WesWorld

A few new types are arriving in service or beginning testing in 1944.

During 1944 deliveries have begun on a batch of 24 Macchi-Savoia-Marchetti Ermes I for the long-range reconnaissance role. RA had designed the aircraft especially for the competition and it offers excellent growth and will allow searches far out into the Atlantic and over all of Grand Uruguay at high-altitude. It will serve alongside a small force of half-a-dozen PR Mosquitoes delivered a couple of years ago.

A twin-engine fighter is entering final design and prototype assembly. This will be the historical Nancu.

Here are the specs for the new Rolls-Royce powered Calquin - again based on a real project. This should be more equal to the Mossie the I.Ae.24 was based on and much more able to penetrate SAE defences.

I.Ae 28 B-02 Calquin
The second I.Ae.24 prototype was converted with two 1,760hp Rolls-Royce Merlin XII V-12 engines during July 1944 and first flew with these new engines on 24 October 1944. Performance tests went well and orders for 144 were soon placed and entry into service began during the summer of 1945.
Dimensions: span 16.3m; length 12m; height 3.4m; wing area 38 sq m; wing loading 249kg/ sq m; power loading 2.68kg/hp
Structure: wooden monocoque fuselage plywood covering developed by Instituto Aerotechico and Entel. The fuselage is constructed as two separate halves which are subsequently joined together. Wooden tail and tailplane construction with plywood covering (the plywood is entirely produced by the Instituto Aerotécnico). Rudder and elevators wooden framed with fabric covering. Mid position wing with two wooden carry-through spars and stringers wooden framed ailerons with fabric covering, wooden slotted flaps and two landing flaps. Retractable main undercarriage with hydraulic brakes and twin oil-air shock absorbers on each leg and a retractable tail wheel.
Weights: empty 5,840kg; max weight 9,464kg and payload 3500kg
Powerplant: two 1,760hp Rolls-Royce Merlin XII V-12 engines with de Havilland 4/4400/5 3.66m diameter four-bladed hydromatic constant-speed control propellers with auto-feathering and ‘clocked’ rotation
Performance: max speed 366mph; cruising speed 310mph; range 1,105 miles; rate of climb 2,850ft/min and service ceiling 33,000ft
Capacity: pilot and navigator/ bomb-aimer seated side-by-side in an enclosed cockpit with ventral door
Armament: four 20mm Orkileon in lower nose, bomb bay for 1000kg bombload and 12x 75mm rockets underwing
Equipment: full controls and navigation equipment including a radio receiver/transmitter, HF/DF set, naval co-operation beacon and Sperry autopilot, two cameras can be fitted in cabin floor, one flare chute, two rescue dinghies and mechanical bombsight

Cool stuff. Need to check if my fighter can hope to cope with her...

EDIT: I think the later versions of the F-11 and F-12 series can catch the new Argentine recce a/c. On paper. The problem is to detect and correctly identify a single high flying intruder and have a F-11 or F-12 at hand that could be at the right spot at the right time for interception. Early warning and fighter direction need to be good enough...

FMA TI-01-IIB
On 9 December 1944, a prototype conversion of an I-01-IIB converted into a two-seat trainer was flown. The cockpit is moved forwards and behind is inserted another cockpit with reduced instrumentation and a blown canopy for an instructor. The bomb racks, armoured bulkhead and two machine-guns are removed. A gun-camera was added to the starboard wing leading edge. Performance is almost identical to the standard fighter.
From April 1945, IMPA began converting twenty-nine other airframes for the fighter training role.

This year the Air Force will begin receiving the first of 144 I.Ae.30 I-03 Ñancú twin-engine long-range fighters.

FMA will unveil another one-off trainer prototype, the I.Ae. 32 Chingolo, which is very similar to the I.Ae.31, but with a high back fuselage, the prototype will be built at the Mario Vicente workshops in Córdoba.
Dimensions: span 10.70m; length 8.12m; height 2.18m; wing area 16.50 sq m
Structure: steel-framed fuselage with light alloy covered forward fuselage and fabric covering aft, light alloy used for tail and tailplane construction with fabric covering. Rudder and elevators wood framed with fabric covering. Low position wooden wing with plywood covering and wood framed ailerons with fabric covering. Fixed main undercarriage with oil-pneumatic shock absorbers and hydraulic brakes and a non-retractable tail wheel.
Weights: empty 750kg; gross weight 981kg; payload 231kg; wing loading 9.45kg/m2
Powerplant: one 155hp Blackburn Cirrus Major with a de Havilland two-blade variable-pitch propeller
Performance: max speed 230km/h (142mph); endurance 1hr 40mins and service ceiling 5180m (16,995ft)
Capacity: pupil and instructor seated in tandem in an enclosed cockpit
Equipment: dual controls and full navigation equipment including a radio receiver/transmitter.


