WesWorld

1 January
At the AFNE Shipyard at Bahia Blanca a new large vessel was laid down on the biggest slipway possessed by the yard. The new Project 720 Replenishment Ship, to be named Proveedor, is the first such ship to be purpose-built for the Navy and when completed will allow Argentine warships at sea to be re-supplied with food, supplies and ammunition. The vessel is due to be completed during the summer of 1949.

8 January
The Foreign Affairs Minister Alfredo Castagone today confirmed in an interview with a journalist for the newspaper Noticias Argentinas that high level discussions have been with held with Peru regarding economic co-operation. Though he wouldn't be drawn on specific details he outlined a deal whereby machine goods, medical supplies, vehicles and chemicals would be traded or licenced to Peru in return for mineral ores and monetary payments.

15 January
At the AFNE Shipyard at Bahia Blanca the destroyers Jujuy and Hercules were launched in a joint ceremony, attended by the President and his wife. Each pressed a button to release the two bottles of champagne simultaneously. Both ships have been towed into the fitting out basin and should complete this summer.
A sistership, Heroina, was also launched today at the Astillero Nav. Yard in Puerto Belgrano. The ship was launched by a famous local Tango dancer, Juan de Pissaro.
In other naval news, the large light cruiser General Belgrano has begun a refit in Bahia Blanca harbour to modernise her equipment to allow her to remain a potent cruiser into the early 1950s.

There have been a few changes of commanders this year.

Almirante Velazco, in command of Naval Brigada V (the unit responsible for all training and supply vessels) has retired this year at the age of 60. He has been replaced by newly promoted Almirante Teisaire. Teisaire has been one of the premier training officers of his generation having commanded the training sail ship Presidente Sarmiento in 1917-22 and taught at the Naval Academy from 1932 and he has held numerous policy-making posts in that service followed by experience in the Argentine Naval delegations to the United States and Europe. He became the assistant director of the Navy Mechanics' School and since 1941 has commanded the Training Squadron.

Teisaire's old command has been taken by Contra Almirante Salvero (promoted to Vice Almirante shortly after taking post). He has commanded most of the transport vessels in the Navy and spent three years commanding the training ship Presidente Sarimento before being given command of the Auxiliary Squadron where, since 1939, he has led the training and support for underway replenishment at sea. Some traditional old-school gunnery offices believe the post should have gone to one of the many cruiser protégés but Salvero has proved himself a solid and capable trainer with sound programmes and ability to see integrate new thinking. He is due to retire in 1951 so his replacement may well ultimately fall into one of the more dashing war heros of the 1930s.

Capitan de Navio Hoho, formerly commander of the 2nd River Squadron and a veteran of the bitter river battles during the SA War has been able to finally make use of his decade of merchant service before joining the Navy on his promotion to Contra Almirante to take charge of the Auxiliary Fleet. Hoho has handed his old command over to Capitan de Navio Bouchard, one of the foremost experts of Motor Torpedo Boats in the Navy and well suited to lead the small river gunboats and modernise their fighting tactics.

Bouchard's old 4th MTB Squadron is in capable hands with Captain de Navio Spinetti. This young officer joined the Navy after leaving school in 1936 as one of the wartime expansion intakes. Selected for officer training in 1937 he has served a variety of junior officer roles on destroyers until he completed his qualifications to become a torpedo officer in 1942. Serving in that capacity aboard the destroyer Lynch he found his only chance of further promotion and command was to join either the submarine or MTB branches of the service. He chose the latter in 1945 and took command of MAS M-25 in September 1946, later serving as second-in-command of the 5th MTB squadron within a year.

Almirante Smith-Sabatini in command of Naval Brigada III has retired this year at the age of 60. He has been succeeded by newly promoted Almirante Martinez Muhon. Muhon is perhaps one of the most gifted engineers of the Navy, having qualified as an engineer at the AFNE shipyards before joining the Navy in 1923. In 1931 he joined the Mine Warfare Department of the Naval Academy and in 1933 commanded the Minesweeper and Escort Squadron before heading the Technical Section of the Naval Staff from 1936. Known to his crews as 'The Walking Brain’, a very intellectual man he lacked real command and sea experience while also lacking diplomacy and prone to being heavy handed on punishments to his crews. His lack of sea experience has been rectified from 1939 with four years as in command of the 3rd and 4th Destroyer Squadrons before becoming Flag Officer Destroyers, a role he has served faithfully since 1942 and during that time taking steps to modernise the force and the 1948 Class destroyers with their world-leading armament and systems married with an Argentine hull being his greatest achievement after many years of lobbying the Naval Staff for the most powerful destroyers to counter the RSAN fleets.

