Annual Naval Report
State of the Navy Ship-by-Ship and capabilities.
1st Battleship Squadron: Libertad and Capitan Gascon are in good condition and the crews have undergone intensive training during the past year. Work on Project 101 continues. These ships are among the most combat efficient in the navy.
2nd Battleship Squadron: Patagonia and Pampas have conducted trials and training and now are fully combat ready ships. More training is needed but the crews overall are of good quality. No major maintenance problems reported.
1st Battlecruiser Squadron: Santisima Trinidad has just completed offensive actions across the Atlantic. Although elderly she stood up to the long-trip and rough seas well. Spares are becoming a problem but the ship is still combat effective. The crew have gained useful experience in blue-water operations, naval warfare and refuelling at sea.
1st Cruiser Squadron: Pueyrredon, Veitncinco de Mayo and Almirante Brown.
Pueyrredon is currently the Fleet Gunnery Training Ship and therefore has lacked proper sea time. Her crew are mostly reservists but in wartime trained men would be embarked inline with her Flagship role.
The two Italian cruisers Veitncinco de Mayo and Almirante Brown are now equipped with seaplanes and are the most effective cruisers in the fleet. Almirante Brown’s crew have now blue-water and combat experience and the ship stood up well to the rigours of rough seas. AA armament upgrades are currently underway. Work ongoing on Project 201 for a new heavy cruiser and new Project 604 light cruisers in Germany.
2nd Cruiser Squadron: Nueve de Julio, Comodore Py, Hipolito Bouchard and Espora.
Since last year Nueve de Julio has improved dramatically under Capitan Dominguez. While technical problems are still many the condition of the vessel has been improved by ‘spit and polish’ and a new crew is training together very well. Her replacement is already under construction so any future refit seems unlikely. Foreign purchases should soon boost cruiser numbers.
Comodore Py, Hipolito Bouchard and Espora will also soon be replaced be new Project 315 vessels. All have been consistently at sea on blockade duties and are wearing out fast. Py is now nearly a floating hulk as her engines are badly worn. Espora will also be laid up soon as a source of spares.
1st Destroyer Squadron: Mendoza, Rioja and La Plata (+3).
Very capable ships among the best in the world. No major technical troubles and excellent guns. Crew training progressing very well. Proved capable of trans-oceanic voyages.
2nd and 3rd Destroyer Squadrons: 1914-1916 Programme Ships Cervantes, Yucuman, Juan de Garray, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Cruz, Salto, San Juan, Bathurst and King all in fair condition but these ships are aging fast and bearing the brunt of constant use. Turbines need overhaul as do the boilers in the majority of the ships. Habitation has been improved but still inferior to modern ships.
4th Destroyer Squadron: E101-04 (ex Catamarca-Thorne) have all been refitted with new powerful 130mm guns and modern A/S weapons. These ships will be used until newer escort designs enter service. The refits have solved many maintenance problems but the engines still require extensive work. Practical speed now is 17-19kts. E105-6 are, as yet, un-modernised. Crews are second-line and training is poor in some areas.
1st Independent Destroyer Squadron: Heroina and Sarandi are very modern and powerful vessels. Crew training has progressed well but taking time to master Italian machinery which has proved reliable in service. Flag duties will commence soon.
General San Martin is a cruiser, minelayer, training ship and destroyer flotilla leader in wartime. The largest warship built in home yards she has been an excellent success in both construction and reliability. Crew training is to a high standard given her role but many of her crew will be trainees.
1st and 2nd Torpedo Destroyer Squadrons: Corrientes Class D101-10 and T101-02 are brand-new and although problems have been encountered these ships are combat ready. Crew training still requires much work but men from older ships are being transferred. The customs operated ships are in constant and successful use.
1st Submarine Squadron: Salta and Santa Fe complete and working up in the Baltic. Will be our first submarines. Work to begin on four more in home yards.
Minelayer Squadron: Fulton and Chaco Class.
Fulton is laid up with engines unserviceable. Chaco Class are brand new and still working up. They promise much allied with the new Project 501 Guardia Class. These ships are brand new and only just completed.
Gunboat Support Squadron: The two Parana Class are still in good condition, the Patria is operating with half-crew but is still operational. The two new Los Andes Class are now fully operational and taking the bulk of patrol work to save older ships for possible war service. Training is ongoing and more gunnery practice needed.
MTB Fleet is plagued by engine troubles and most of the fleet is laid up. New MAS types will be built and these older units may be used for training only.
MGB Fleet is operating well with no major issues.
Presidente Sarimento the sail training vessel is in very good condition and is preparing for the 1933 season.
Transport Fleet is still plagued by poor equipment and unsafe handling gear but exercises have helped training but morale is still low. The tanker is in fair condition but newer commercial tankers can replace her in wartime. Hampered by lack of at-sea refuelling capability.
Survey ship is still in good condition and morale is very high aboard.
Tugs and crane ship are used hard but no serious problems reported. New crane for crane ship has been postponed.
Army Status Report 1932
Two new divisions are still to be formed by Aug 1935 and a new corps structure will see an extra battery equipped with heavy guns by 1939. By late 1933 the fourth Brigade of the Infantería de Marina will be complete and new 150mm and 75mm guns are entering service.
Re-equipping with the new 75mm M31 L/50 at a rate of 50 guns a year is well underway in the frontline units. The Navy is to purchase 50 for coastal defence, some to be mounted in coastal defences. An AA gun version with pedestal mount and associated rangefinders has entered limited service some six months early. The new 155mm M32 is another French gun modernised and this will enter widespread service during 1933. Some are in service now. New 37mm and 20mm AA guns have been entering service since 1929 in small numbers. 30 Chrysler cars modified with 8mm armour (open top) and armed with one 7.92mm MG and crew of three are in service and 50 more have been ordered. The Vickers 6 ton copy T-1M31 tank is about to enter full production during the year and 100 will be built within five years. A tankette type has been cancelled for the time being.
On going radio procurement has been hit be financial difficulties but most long-range sets will be replaced by 1935 and medium sets by 1939.
Fuerza Aerea Argentina Annual Report
Expansion in the FAA should result in a 72 aircraft Regiment by the end of 1938 as a standard across the fighting element. The School of Military Aviation and School for Specialists (for NCOs) will be expanded and a new Technical School added by 1936.
New procurement is limited to trainers and I-100 fighters. Some Atlantean designs will be brought from 1934. No further expansion will take place this year.
The Commando de Aviacion Naval has expanded greatly over the past year and further deliveries will commence next year.