On the civil side, I'm looking for new airliners for the state airline Aeravias Argentinas S.A.
They need 12 new four-engine long-range airliners to replace the I.Ae.7 and 16-20 new twin-engine medium-range types to replace the old single-engine I.Ae.5 fleet.

Quoted from "Hood"

On the civil side, I'm looking for new airliners for the state airline Aeravias Argentinas S.A.
They need 12 new four-engine long-range airliners to replace the I.Ae.7 and 16-20 new twin-engine medium-range types to replace the old single-engine I.Ae.5 fleet.

Depending on exact needs, Germany is in a position to offer the Ju390 for the long-range aircraft, and either the Ju252 or the Bv144 for the mid-range requirement, or, if desired, a mix of both for high and low traffic routes.

The ten withdrawn I.Ae.7 airliners will be refitted by IMPA as maritime patrol aircraft.

FMA I.Ae.7P
Ten withdrawn civil airliners were modified for maritime patrol duties during 1946 for the Commando Aviacion Naval. Modifications carried out by IMPA included; fitment of newer model Bristol Hercules engines, additional fuel tanks, new navigators station with modern equipment, two side observation blisters, addition of dorsal turret, addition of four bomb racks under the inner wings for 4,000kg of bombs or depth charges and a radio-location set in a new nosecone.
Dimensions; span 32m; length 25m; wing area 1,300 sq ft; wing loading 32.5lb/sq ft
Structure: all-metal monocoque fuselage with I section fames and L section stringers with stressed light alloy covering, light alloy used for cantilever twin-tail construction and tailplane covering. Cantilever metal wing with three I section steel spars, hydraulically-activated all-metal split flaps and aluminium framed ailerons with aluminium covering. Twin rudders and elevators aluminium framed with aluminium covering. Retractable hydraulically-raised main undercarriage with single oleo-pneumatic legs with twin pneumatic brakes and a retractable castoring tail wheel
Weights: loaded 19050 kg (42,000 lb)
Powerplant: four 1,715hp Bristol Hercules XXIV twin-row radial engines with Rotol four-bladed auto-pitch propellers (reversible inboard)
Performance: max speed at 13,000ft 458 km/h (285 mph); cruising speed at 60% rated power 380 km/h (236 mph); range with full fuel load in still air at 50% rated power 3300 km (2,050 miles); stalling speed 115 km/h (72 mph); payload of 4500 kg over 800 km (10,000lbs/ 500 miles); payload of 2100 kg over 2900 km (4,500lbs/ 1,800 miles)
Capacity: pilot and co-pilot in cockpit with navigator and radio-operator in a cabin behind, radio-systems operator behind and a three observer/ gunners in main cabin, aft of this is a galley and toilet and four rest seats and table for a relief crew. The main cabin can be fitted with 20 seats four-abreast in the transport role.
Armament: one dorsal turret with two 13.2mm Browning HMGs, underwing bomb racks for 4,000kg (1,000kg each) for bombs, depth-charges, rescue packs and air-droppable dinghies
Equipment: full controls and navigation equipment including HF and VHF radios, HF/DF set, Lorenz landing system, Sperry autopilot, radio-location search set in nose, three flare/ smoke float tubes (15-20 flares and floats) and two rescue dinghies

Foreign Purchases

3 additional BCAC Freighters bringing the total fleet to 15
12 Gloster Meteor Trainers, assigned designation T-07 for jet conversion training
9 de Havilland DH.104 Doves, assigned designation T-06P, acquired for the Prefectura Naval Argentina for transport and coastal patrolling

New Aircraft

FMA I-02IIIN
A naval version of the I-02III Pulqui with the folding wings and strengthened fuselage with arrestor gear of the I-02N. 48 were ordered in July 1947 and deliveries began in January 1948. Construction numbers are C/N01186-C/N01234.
Powerplant: one 1600hp Spartan 1500S-SP V-12 inline engine with modified two-stage supercharger, maximum sea level output to 16,000ft
Performance: max speed 431mph at 15,000 feet; service ceiling 38,500ft; rate of climb 3,062ft per minute at 1,500ft; range 975 miles full fuel load including two drop-tanks
Armament: four 13mm Browning HMG in wings and one ventral bomb-rack for one 250-500lb bomb, and underwing mounts for 8x 75mm RPs