Contra Almirante Bahia has been promoted to Vice Almirante and is the second Flag Officer Destroyers to hold the post. He is one of Almirante Peablo’s protégés and has been promoted very quickly and has seventeen years experience of cruisers, destroyers and torpedo boats. A skilled seaman he has won the hearts of his crews and seems to combine all the best elements of an able officer with all the vigour of youth. His old command has gone to former Capitan de Navio Guerra-Rajo, newly promoted to Contra Almirante. A graduate of the Naval Academy he has served mainly on destroyers and during the SA War was wounded and spent three months in hospital. In early 1937 he taught at the Academy and eventually became an ASW instructor. In late 1939 he was given command of the 2nd Patrol Squadron.

The new commander of the 2nd Patrol Squadron is Captain de Navio King, who joined the Navy at 15. During the SA War he served aboard the cruiser Veinticinco de Mayo and survived her sinking. After recovering from wounds he was posted ashore and in 1938 took command of a tug at Bahia Blanca, from there he has stepped to MTBs and latterly has commanded the 2nd MTB Squadron. He handed over command to Capitan de Navio Fernandez. He joined the Navy during the SA War recruitment drive, after graduation from the Naval Academy in 1938 he has served aboard several patrol craft and minesweepers. During 1945-46 he served as an ASW instructor at the Academy and has written a thesis on the topic which has been widely read through the Navy. Command of his own ship came in January 1947 with a new patrol craft, P7. In 1948 eager for a formation command he took the next available opportunity, the 2nd MTB Squadron.

20 January
In San Juan thirty new school teachers have arrived at the town's main secondary school, which was rebuilt in 1946 following the devastating earthquake. The school is now ready to take around two-thirds of all the children aged between 11-15 within the San Juan catchment area. The school has been built around modern teaching strategies and features open-plan rooms, plenty of natural light and fresh air and has inbuilt earthquake resistant features. The gymnasium and swimming pool also doubles as community facilities. It is among the best equipped schools in the rural regions.

28 January
Escuadrilla 1.I of the Portaaviones Grupo Aéreo Independencia based at Bahia Blanca today took delivery of the first batch of four FMA I-02IIIN carrier-based fighters. The aircraft is a naval version of the I-02III with the folding wings and strengthened fuselage with arrestor gear of the I-02N. 48 were ordered in July 1947 and deliveries should complete this year. Keen plane spotters will note that the prototype of the original-series I-02 Pulqui II made its maiden flight on 6 January 1938, a decade ago. While the latest fighters have moved on the basic solidity of its design is clear and its constant upgrading has kept it a viable fighter.

8 February
Erhard Milch, Technical Director of Research and Development at the Instituto Aerotechico outlined for the government today the forthcoming imports of aircraft for the air forces of Argentina. All are British types, some are repeat orders and some are new types. The order book includes three additional BCAC Freighters for the Air Force, who will also receive twelve Gloster Meteor Trainers (to be designated T-07). The Prefectura Naval Argentina will receive nine de Havilland DH.104 T-06P Dove light-airliners for coastal patrol and transport work along the coast.

Milch also outlined the most important project his department is currently working on. Projecto Tábano (Project Gadfly) will see the construction of several test articles which will be flight tested as a fixed pod beneath an I.Ae.28 bomber. The pod will feature a rocket engine. This engine has a combustion chamber with a regenerative cooling jacket. The engine and its propellant tanks are contained in a streamlined winged body. The primary aim of the project is to research fuel types and performances and guidance systems for a future air-to-ground missile.

12 February
Rumours that a major change in the organisation of the Navy are circulating around the officer circles of the Navy.

20 February
The patrol icebreaker ARA Piedra Buena rescued thirty sailors today from a stricken fishing vessel off the Strait of Magellan in heavy seas after the boat's engine had broken down and they began to drift and take on water.

26 February
The patrol boats ARA P17 and P17 commissioned with the 3rd Patrol Squadron at Puerto Santa Cruz today. These new boats have replaced older 1930s vintage boats and well ensure the continued patrolling and search and rescue duties along the Patagonian coast.

7 March
Fabrica Militar de Aviones (FMA) today opened their new Fábrica de Motores de Aviación (Aviation Engine Factory) in Cordoba. The Fábrica de Motores de Aviación also forms a new division of the company and has been formed from the previous Engine Department.

