine fired and the little RP-1 began to climb rapidly but some fourteen seconds after ignition the aircraft exploded. The observer crew saw the rear of the RP-1 disintegrate after a small explosion and the fuselage rolled rapidly to port and within ten seconds the starboard wing sheared off and the remains of the fuselage disintegrated. The entire pressure cabin section was thrown clear of the remains of the forward section and began hurtling earthwards. At 5,000 feet the canopy detached but the observer crew failed to spot a parachute. It took the ground team some three hours to locate the pressure cabin in the rough terrain. Capitan de Aero Alfonso de Bastian’s body was found still inside the crushed cabin. Experts say the high G-forces made him unconscious and that he probably never regained consciousness before the capsule hit the ground at high speed.

December 23
Capitan de Aero Alfonso de Bastian has been given a grand funeral in his home town of Realico and hundreds turned out the line the procession route. Meanwhile FMA have confirmed that they will not build a replacement RP-1 and the Air Force is thought to have terminated the entire rocket-plane programme owing to “lack of funds and official interest in the results so far obtained and the obvious safety issues with rocket propulsion.”

December 30
During ground trials of the ninth FNO-104 rocket the engine failed spectacularly with a massive explosion and fireball at the Maquichao test facility and it is thought this will signal the end of the FNO-104 programme.
Meanwhile FMA confirmed that it has successfully tested ten FMA/ RRF "Polyphony" rocket motors during late 1939 in various static trials but declined to give any further details of the engines performance or purpose.

The Fuerza Aerea de Chile extends its condolences to the family of Capitan de Aero de Bastian and to the Argentine Air Force.

The Chilean government, after due consultation, elects to posthumously award Capitan de Bastian with the Orden Nacional al Merito de Chile, encomienda (National Order of Merit of Chile, commander-class) in recognition for his contributions to the advancements of aeronautics. [1] The FACh has also collected a small number of donations for Capitan de Bastian's family.

[SIZE=1]Note 1: the National Order of Merit of Chile is unusual in that even though it's one of the highest honours in Chile, it's reserved for foreign nationals "who have achieved distinction not only in the realms of diplomacy and politics but also the arts, charitable works and other fields."[/SIZE]

Capitan de Aero de Bastian's widow graciously accepts the award of Nacional al Merito de Chile, encomienda on her dead husband's behalf.

The Ministry of Defence has begun a radical re-organisation of the Armed Forces of Argentina.

National Defence Programme

The current Army Order of Battle of five Corps with ten Divisions is being scrapped. All Divisions will be broken up into Brigades. Each Corps will cover a geographical area. Each Brigade will replace the Divisions although there will be fewer of them as they will have four Regiments each and will have increased firepower. Corps supporting elements will also be stronger but each Corps will loose its organic Armoured Regiment. The five current Regiments will be merged into two Armoured Brigades.
A new small Parachute unit will be formed for Special Tasks but the nature of such warfare seems likely only to support a very small unit and the Air Force has no transport carrying capability yet.


National Defence Programme (Army)

I Corps (HQ Cordoba)
I Brigada (Cordoba)
II Brigada (San Luis)
I Armoured Brigada (Mercedes)
Parachute Infantería Battalion (Mercedes)

II Corps (HQ Santiago del Estero)
III Brigada (Santiago del Estero)
IV Brigada (San Miguel de Tucuman)
Andes Mountain Brigada (La Rioja)
IV Independent Security Regiment (Formosa)

III Corps (HQ Santa Rosa)
V Brigada (Santa Rosa)
VII Brigada (Bahia Blanca)
II Armoured Brigade (Telen) (204 tanks, 24 SPG and 78 armoured cars)

IV Corps (HQ Comodoro Rivadavia)
VI Brigada (Comodoro Rivadavia)
I Independent Security Regiment (Rawson)
II Independent Security Regiment (Puerto Deseado)
III Independent Security Regiment (Puerto Santa Cruz)

National Defence Programme (Air Force)

Each new Aerea Brigada is a territorial headquarters unit designed to undertake all quartermaster and strategic planning within its area and undertake control of all air defence efforts within its boundary. They also control the Navy’s aircraft to co-operate with FAA units fully for maritime units. The Navy retains tactical control of its own units but there is a liaison unit with each Brigada HQ. Aerea Brigada IV is responsible for all military aircrew training.

