ARA Uruguay

{{Infobox ship image

|Ship image=File:Corbeta Uruguay (A.R.A.).jpg

|Ship caption=Uruguay moored at Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires

}}

{{Infobox ship career

|Ship country=Argentina

|Ship owner=

|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Argentina|naval}}

|Ship name=Uruguay

|Ship namesake=Schooner ARA Uruguay

|Ship builder=Laird Brothers, Birkenhead, England

|Ship ordered=1872

|Ship laid down=

|Ship launched=6 March 1874

|Ship commissioned=5 July 1874

|Ship decommissioned=1926

|Ship in service=

|Ship out of service=

|Ship struck=

|Ship reinstated=

|Ship honours=

|Ship status=Museum ship in Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires

|Ship notes=

}}

{{Infobox|child=yes

| label1 = Coordinates

| data1 = {{coord|34|36|15.2|S|58|21|58.4|W|region:AR_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

}}{{Infobox ship characteristics

|Hide header=

|Header caption=

|Ship class=Steam corvette with auxiliary sails

|Ship displacement={{convert|550|MT|LT|abbr=off|lk=on}}

|Ship length={{convert|46.36|m|abbr=on}}

|Ship beam={{convert|7.63|m|abbr=on}}

|Ship draft={{convert|3.5|m|abbr=on}}

|Ship propulsion=Steam, 3-cylinder compound

|Ship sail plan=Barque

|Ship horsepower={{convert|475|hp|abbr=on|lk=on}}

|Ship speed={{unbulleted list

|Cruising: {{convert|6|kn|km/h|abbr=on|lk=in}}

|Maximum: {{convert|11|kn|km/h|abbr=on

}}}

|Ship range={{convert|1500|nmi|km|abbr=on|lk=in}}

|Ship complement=

|Ship armament={{unbulleted list

|Original: 4 × Vavasseur mounted 7 inch (bow, stern, port and starboard)

|1880 upgrade: two 90 mm and one 150 mm Armstrong guns

|1893 upgrade: two 120 mm and two 66 mm Armstrong guns}}

|Ship armor=

|Ship notes=

}}

The corbeta (corvette) ARA Uruguay, built in England, is the largest ship afloat of its age in the Armada de la República Argentina (Argentine Navy), with more than 140 years passed since its commissioning in September 1874. The last of the legendary squadron of President Sarmiento, the Uruguay took part in revolutions, ransoms, expeditions, rescues, and was even floating headquarters of the Navy School. During its operational history 1874–1926 the Uruguay has served as a gunboat, school ship, expedition support ship, Antarctic rescue ship, fisheries base supply ship, and hydrographic survey vessel, and is now a museum ship in Buenos Aires.{{refn|group=note|[Exploits] "Hazañas Gemela de la Paraná, fueron las primeras llegadas al país de los buques de hierro y vapor adquiridos por el Presidente Sarmiento, desde 1877, fue buque-escuela, recorriendo las costas del sur y reafirmando nuestra soberanía. De ella egresó la primera promoción de la Escuela Naval y, en 1880, dejó de ser buque escuela, sirviendo de transporte y de apoyo de comisiones científicas."{{cite web |url=http://www.ara.mil.ar/pag.asp?idItem=113 |title=ARA Official website page Barque Museo ARA Corbetta Uruguay |language=es |access-date=2009-12-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031170845/http://www.ara.mil.ar/pag.asp?idItem=113 |archive-date=2012-10-31 |url-status=dead }}}}{{cite web|url= http://www.sugara.com.ar/cnfragatasarmiento/corb_uruguay/historia.htm |title=Official Lifeguard Organization webpage: Ship Museum and Corvette ARA "Uruguay" |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090127043454/http://www.sugara.com.ar/cnfragatasarmiento/corb_uruguay/historia.htm |archive-date=January 27, 2009 |language=es}} The ship was built in 1874 at Laird Bros. (now Cammell Laird) shipyard of Birkenhead, England, at a cost of £32,000.{{refn|group=note|[Construction...] "Construcción de la Corbeta Uruguay Construida en los astilleros Cammell Laird Brothers, de Birkenhead (Inglaterra), a un costo de 32.000 libras, según un contrato firmado para dos unidades gemelas (Uruguay y Paraná), con fondos de la ley de armamentos de 1872. Fue botada el 06 de Marzo de 1874."}} This ship is rigged to a barque sailplan (three masts, two of which have cross spars). The ship's steel hull is sheathed in teak.

The ship's namesake is an earlier Argentine Navy schooner, a seven-gun combatant in the Battle of Juncal, 1827.

History

=Gunboat and training ship (1874–1887)=

Originally built as a gunboat, the ship was soon to be used as a training ship.