In Development

Gloster AXP-1001 (FMA I-05 Pulqui III)
In 1946 Argentina sent a mission to Britain and negotiations saw an order for 100 Gloster Meteor F.Mk.IV fighters and for Gloster to co-operate with FMA engineers on the design of a new fighter. Argentina sent thirty FMA engineers to Hucclecote in September 1946. The new fighter was to have a Rolls-Royce engine and be delivered within thirty months and FMA had the option of purchasing the manufacturing rights. The initial contract signed in July 1946 was for three prototypes. Based on Gloster designs for jet fighters the design work moved along quickly and the mock-up was inspected during September 1947 and by then construction on the prototypes was underway. The design was basic with a nose intake, the cannon being mounted around the nose, a mid-set tailplane was fitted and the wings had moderate sweep of 20 degrees. Internal fuel capacity was 470 gallons. The first prototype made its first flight following taxi trials on 14 July 1948. The second prototype will fly during early 1949 followed by the third prototype, which will be shipped to Argentina and reassembled for its first flight around June 1949. The third prototype and all production aircraft will be fitted with Rolls-Royce Nene III engines rather than the Nene IIs fitted to the first two prototypes.
Dimensions; 38/ 41.9/ 14.10/ 360 sq ft; 1x 5,000lb Rolls-Royce RB.41 Nene III; max speed 600mph at sea level; range 1,000 miles with maximum external fuel; sea level rate of climb 6,000ft/min; service ceiling 40,000ft; all-up weight 14,250lb and overload weight 18,700lb. Armament: 4x 20mm Orkileon FFB cannon and 2x 500kg bombs or 12x 75mm rockets underwing. Two underwing 100 or 200 gallon drop tanks and one 195 gallon ventral tank can be fitted.

I.Ae.29
This project is a single-seat advanced jet-powered conversion trainer, design work began in early 1948 using experience gained in helping Gloster develop the I-05 Pulqui III. The design is aerodynamically sleek with two lateral intakes for the single turbojet engine and a conventional straight wing for good controllability. The first prototype is planned to fly during summer 1949.
Wingspan: 9.50m
Length: 9.20m
Height: 3.40m
Wing area: 18.70 m2
Wing loading: 179kg/m
Empty Weight: 2250kg (4,960lb)
Maximum take-off weight: 3150kg (6,944lb)
Powerplant: 1x 3,500lb Rolls-Royce Derwent V turbojet
Maximum speed: 800km/h (497mph)
Cruising speed: 630km/h (391mph)
Landing speed: 170km/h (105mph)
Take-off run: 660m
Service ceiling: 14000m (45,930ft)
Absolute ceiling: 15600m (51,180ft)
Endurance 1.5 hours
Range: 900km (560 miles)
Armament: 2x nose-mounted 20mm Orkileon FFB cannon and provision for 2x 50kg bombs or 8x 75mm rockets underwing.

I.Ae.35
Design work on this all-metal low-wing cantilever monoplane general purpose design began in early 1948. The prototype will fly probably in 1949 or 1950. The aircraft is designed to fulfil several training and transportation roles with the Air Force and serve as a rugged, low cost commercial feederliner.
Length: 13.98m (45ft 10in)
Wingspan: 19.6m (64ft 4in)
Wing area: 42.0m2 (452sq ft)
Empty weight: 3,500kg (7,716lb)
Gross weight: 5,700kg (12,566lb)
Fuel capacity: 1,200 litres (143 Imperial gallons)
Powerplant: 2x 740hp El Indio R-2/1 9-cylinder radial engines with three-bladed constant-speed propellers
Maximum speed: 380km/h (236mph) at 2800m (9186ft)
Cruising speed: 370km/h (229mph) at 3500m (11,482ft) (economic cruise)
Range: 1,250km (776 miles)
Endurance: 4hr 10min
Service ceiling: 7000m (22,965ft)
Rate of climb: 6.5m/s (1,279ft/min)