The products of this division are;
450hp El Gaucho R-1/1 9-cylinder radial
740hp El Indio R-2/1 9-cylinder radial
840hp El Indio R-2/2 9-cylinder radial

Another new Division of FMA is La Fábrica de Hélices y Accesorios (Propellers and Accessories Factory), formed to take over running of the propeller workshop which had been part of the main Cordoba factory since 1928. Moved to new premises alongside the Fábrica de Motores de Aviación it will also design and manufacture engine accessories and gear-driven equipment.

14 March
The Ministry of Defence has placed a repeat order for 72 8.8cm FlaK 43 anti-aircraft guns from Rheinmetall-Borsig. Last year the first batch of 72 identical guns were delivered to modernise the aerial defences of the nation.

18 March
The notorious D’Silva ranch has today been given an export licence, marking the rehabilitation of disgraced tycoon Antonio D’Silva’s business dealings. The ranch is the only business holdings he retains after the State stripped him of most of his assets.

22 March
Aboard the destroyer ARA Ingeniero Alfrez de Navio (Sub-Lieutenant) Enrico de Galvez looked out to starboard to see the dark grey outlines of the battlecruisers ARA Veinticinco de Mayo, and the recently acquired and rebuilt ARA Pampas about two miles south. The wind was blowing the sea into crests of waves but the skies were sunny. Scanning the horizon again with his binoculars he couldn't help but feel pride in his new ship and the chance to sail out into the South Atlantic so soon after joining the ship and seeing some of the mightiest ships the Navy had to offer. He knew somewhere astern of them was the carrier ARA Guardabosques. He would give anything to serve aboard her, indeed he hoped in his career that he would get to serve one of the carriers. Hearing the drone of piston engines aloft he gazed up to see four Pulqui II fighters already gaining altitude above them, Enrico knew this summer exercise was going to be exciting.

2 April
Aboard the destroyer ARA Ingeniero Alfrez de Navio (Sub-Lieutenant) Enrico de Galvez focused his binoculars onto the grey bulk of the battlecruiser ARA Veinticinco de Mayo to port, beside him was a signaller at the signal lamp, a signal lamp on the battlecruiser's bridge began to flash.
"Incoming message Captain from the fleet flagship, exercise Blue Latern to cease at ten four-oh, fleet will return to harbour, await further orders."
The signaller flashed the acknowledgement and Enrico awaited his Captain's response. It had been a busy few weeks with constant action, warding off enemy torpedo attacks from destroyers, hunting submarine targets and evading air attacks as well. They had been lucky and has skillfully avoided all the pitfalls and the umpires on board had been impressed. He could only hope his performance had been good enough to warrant mention in his next fitness report before the Captain.

7 April
Six inmates tried to escape from the prison at Ushuaia, Terra del Fuego, following a riot but they were soon recaught following a two-day manhunt. All the men were cold and hungry and eagerly gave themselves up to prison guards.

19 April
The Paraguayan Prime Minister Juan Natalicio González has arrived in Cordoba for talks with the Argentine government and to meet the President. It is expected that the talks are likely to focus on economic aid and possibly the current situation regarding the joint Argo-Paraguayan naval force on the Rio Paraguay.

22 April
The Paraguayan Prime Minister Juan Natalicio González was seated in the lounge of the Conservative Party Club, after a lavish dinner the guests gathered for a cigar and brandy and to talk business. Shortly the topic of conversation turned to the Marxist cooperatives in Paraguay. González outlined the problems he was having. His Catholic People’s Party had given up all hope of land reform. Now almost all the major arable farms where either owned or controlled by the conservative Landowners Association or the Marxist Party commune farms. The LA were mechanising the farms, merging smallholders into larger plots and using imported American farming equipment to boost yields and profits but also making many tenant farmers either homeless or forced to work for less money as tractor drivers and machine operators. The Marxist Party commune farms fed into a party-run distribution system, including shops, mainly in rural areas but in some northern towns too. Food was cheaper but little of it was getting to the bigger cities and supply problems and rising prices were big political problems if a flare up of civil action was to be avoided. The two competing methods of modernisation had still not come to any kind of accommodation after almost five years of battling for land and resources. There already had been dozen of incidents, brawls, workers beaten by masked gangs, arson of grain silos and other criminal acts.