=Naval training headquarters ship (1887)=

After an episode known as the "Mutiny of the Overcoats" ("el Motín de los Gabanes" de Zárate) affected the continuity of studies in the emerging Naval Academy, the ship became a floating headquarters for naval training. In 1879, the gunboat, anchored in Buenos Aires, witnessed the graduation of the academy's first class of Naval Officers.[http://market.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=1449818&member Early school headquarters history] (in Spanish)

=Asserting Argentina's sovereignty claim to Patagonia (1878)=

In 1878 it became part of the expedition of Commodore Louis Py to Patagonia, south of the Santa Cruz River, along with the monitor Los Andes and the gunboat Constitución, with the goal of asserting Argentina's sovereignty claim on that region, threatened by Chile.{{refn|group=note|[Historic Monument] "Monumento histórico Considerando que la nave era la más veterana de la Armada a flote, que en 1877 se le dio la jerarquía de buque escuela de los futuros oficiales de marina, que en 1878 formó parte de la Expedición del Comodoro Py que reivindicó la soberanía nacional en la Patagonia,..."}}

=First scientific expedition (1884)=

In 1884 it transported foreign scientific committees who came to observe a Transit of Venus (the passage of the disk of Venus across the Sun).{{refn|group=note|"En 1884, la corbeta sirvió de transporte y buque de apoyo a las comisiones científicas que se trasladaron a nuestras despobladas costas, para observar el tránsito del planeta Venus."For an example of an earlier transit see [http://www.nao.rl.ac.uk/nao/transit/V_1882/ 1882 Transit of Venus (HM Nautical Almanac Office at The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (HMNAO))] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090925163752/http://www.nao.rl.ac.uk/nao/transit/V_1882/ |date=September 25, 2009 }}[http://www.nao.rl.ac.uk/nao/transit/V_1882/vta_1882_Punta_Arenas.gif Animated diagram of 1882 transit from Punta Arenas, Chille (HMNAO)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070822161249/http://www.nao.rl.ac.uk/nao/transit/V_1882/vta_1882_Punta_Arenas.gif |date=August 22, 2007 }}}}

=Configured for expedition support (1887–1903)=

File:Corbeta Uruguay en la dársena norte - 1903.jpg

In 1887 the ship was removed from its training assignment and fitted for expedition support.{{refn|group=note|[REPAIRS] "LAS REPARACIONES Las reformas estuvieron a cargo del Jefe del Arsenal de Marina de Dársena Norte, comodoro Atilio S. Barilari, secundado por los ingenieros Gustavo Sunblad Roseti y Jacinto Z. Caminos. La cañonera-corbeta se puso en dique seco. Se reforzó su casco y se quitaron todos los apéndices externos (quillas anti-rolido y otros). La máquina propulsora original, una alternativa horizontal, fue reemplazada por otra vertical de mucho menor tamaño, proveniente del destroyer Santa Fe. Este buque, de 57 m de eslora y 340 t de desplazamiento, había sido adquirido junto con otros tres gemelos en 1896. En abril de 1897 naufragó durante un temporal sobre La Laja en Colonia del Sacramento. El buque se partió y se perdió pero posteriormente se rescataron parte del casco y sus calderas, una de las cuales fue destinada a las mejoras de la Uruguay. Esta máquina era vertical y dado su menor volumen (y mayor potencia) con respecto a la original, se ganó espacio interior para cisterna de agua potable y carboneras. Se colocaron diversos mamparos estancos, llevando a ocho los compartimentos. Se agregó calefacción interior y cisterna de petróleo más la comunicación interna bajo cubierta en toda la eslora. En proa se agregó un castillo protector y en popa una toldilla para el timonel, más un pañol de explosivos para cargas a utilizarse en los hielos y la modificación del aparejo original, adaptado a la meteorología austral."{{cite web|title=La Corbeta Uruguay |publisher=Maritime commercial site Cibernautica |url= http://www.cibernautica.com.ar/corburuguay/index.htm|access-date=January 2, 2010}}}}

=Rebuilt for Antarctic rescue (1903)=

In 1903 the ship was extensively refitted specifically as a steam rescue ship with auxiliary sail propulsion.{{refn|group=note|[Lifesaving crew] "LA TRIPULACION SALVADORA Mientras se realizaban las reformas a la Uruguay, la Orden General 99/903 del Ministerio de Marina designó a la plana mayor que tripularía la cañonera, ex-corbeta, barca ahora transformada en buque de rescate a vapor con propulsión auxiliar a vela (barca con gavias dobles)."}} The original horizontal reciprocating engine{{refn|group=note|Section LA FLOTA DE SARMIENTO concerning original engine}} was replaced with a more compact yet more powerful engine and boilers salvaged from a wreck, allowing addition of more water storage, coal bunkering and fuel oil for heating. Additional bulkheads to create a total of eight compartments and hull reinforcement were added. The bilge keels were removed to facilitate damage-free passage through ice. Hard shell above deck storm and wave protection for crew was added fore and aft. Additional insulations of cork and sawdust were added.