Projecto Tábano (Project Gadfly)
Design work on this experimental guided rocket was begun in 1948 with the first test article planned to be flight tested as a fixed pod beneath an I.Ae.28 bomber by the end of 1949. The engine features a combustion chamber with a regenerative cooling jacket. The engine and its propellant tanks were 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.
Rocket engine: 500kg thrust; 1.923kg/s fuel consumption; specific thrust 174.2kg/s; 15kg/cm combustion pressure; 2,753 °C combustion temperature; 98kg of fuel capacity, 40secs operation time; nitric oxidizer propellant (98.5%) acid; aniline fuel; oxidizer mixture ratio / fuel (by weight) 3 to 1.
Missile: 2.5m span; 2.45m long; 0.45m diameter; 100kg empty weight; 198kg total weight, 900km/h maximum speed, 32kg useful load, infrared guidance

Industrial Matters

Fabrica Militar de Aviones (FMA)
The main state-owned aircraft manufacturer in Argentina and has been in operation since 1927 with its main factory in the capital city Cordoba. The current Director, since 1943, is Mayor de Aero Ing. Juan Ignacio San Martin and the Chief Designer is Luis Barron. The company has been expanded with the creation of several specialist divisions, each focusing on an area of aeronautical engineering.

Divisions

Fábrica de Motores de Aviación (Aviation Engine Factory)
FMA brought the Roth-Packard series of radial engines in 1934; the 235hp Roth 7 cylinder single row radial engine, 700hp Roth-Packard 14 cylinder double radial engine and the 650hp Roth 9 cylinder single row radial which were marketed as the 235hp FMA RR-7-1, 700hp FMA RR-14-2 and the 650hp RR-9-1. Development from late 1935 resulted in two new models, the 750hp RR-14-2-D and the 255hp RR-7-1-B. In 1938 the RR-9-1 was up-rated to 675hp and fitted with an automatic pitch changing three-bladed propeller as the RR-9-1-B. Also in 1938 the 715hp FMA RR-14-2-B appeared. This was further modified as the 735hp RR-14-2-C in 1942.

The current range of engines is:
1940 450hp El Gaucho R-1/1 9-cylinder radial
1944 740hp El Indio R-2/1 9-cylinder radial
1947 840hp El Indio R-2/2 9-cylinder radial

Fábrica de Motores a Reacción (Jet Engine Factory)
Created in 1948 in partnership with British firm Rolls-Royce to undertake maintenance and overhaul work on Rolls-Royce Derwent engines for the Meteor fleet. V. Ing. Raúl Argentino Magallanes was 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.

La Fábrica de Hélices y Accesorios (Propellers and Accessories Factory)
Formed in 1948 as another division to take over running of the propeller workshop which had been part of the Cordoba factory since 1928.

Fábrica de Instrumentos y Equipos (Instruments and Equipment Factory (FIE))
Founded in 1948 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.

Fábrica de Máquinas y Herramientas (Machines and Tools Factory)
Founded in 1948 as a separate division, originally it was part of the Engine Department in an adjoining workshop which was opened in 1931. Its products are manufactured for the aviation, locomotive and automotive industries in Argentina.

Dirección General de Fábricas la Escuela de Aprendices (Directorate General Factory School Apprentices)
Founded in 1948 by the Director of the Institute Aerotécnico to formally organise the apprentice training programme. The first class enrolled 270 apprentices and by 1949 there were 536.

División Proyectos Especiales (Special Projects Division)
Founded on 12 August 1947 to oversee all of FMA’s rocket programmes.

Foreign Purchases

5 Spartan Rainbow airliners for Aeravias Argentinas S.A.

New Aircraft

IMPA/Ripon-Bloch RB.240 Neptune Mk.2
IMPA will begin licence-production of the Ripon-Bloch RB.240 Neptune Mk.2 maritime patrol aircraft, a twin-engined designed with an armament of 2x 20mm cannon in a nose turret and 2x 12.7mm HMGs in a dorsal turret, 8,000lbs bomb/torpedo/rocket load. It is equipped with ASV radar, MAD and sonobuoys of Atlantean origin.

IMPA MB.308A
Entering production in 1949, the MB.308A is a licence-built Macchi MB.308 high-wing monoplane light aircraft. Argentine-built versions include a two-seat version powered by an 85hp Continental engine and a four-seat version powered by a 90hp Continental C90 engine. The construction of the wings and fuselage is all-wood.

IMPA MB.320A
Entering production in 1949, the MB.320A is a licence-built Macchi MB.320 six-seat low-wing monoplane twin-engine light aircraft. Argentine-built versions are powered by two 255hp Continental E-225 engines. The construction of the wings and fuselage is all-wood.