The Argentine State Minister Jose Marcos de Ballista cleared his throat, “the answer is to destroy one of the competitors. From what you’ve told us a deal with the Landowners is most likely?”
González nodded. “So use the tools of the state against the Marxists. If you nationalised all the commune farms and their assets then you would own them and the farmers would be government employees,” de Ballista suggested.
“How would I pay for that? The nation is broke.” González, shook his head.
Fernando Balbin, the Argentine Education and Culture Minister had the answer. Argentine capital, but from the right sources. “It’s simple, you acquire all the assets by compulsory purchase so you only need to cover the operating costs. Now you have a set of farms and a distribution network, everyone in this room knows a monopoly is bad, so you sell the distribution arm off as a private enterprise. Any of our larger meat exporters could easily buy such a company and run it at a nice profit. I know of at least two important investor friends of mine who are willing to embark on a new venture like this.”
González nodded as he mulled over the proposal, doubtless there would be bribes to pay but the deal could be done; even he might get a cut of the proceeds.
“Then you do an audit of the productivity of the land,” Balbin continued, “and you make sure the Association farms look much better, so that gives you the answer to sell off the land back to the landowners and they would be clay in your hands to mould.”
González stroked his chin as he sucked on his cigar, “And if those Marxist fools don’t like it there are plenty of unemployed dirt farmers who would be eager to work for even a modest wage. They will fight though.”
de Ballista shrugged, “The Army can deal with them if things get rough,” he smacked his fist into his other hand to emphasise the point, “now is the time to strike while they are complacent and occupied with what the landowners are doing.”
González smiled as he set down his brandy, “Those who have no food soon lose the appetite to fight.” The room filled with laughter.

3 May
Today marks the opening of Gymnasium UNT, a high school for young men belonging to the National University of Tucumán, located in San Miguel de Tucumán. It was founded earlier this year. The school has a humanistic orientation, using a system of self-discipline, a mentoring scheme and wide student participation. The Gymnasium is designed to prepare students for university life, but also goes beyond the academic system. This special training is given because these students act as mentors to their pairs and students sit on the organisational bodies; the College Club, the Board of Representatives and the Advisory Council. This allows students to acquire skills of organisation, interaction and extensive human and a democratic vision.

5 May
The Navy's autumn exercise season continues. For the next ten days Naval Brigada II will be performing a series of fleet exercises off Patagonia.
The main units involved are the; 2nd and 3rd Cruiser Squadrons, 2nd and 5th Destroyer Squadrons and the 2nd Escort Squadron, along with the Submarine Squadron and the training aircraft carrier Avispón.

11 May
Brigadier Cortez looked at the latest dispatch from the military attache in Asuncion with alarm. There had been no fewer than three border incursions in the Chaco region of Paraguay in the last month. One of them had resulted in a firefight between both sides. Three Paraguayan cavalrymen had been wounded and one killed. In turn the invading party had lost two killed and three wounded who were captured. They appeared not to be regular troops but some of the left-wing militia that had taken hold in Bolivia. Territorial disputes were not uncommon but in the febrile atmosphere in Paraguay any thing could happen.

11 June
Fábrica de Motores a Reacción (Jet Engine Factory) has been formed by Fabrica Militar de Aviones (FMA) in partnership with Rolls-Royce to undertake maintenance and overhaul work on Rolls-Royce Derwent engines for the Meteor fleet. V. Ing. Raúl Argentino Magallanes has been appointed as Director. Machine tools and gauges and equipment enable the factory to build component parts locally with assistance from Rolls-Royce technicians and training. The new purpose-built factory is located in Rawson.

14 June
The new Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Almirante Bouchard (he has been promoted from his old post of Chief of Staff) has outlined a major reorganisation of the Navy which will take effect from 1 July.
The five Naval Brigada will be responsible solely for coastal defence of the territorial areas they cover. The main combat units of the Navy will come under a new Fleet Operations Command. A new Submarine Command and a Mine Warfare Command have also been created to more efficiently make use of these specific assets. All transport ships assigned to lifting the Marines have been placed under the Infantería de Marina Command. Naval Brigada V has been disbanded and split into Training Command and Fleet Support Command.

16 June
Today marks the first public concert of the musical folkloric ensemble Los Chalchaleros formed recently in the northern province of Salta. The group, Victor José Zambrano ("Cocho"), Carlos Franco Sosa, Aldo Saravia, and Juan Carlos Saravia, have chosen as their name the name of a local song-bird, the chalchalero.