Aerea Brigada I
HQ San Luis

Aerea Regimenta No1 Military Air Base Cordoba, Province of Cordoba, , Interception, currently 72 FMA I-02 Pulqui

Aerea Regimenta No 3 Military Air Base “El Plumerillo” Mendoza, Province of Mendoza, Maj. General Juan Biedma, Light Bombers, currently 72 FMA M.B.2 bombers

Aerea Regimenta No 7 Military Air Base Mercedes, Province of San Luis, Maj. General Alfredo Miguel Paladino, Light Bombers and Ground Attack, currently 36 T-17B and 36 FMA I-01-IIB Buchon

Aerea Regimenta No 8 Military Air Base San Luis, Province of San Luis, Maj. General G. Smith, Medium Bombers, currently 72 IMPA SI-21A (Sp-21 Vanquish II)

Aerea Regimenta No 9 Military Air Base Renanco, Province of Cordoba, Lt. General Horacio Vasquez, Light Bombers and Ground Attack, currently 36 T-17B and 36 FMA I-01-IIB Buchon

Aerea Brigada II
HQ Santiago del Estero, General de Aero Cillion

Aerea Regimenta No 4 Military Air Base Santiago del Estero, Province of Santiago del Estero, Maj. General R. Burrquitos, Medium Bombers, currently 72 IMPA SI-21B Vanquish III

Aerea Regimenta No 6 Military Air Base San Miguel de Tucuman, Province of Tucuman, Major General Benjamin Matienzo, Interception, currently 24 FMA I-01-IIB Buchon and 48 I-01-II Buchon

Aerea Regimenta No 12 (formerly Aerea Regimenta Paraguay), Military Air Base Ascuncion, Paraguay, Lt. General Victoriano Martinez de Algeria, currently one Grupo with 24 FMA I-01-IIB Buchon, one Grupo with 24 IMPA SI-21A (Sp-21 Vanquish II), one Grupo with 24 Tucan T-17 and one Grupo with 24 I.Ae.20 El Boyero

Aerea Grupo No.1, Military Air Base San Salvador, Province of Jujuy, Capitan de Aero Fernandez, Reconnaissance, currently 24 I.Ae.20 El Boyero

Aerea Grupo No.3, Military Air Base Resistencia, Province of Chaco, Capitan de Aero Marabella, Reconnaissance, currently 24 I.Ae.20 El Boyero

Aerea Brigada III
HQ Santa Rosa, General de Aero Humberto Sosa Molina

Aerea Regimenta No 2 Military Air Base Bahia Blanca, Province of Bahia Blanca, Maj. General Agustin Verona, Interception, currently 72 FMA II-02 Pulqui

Aerea Regimenta No 10 Military Air Base Santa Rosa, Province of La Pampa, Lt. General Luis Tabbone, Medium Bombers and Ground Attack, currently 24 SI-21B (Vanquish III) and 48 IMPA SI-21T (Sp-21M)

Aerea Regimenta No 5 Military Air Base Telen, Province of La Pamapa, Capitan de Aero Enrique Molina, Reconnaissance, currently 24 M.B.2, 24 FMA I-100D and 24 Westland Lysander

Aerea Regimenta No 11 Military Air Base Puerto Deseado, Province of Santa Cruz, Capitan de Aero Marcos Michello, Anti-Shipping and Medium Bombing, currently 24 IMPA SI-21T (Sp-21M), 24 SI-21B and 24 FMA I-01-IIB Buchon

Aerea Grupo No.2, Military Air Base Las Heras, Province of Santa Cruz, Capitan de Aero Pollo, Reconnaissance, currently 24 I.Ae.20 El Boyero

Aerea Regimenta Naval No 2 Naval Air Base Madryn, Province of Chubut, Capitan de Navio Albarrcin, currently 60 IMPA TB-1 (Spartan TBN-7) torpedo bombers (plus 16 Tucan T-18 NB-1 by Q3/40)

Aerea Regimenta Naval No 3 Naval Air Base Viedma, Capitan de Aero San Pablo, 48 SI-21B (Vanquish III) bombers and 12 FMA I-01-II Buchon fighters

Aerea Regimenta Naval No 4 Naval Air Base Bahia Blanca, Capitan de Navio H. Hernandez, 60 IMPA SI-21T (Sp-21M) bombers and 12 FMA I-01-II Buchon fighters

“Bahia Blanca” Regimenta Naval, Naval Air Base Bahia Blanca, Capitan de Navio Cristobal, 60 Ripon-Bloch RB.132 Renegade

Aerea Grupo Naval No 1 Naval Air Base Madryn, Province of Chubut, Capitan de Aero Jarez, 6 Constelacion Aeronave CA-02 Frigatebird

Aerea Grupo Naval No2 Naval Air Base Rio Gallegos and Naval Air Base Puerto Deseado, Province of Santa Cruz, Capitan de Navio Horacio Smith, 16 IMPA SI-21S and 3 CA-02 Frigatebird

Aerea Grupo Naval No3 Naval Air Base Bahia Blanca, Province of Bahia Blanca, Capitan de Aero Sabatina, 16 IMPA SI-21S