In Development

Gloster AXP-1001 (FMA I-05 Pulqui III)
In 1946 Argentina sent a mission to Britain and negotiations saw an order for 100 Gloster Meteor F.Mk.IV fighters and for Gloster to co-operate with FMA engineers on the design of a new fighter. Argentina sent thirty FMA engineers to Hucclecote in September 1946. The new fighter was to have a Rolls-Royce engine and be delivered within thirty months and FMA had the option of purchasing the manufacturing rights. The initial contract signed in July 1946 was for three prototypes. Based on Gloster designs for jet fighters the design work moved along quickly and the mock-up was inspected during September 1947 and by then construction on the prototypes was underway. The design was basic with a nose intake, the cannon being mounted around the nose, a mid-set tailplane was fitted and the wings had moderate sweep of 20 degrees. Internal fuel capacity was 470 gallons. The first prototype made its first flight following taxi trials on 14 July 1948. The second prototype will fly during early 1949 followed by the third prototype, which will be shipped to Argentina and reassembled for its first flight around June 1949. The third prototype and all production aircraft will be fitted with Rolls-Royce Nene III engines rather than the Nene IIs fitted to the first two prototypes. The first batch of production aircraft will be handed over in January 1950.
Dimensions; 38/ 41.9/ 14.10/ 360 sq ft; 1x 5,000lb Rolls-Royce RB.41 Nene III; max speed 600mph at sea level; range 1,000 miles with maximum external fuel; sea level rate of climb 6,000ft/min; service ceiling 40,000ft; all-up weight 14,250lb and overload weight 18,700lb. Armament: 4x 20mm Orkileon FFB cannon and 2x 500kg bombs or 12x 75mm rockets underwing. Two underwing 100 or 200 gallon drop tanks and one 195 gallon ventral tank can be fitted.

I.Ae.29
This project is a single-seat advanced jet-powered conversion trainer, design work began in early 1948 using experience gained in helping Gloster develop the I-05 Pulqui III. The design is aerodynamically sleek with two lateral intakes for the single turbojet engine and a conventional straight wing for good controllability. The first prototype is planned to fly during August 1949.
Wingspan: 9.50m
Length: 9.20m
Height: 3.40m
Wing area: 18.70 m2
Wing loading: 179kg/m
Empty Weight: 2250kg (4,960lb)
Maximum take-off weight: 3150kg (6,944lb)
Powerplant: 1x 3,500lb Rolls-Royce Derwent V turbojet
Maximum speed: 800km/h (497mph)
Cruising speed: 630km/h (391mph)
Landing speed: 170km/h (105mph)
Take-off run: 660m
Service ceiling: 14000m (45,930ft)
Absolute ceiling: 15600m (51,180ft)
Endurance 1.5 hours
Range: 900km (560 miles)
Armament: 2x nose-mounted 20mm Orkileon FFB cannon and provision for 2x 50kg bombs or 8x 75mm rockets underwing.

I.Ae.35
Design work on this all-metal low-wing cantilever monoplane general purpose design began in early 1948. The prototype will fly probably in 1949 or 1950. The aircraft is designed to fulfil several training and transportation roles with the Air Force and serve as a rugged, low cost commercial feederliner.
Length: 13.98m (45ft 10in)
Wingspan: 19.6m (64ft 4in)
Wing area: 42.0m2 (452sq ft)
Empty weight: 3,500kg (7,716lb)
Gross weight: 5,700kg (12,566lb)
Fuel capacity: 1,200 litres (143 Imperial gallons)
Powerplant: 2x 740hp El Indio R-2/1 9-cylinder radial engines with three-bladed constant-speed propellers
Maximum speed: 380km/h (236mph) at 2800m (9186ft)
Cruising speed: 370km/h (229mph) at 3500m (11,482ft) (economic cruise)
Range: 1,250km (776 miles)
Endurance: 4hr 10min
Service ceiling: 7000m (22,965ft)
Rate of climb: 6.5m/s (1,279ft/min)

Projecto Tábano (Project Gadfly)
Design work on this experimental guided rocket was begun in 1948 with the first test article planned to be flight tested as a fixed pod beneath an I.Ae.28 bomber during October 1949. The engine features a combustion chamber with a regenerative cooling jacket. The engine and its propellant tanks were 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.
Rocket engine: 500kg thrust; 1.923kg/s fuel consumption; specific thrust 174.2kg/s; 15kg/cm combustion pressure; 2,753 °C combustion temperature; 98kg of fuel capacity, 40secs operation time; nitric oxidizer propellant (98.5%) acid; aniline fuel; oxidizer mixture ratio / fuel (by weight) 3 to 1.
Missile: 2.5m span; 2.45m long; 0.45m diameter; 100kg empty weight; 198kg total weight, 900km/h maximum speed, 32kg useful load, infrared guidance

New Stuff for 1950

New Aircraft

Gloster AXP-1001/ FMA I-05 Pulqui III: the first of 160 production aircraft will be delivered in January 1950.

