WesWorld

In 1908 the SAE laid down a third unit of the so-called Colony class armoured cruisers. The ship turned out a semi-sister as her design was modified to allow the instalment of guns of 21 centimetres calibre in her wing turrets where the previous two carried such of 19cm calibre.



The ship completed and entered service in 1910 when naval analysts already rated armoured cruisers obsolete because of the advent of the battle cruiser. In the southern hemisphere and especially the Indian Ocean time was running more slowly however and the number of battle cruisers or fast capital ships stationed there was low. These circumstanced allowed the Royal South African Navy to stick to their former doctrine and use their armoured cruisers as rally points and back up for their cruiser and light craft operations.[1]

This status did not last long and with the coming into existence of more and more battle cruisers and fast battleships all South African armoured cruisers were soon shifted to second line duties and reserve, all finally scrapped during the years 1916 to 1919. All except RSAN Argentina and the two General class vessels which became dedicated cadet and gunnery training ships, their large and habitable hulls and relatively modern equipment saving their lives. In that role all three stayed in service beyond the Cleito Naval Arms Limitation Treaty until the late 1920s when it could no longer be ignored they were lacking in several areas and could no longer be used to train the Empires naval youth effectively. A heated discussion began; ending with decision that once published made many people shake their heads. The two larger, turbine driven and overall more modern General class vessel were to be stricken and scrapped while the older RSAN Argentina would be refitted and kept as a training ship. What common people did not know is that calculations run showed the Generals offered little potential for modernisation short of a complete rebuild and limited funds prevented that. [2] For the very same reason the other remaining armoured cruiser could not be rebuild but calculations showed potential a smaller refit would do to keep her active, albeit as a compromise. Her low speed would limit her value in training naval operations and tactics but her better habitability raised her above the Generals. It should also be noted that her smaller size ate up less of the limited tonnage allowed the RSAN to devote on class A cruisers and with six of that kind just build and at least two more planned for 1929 it was felt too much tonnage dedicated for training and obsolete vessels would be a waste.

Following this decision in 1927 RSAN Argentina entered the Royal Yards in Durban where she stayed until April 1929. Her internals were consequently trimmed to allow the housing and training of 200 cadets while her upperworks changed to take on modern medium size and light guns as well as modern range finding and radio equipment. She then featured a bridge similar to that in use on modern cruisers and capital ships, a midship section similar to other cruisers and an aft superstructure with two large class rooms and another set of modern range finders. Evolving from the yards like that she was ready to serve another decade as purpose build replacements were still not at hand.[3]



In 1937 a decision has to be made again. The RSANs last armoured cruiser is 30 years old soon and especially her old machinery is causing troubles. A purpose build training ship, the RSAN Antenor, is available since 1935 and voice getting louder to not waste any budget on the old lady anymore. Options are to send her to the breakers, save her as a national historic monument or sell her.


[1] It may be noted that this lead to an oddity in the worlds leading navies ship building programs as the RSAN laid down two more ACs in 1910 which became known as the General class. Larger, more heavily armed and faster than the previous Colonies these ships turned out white elephants. The last and arguably most powerful of their kind they were obsolete from the very first day they entered service in late 1912.

[2] Both units where send to the breakers in 1929 accordingly.

[3] Actual stats post-refit are as below

Argentina, laid down 1908, refitted 1928

Displacement:
9.705 t light; 10.251 t standard; 11.900 t normal; 13.219 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
442,91 ft / 442,91 ft x 68,90 ft x 26,25 ft (normal load)
135,00 m / 135,00 m x 21,00 m x 8,00 m

Armament:
8 - 8,27" / 210 mm guns (6 mounts), 297,62lbs / 135,00kg shells, 1908 Model
Breech loading guns in turrets (on barbettes)
on centreline ends, evenly spread
10 - 5,91" / 150 mm guns in single mounts, 101,41lbs / 46,00kg shells, 1908 Model
Breech loading guns in casemate mounts
on side, all amidships
8 - 4,13" / 105 mm guns (4x2 guns), 35,32lbs / 16,02kg shells, 1924 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread
8 - 1,57" / 40,0 mm guns (4x2 guns), 1,95lbs / 0,88kg shells, 1924 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread
16 - 0,79" / 20,0 mm guns (6 mounts), 0,24lbs / 0,11kg shells, 1924 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread
Weight of broadside 3.697 lbs / 1.677 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 140

Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 5,91" / 150 mm 295,28 ft / 90,00 m 10,50 ft / 3,20 m
Ends: 2,36" / 60 mm 147,64 ft / 45,00 m 7,22 ft / 2,20 m
Upper: 3,35" / 85 mm 295,28 ft / 90,00 m 7,87 ft / 2,40 m
Main Belt covers 103% of normal length

- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 8,27" / 210 mm 5,91" / 150 mm 5,91" / 150 mm
2nd: 5,91" / 150 mm 3,94" / 100 mm -
3rd: 0,98" / 25 mm 0,39" / 10 mm -
4th: 0,59" / 15 mm - -
5th: 0,39" / 10 mm - -

- Armour deck: 1,57" / 40 mm, Conning tower: 7,87" / 200 mm

Machinery:
Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines,
Direct drive, 4 shafts, 26.809 ihp / 20.000 Kw = 22,38 kts
Range 8.300nm at 12,00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 2.968 tons (100% coal)

Complement:
569 - 740

Cost:
£1,058 million / $4,232 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 449 tons, 3,8%
Armour: 2.876 tons, 24,2%
- Belts: 1.221 tons, 10,3%
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0,0%
- Armament: 963 tons, 8,1%
- Armour Deck: 603 tons, 5,1%
- Conning Tower: 88 tons, 0,7%
Machinery: 2.437 tons, 20,5%
Hull, fittings & equipment: 3.893 tons, 32,7%
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 2.194 tons, 18,4%
Miscellaneous weights: 50 tons, 0,4%

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
12.310 lbs / 5.584 Kg = 43,6 x 8,3 " / 210 mm shells or 1,7 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1,21
Metacentric height 4,0 ft / 1,2 m
Roll period: 14,4 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 70 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0,42
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1,43

Hull form characteristics:
Hull has raised forecastle
Block coefficient: 0,520
Length to Beam Ratio: 6,43 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 21,05 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 52 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 49
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0,00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0,00 ft / 0,00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 24,93 ft / 7,60 m
- Forecastle (20%): 24,28 ft / 7,40 m (16,40 ft / 5,00 m aft of break)
- Mid (50%): 16,40 ft / 5,00 m
- Quarterdeck (15%): 16,40 ft / 5,00 m
- Stern: 16,40 ft / 5,00 m
- Average freeboard: 18,03 ft / 5,50 m

Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 96,4%
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 113,7%
Waterplane Area: 20.709 Square feet or 1.924 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 104%
Structure weight / hull surface area: 121 lbs/sq ft or 589 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0,98
- Longitudinal: 2,34
- Overall: 1,07
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is adequate
Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate
Ship has slow, easy roll, a good, steady gun platform
Good seaboat, rides out heavy weather easily

Hmmmm. I'd say probably send her to the breakers, the one use I can see for such an old hull would be as a target, but her relatively slow speed limits that a bit. If she had a famous history, keeping her as a monument would make sense, but it doesn't sound like she does.

I hate to see those beautiful old ships scrapped, though... Let me mull over what I might be able to do to save her from the torch.

The name says it all: Argentina.

Stuff it full with lots of *KABOOM* material (preferably Nukes), send it as a 'gift' to the Argentines and then blow it up Filipino-style.

Beware of South Africans bearing gifts.

The name has always puzzled me, Argentina is not a colony of the SAE. Nor has it ever been by my reading of WW history.
Still the RN has a cruiser called Durban and another called Calcutta so I guess its a moot point.

It's a fine looking ship but you can't keep every old ship. Many a fine ship has become scrap and I think its the RSAN Argentina's turn. With modern purpose-built training cruisers it has no role left. Even for gunnery training its not really modern enough without new turrets etc.
You could hulk her and use her for extra accomodation or as a office space in your dockyards.

How about turning it into a bar or restaurant?

Most likely she'd be turned into an accommodation ship, hulked, or a floating AA battery unless her material condition was really poor. In WW, those things cost money, so scrapping is the best option I feel. It's not as if Argentina can really give that useful service any more.

Quoted

Originally posted by Rooijen10
The name says it all: Argentina.

Stuff it full with lots of *KABOOM* material (preferably Nukes), send it as a 'gift' to the Argentines and then blow it up Filipino-style.

Beware of South Africans bearing gifts.

Or just sell it to the Philippines, and let the natural course of events take place?