Aerea Brigada IV
HQ Cordoba, Lieutenant General Oton Mantovant

Transport Squadron No1 (under Escula Regimenta command) Military Air Base Mercedes, Province of San Luis, Captain de Aero A. A. Azcacardo, two Junkers W34 and seven Junkers Ju 52

School of Military Aviation, Escula Regimenta (School Regiment) Military Air Base Cordoba, Major General Luis Candelaria, currently 9 Avro 626 Prefect, 48 FMA I.Ae 6T, 72 FMA I.Ae 2/2T, 72 FMA I.Ae 3/3T, 3 FMA I.Ae 4T and 24 IMPA M.B.2B navigation trainers; one group at Military Air Base Mercedes (M.B.2B and I.Ae4T) and another at Military Air Base San Miguel de Tucuman (FMA I.Ae 3 advanced trainers)

School for Specialists (for NCOs) Military Air Base Cordoba, Province of Cordoba, Capitan de Aero P. Careras, has access to six FMA I.Ae 2 and FMA I.Ae 3

Technical School Military Air Base Cordoba, Province of Cordoba, Major General Elisendo Pissano

Tactical Bomber School Military Air Base San Miguel de Tucuman, Lieutenant General de Aero Juan Ignacio San Martin, currently 39 Tucan T-17, 24 IMPA SI-21A (Sp-21 Vanquish II) and 12 M.B.2

Tactical Fighter School Military Air Base “El Plumerillo” Mendoza, Maj. General P. M. Stallone, currently 18 FMA I-100 (all series), 24 FMA I-01-II and 12 FMA I.Ae 3

Escula de Aviacion Naval Group Naval Air Base Bahia Blanca, Capitan de Navio Smith, 9 FMA T-514 and 18 FMA I.Ae 2, 36 FAM I.Ae.3/3T, 4 Fokker T.IVa, 6 FMA I.Ae 1D Guarani and 8 Westland Wapiti V

Anti-Shipping Tactical School, Naval Air Base Madryn, Province of Chubut, Capitan de Navio Dominguez, currently 6 TBN-6A Seadart and 24 IMPA SI-21T (Sp-21M)

Brigada I strength 360 aircraft (144 fighters, 144 bombers and 72 ground-attack aircraft)
Brigada II strength 288 aircraft (96 fighters, 96 bombers, 24 ground attack and 72 light aircraft)
Brigada III strength 312 aircraft (96 fighters, 24 fighter-reconnaissance, 120 bombers, 48 reconnaissance and 24 light aircraft) (plus 84 Naval fighters, 60 Naval torpedo-bombers, 108 Naval bombers and 41 seaplanes)
Brigada IV strength 366 aircraft (9 transports, 57 basic trainers, 147 advanced trainers, 24 navigation trainers, 54 fighters 36 bombers and 39 ground-attack aircraft) (plus 27 Naval basic trainers, 36 Naval advanced trainers, 18 seaplanes, 6 torpedo-bombers and 24 bombers)
Total FAA aircraft: 1,326 aircraft (390 fighters, 396 bombers, 135 ground-attack aircraft, 72 reconnaissance, 96 light aircraft, 7 transports and 228 trainers)

COMMANDO DE AVIACION NAVAL ARGENTINA 1940

Under the command of Commando de Aviacion Naval Brigada
HQ Bahia Blanca

Aerea Regimenta Naval No 1 Naval Air Base Bahia Blanca,
Independencia Carrier Wing, Capitan de Navio Santana
Independencia Squadron 1, 12 Mitsubishi NF-1 (A6M)
Independencia Squadron 2, 12 Tucan T-18 NB-1
Independencia Squadron 3, 12 Spartan NT-1 (TBN-7)

Guardabosques Carrier Wing, Capitan de Navio Jabrez
Guardabosques Squadron 1, 12 Mitsubishi NF-1 (A6M)
Guardabosques Squadron 2, 12 Tucan T-18 NB-1
Guardabosques Squadron 3, 12 Spartan NT-1 (TBN-7)

Aerea Grupo Naval No 4 Naval Air Base Bahia Blanca, Capitan de Navio Gondez, 8 ENAER Sea Coati and 12 Supermarine Sea Otter

Naval Transport Squadron, Naval Air Base Bahia Blanca, Major de Aero Estaban, 4 FMA I.Ae 1 Guarani, 3 Constelacion Aeronave CA-02 Frigatebird and 3 Lockheed Model 14 Super Electra

Escula de Aviacion Naval Group B Naval Air Base Bahia Blanca, Capitan de Navio Jaccare, 8 Tucan NB-1 (16 by Q3/40), 8 Spartan NT-1, 8 Mitsubishi NF-1 (A6M) and 18 Coati-N trainers

Total aircraft: 558 (116 fighters, 32 dive-bombers, 98 torpedo bombers, 132 bombers, 86 seaplanes, 12 flying boats, 3 transports, 27 basic trainers and 52 advanced trainers)