26 June
A large ceremony was held in Bahia Blanca today as the former Philippine battlecruiser Presidente Aguinaldo was commissioned into the Navy as ARA Pampas, commemorating the battlecruiser sunk during the South American War. The Pampas will join the 1st Battle Squadron at Bahia Blanca alongside the rest of the battlecruiser fleet, now numbering four ships.

1 July
Workers at the Astillero Nav. shipyard in Puerto Belgrano and the Tandanor Yard at Comodoro Rividavia have been busy as they began work on two new landing ships for the Navy. The Navy has long been concerned that the Marines have had little purpose-built transport and exercises since 1935 have consistently shown that the lack of means to move vehicles direct to the beach is a major problem in assault operations. The Navy therefore acquired additional fund this year to build two Project 722 landing ships, known as Landing Ship Tanks in some navies. The Punta Medanos is underway at Astillero while Tandador’s expert workers are laying down the Punta Delgado. Both ships should complete next summer.

9 July
The Dirección General de Fábricas la Escuela de Aprendices (Directorate General Factory School Apprentices) has formally opened today in Bahia Blanca. It has been founded by the Director of the Institute Aerotécnico to formally organise the apprentice training programme. The first class has enrolled 270 apprentices.

14 July
At Hucclecote, Gloucestershire, England, following taxi trials the prototype Gloster AXP-1001 jet fighter took to the air on its maiden flight. The aircraft, designed to meet Argentine specifications with the assistance of thirty FMA engineers should enter service in 1950. Current plans will see the third prototype being shipped to Argentina and assembled here for a first flight.

15 July
The new Project 455 Class destroyers ARA Jujuy, Hercules and Heroina commissioned today with the 1st Destroyer Squadron at Viedma. These powerful ships are among the most advanced destroyers in South American waters and combine the best technology from across Europe and South America.

23 July
There was good news for the Compania Industria Metalurgica & Plastica S.A. today. Its aviation division has been hit with a lack of work for several years and with the danger of the aircraft factory being closed. However, IMPA has signed an agreement with the Italian manufacturer Macchi to produce the MB.308 two/four-seat light aircraft and the MB.320 six-seat light aircraft under licence. Pattern aircraft will be despatched before the end of the year and it is hoped both types will enter production next year. The Argentine-built MB.308 versions will include a two-seat version powered by an 85hp Continental engine and a four-seat version powered by a 90hp Continental C90 engine. The MB.320 will be powered by two 255hp Continental E-225 engines. The construction of the wings and fuselage of both types is all-wood.

1 August
At Cordoba, arriving by BSAA Avro Tudor airliner, the Oxford-Cambridge rugby union tour team arrived in Argentina. A mixed selection of players from Oxford and Cambridge universities has been arranged for this historic tour. The team includes several England national team players and they will play nine matches against the best Argentine teams over the next month.

7 August
Fábrica de Instrumentos y Equipos (Instruments and Equipment Factory (FIE)) has been formed by Fabrica Militar de Aviones (FMA) to manufacture a wide range of instruments, including Sperry equipment under licence, and electronic equipment. Captain Carlos Pedro Porucini was appointed as Director. It replaces the Taller de Reparación de Instrumentos de Aviación (Aviation Instruments Repair Workshop) which had been founded in 1938.
Another recent change to the FMA structure has seen the Fábrica de Máquinas y Herramientas (Machines and Tools Factory) founded as a separate division. Originally it was part of the Engine Department, being formed in an adjoining workshop in 1931. Its products will now be manufactured for the aviation, locomotive and automotive industries in Argentina.

19 August
The Universidad Tecnológica Naciona (UTN, National Technological University) was formally established today in Cordoba in a ceremony attended by President Juan Ramon Mugnolo and the Education and Culture Minister Fernando Balbin. The UTN is the only university specialising in engineering in the country and has been created to cover the lack of technical specialists in the country. It is hoped future expansion will encompass all major disciplines of engineering and other campuses across the country.

25 August
At 03:09:28 the ground in the Province of Salta shook. The earthquake was recorded as 7.0 on the moment magnitude scale with a maximum Mercalli Intensity of IX (Violent). Property damage and casualties occurred in several towns in the east and southeast of the province and also across northern Tucumán and Jujuy, affecting the capitals of both. Military and civilian personnel are being hurried to the area to assist in searches and aid relief work.

The German ambassador in Cordoba and the Foreign Ministry in Berlin make immediate offers of assistance and inquiries as to what might be required for rescue and recovery efforts. The Technisches Hilfswerk and Luftwaffe air transport units are put on stand-by.

The Argentine government gladly accepts the German ambassador's offer of assistance.