In Development

I.Ae.35 Huanquero: the prototype will be flown by FMA test pilot Lieutenant de Aero Jorge Connan Doyle on 7 September 1950. The first production aircraft are planned for June 1951. Specs and details in the post above.

Rocket Programme

AAM-6
The AAM-6 was an improved AAM-5 design with a new RL-AO-206 ‘Orchestra’ rocket motor allowing larger dimensions and improved performance. Design work began in April 1945 but the design was delayed until testing of the engine had been completed. No less than twenty RL-AO-206 engines were tested in the engine stands at Maquichao, Argentina.
Support equipment production began in June 1945 and work on the first bodies began two months later. The first AAM-6 lifted off from Maquichao on 20 August 1949. It flew for one minute and 20 seconds before suffering an engine failure and falling into the sea. Following this partial success, the second test was conducted on 27 January 27 1950, no problems were encountered and the rocket flew 55 miles. After these first two prototypes were flown, an improved RL-AO-206B engine was introduced to reduce problems with LOX turbopump cavitation. The third Platinum flight on 5 May was a total loss as the engine cut off one second after launch, causing the rocket to fall back on the pad and explode. Stand No.2 was out of action for eight months and tests shifted to Stand No.3. Stand No.1 was used in static tests for the engine and no less than twenty firings were made between 20 May and 14 November 1950. On 23 September Platinum-4 made a successful launch, followed by two more launches before Christmas, both containing scientific payloads.
In mid-1947 Mr. Minia’s design team began work on two variants, the AAM-6A with a larger fuel tank, increased in length by 1.8 m (6 ft), and the military AAM-6B (codenamed Diamond).

I thought I would give an overview of how the Argentine Air Forces have grown since I began playing Argentina back in 1932.
At that time Argentina had few military aircraft and most were antique Great War types with some newer Italian types. Expansion came with assistance from Atlantis and Italy in the development of new aircraft as the home aircraft industry developed.

Expansion was fairly modest up until the South American War, on entry into that conflict the Air Force only possessed 517 aircraft, the Navy had 90 assorted seaplanes and flying boats with no aircraft carriers.
Despite war losses, by 1937 the Air Force had been restructured and expanded to over 1,000 aircraft. Numbers have never dipped below this since, reaching a peak in 1938 before settling around 1,300 airframes throughout the 1940s. Today numbers are just under 1,200. Some types introduced during the SA War remain, but most have been replaced and Argentina is rapidly becoming a jet-fighter operator of some size.
By 1937 the Navy had obtained its two Japanese-built carriers and its numbers of aircraft leaped to over 400, peaking to 610 in 1942-43 before slowly declining as older types were retired. Now with four carriers, most of its air fleet is based on them, the shore-based recon units making up the remainder. Today there are 444 aircraft, the decline in numbers since 1943 having now stabilised.

Looking ahead, Argentina will probably have a fighter forced composed of at least 80% jets by 1955. The ground attack fleet is rapidly aging and needs replacing, perhaps by fighter-bombers or twin-engined piston types. The Navy has big procurement questions for the 1950s too, what should replace its piston-engined fighters and torpedo bombers? Can its relatively small carriers easily handle jets without massive reconstruction? These are unknowns that won't be solved in Wesworld as we know it, of course, but interesting to think about anyway.

Here are the annual aircraft numbers for each service.

Fuerza Aérea Argentina
1932 172
1933 202
1934 357
1935 517
1937 1,159
1938 1,674
1939 1,249
1940 1,392
1941 1,326
1942 1,363
1943 1,362
1944 1,336
1945 1,420
1946 1,335
1947 1,310
1948 1,284
1949 1,297
1950 1,194

Comando de Aviación Naval Argentina
1932 25
1933 70
1934 90
1935 132
1937 436
1938 458
1939 442
1940 545
1941 558
1942 610
1943 610
1944 496
1945 494
1946 458
1947 453
1948 448
1949 445
1950 444