=Rescue of the Swedish Antarctic Expedition (October 1903)=

File:Capitan Julien Irizard Postcard Clip.jpg

The ship's most notable action was carried out in 1901–1903 when the Uruguay supported and then later rescued the Swedish Antarctic Expedition led by Otto Nordenskiöld, their ship, the Antarctic, having been destroyed by ice.{{refn|group=note|(The Nordenskjöld expedition and the rescue of the Corvette Uruguay 1901–1903) "1903: segundo invierno... y la Corbeta Uruguay al rescate... [paragraph five of section] Para el riesgoso evento fue reacondicionada en los Talleres del Arsenal de Marina en Dársena Norte. Se cambió su máquina y caldera; se le agregaron mamparos estancos; varios sectores fueron forrados en aserrín de corcho, para obtener mejor resistencia al frío; al estilo “lomo de ballena” se le agregó un castillete de proa y una caseta para el timonel en popa; se facilitó la comunicación a través de las cubiertas bajas; se reforzó su proa y roda; se aumentó la capacidad para almacenar petróleo; su arboladura se modificó a barca con gavias dobles. Todo estaba prácticamente listo en los finales de septiembre."{{cite web|title=La expedición Nordenskjöld y el rescate de la Corbeta Uruguay 1901–1903 |publisher=SUGARA Lifesaving Organization |url=http://www.sugara.com.ar/cnfragatasarmiento/corb_uruguay/aventura_antartica.htm |access-date=January 1, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090130014416/http://sugara.com.ar/cnfragatasarmiento/corb_uruguay/aventura_antartica.htm |archive-date=January 30, 2009}}}} The rescue effort was led by Lieutenant Commander Julián Irízar who returned from his London diplomatic post of Naval Attache.[http://www.south-pole.com/p0000091.htm Otto Nordenskjöld] (in English)

A special crew of eight officers and nineteen men was selected based upon experience, courage, and ability to withstand the severe polar conditions. With all of the expedition members rescued successfully, the ship returned through a severe storm in a thoroughly battered condition, having been rolled up to 40 degrees and now partially dismasted. Arriving first at Puerto Santa Cruz,[https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Puerto+Santa+Cruz,+Argentina&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=45.014453,77.607422&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Puerto+Santa+Cruz,+Santa+Cruz,+Argentina&t=h&ll=-50.080057,-68.411865&spn=1.145651,2.425232&z=9 Google Maps location of Puerto Santa Cruz, Argentina] they telegraphed their success to headquarters. On December 2, 1903, they arrived at home port to a great rejoicing by the citizens of Buenos Aires, with all participants receiving a hero's welcome from one hundred thousand dockside greeters, to be followed by many days of receptions and parades.{{refn|group=note|"La llegada a Buenos Aires fue apoteótica y el veterano velero entró con sus palos mayor y trinquete mochos, como una paloma herida, escoltado por más de treinta embarcaciones, llenas de público y el aullar de las sirenas de los buques del puerto. En el muelle, unas cien mil personas dieron una inolvidable bienvenida a la gallarda nave y sus tripulantes."}}

=Support of Charcot expedition (1904–1906)=

The Third French Antarctic Expedition, led by Jean-Baptiste Charcot, was supported by the Uruguay.{{refn|group=note|"En 1904 volvió a la Antártida en ayuda del sabio Charcot y realizó otras duras campañas."}}

=Base support and hydrography (1904–1922)=

The ship operated through the Drake Passage, around Cape Horn, and resupplied a base in the South Orkney Islands (called by the Argentines Órcadas) with trips to South Georgia (called by the Argentines San Pedro Island) and supporting the Argentinean Fisheries Association (Sociedad Argentina de Pesca) whaling station with coal and food supplies. During this time ship was engaged in performing hydrographic and geographic surveys for the preparation of maritime navigation charts.{{refn|group=note|"Así con esta pequeña y frágil nave, se afrontaban nuestros peligrosos mares australes, se navegaba el Drake, se navegaba el Cabo de Hornos, se reaprovisionaba Orcadas en 1904/1905; 1906/1907; 1908; 1910; 1915; 1918; 1919; 1920; 1921 y 1922. También se llegaba a la isla San Pedro (Georgias del Sur) como en 1909, 1910, 1915, 1918 y 1919, aprovisionando la Sociedad Argentina de Pesca, estación ballenera, de carbón y víveres y aun levantando cartas y efectuando hidrografía."}}

=Out of service (1926)=

She was dismissed from service in 1926 (with 52 years of naval service), to become a floating ammunition dump.{{refn|group=note|"En 1926, después de 52 años de activísimos servicios, fue radiada; pero si lo hecho no bastara, aún debía ser útil. Durante muchos años permaneció sin arboladura, convertida en polvorín flotante, en las aguas de Río Santiago"}}

=Restoration for use as a naval museum ship (1954)=

In 1954 the Uruguay was rebuilt in the Río Santiago Shipyard. It was moored two years later at the pier of the Naval School, now officially designated as a museum ship.

=Public museum ship and historic monument (1967–present)=

Removed from naval service in 1962, the Uruguay was in 1967 declared a National Historic Landmark. Currently integrated since 1967 as a museum ship with the frigate ARA Presidente Sarmiento in the Museum of Sea and Navigation.{{refn|group=note|[Historic monument] "Monumento histórico ...el Poder Ejecutivo declaró por decreto del 06 de Junio de 1967 a la corbeta Uruguay monumento histórico, responsabilizando a la Comisión Nacional de Museos, Monumentos y Lugares Históricos, junto con la Armada de la conservación de la nave y de proyectar su futuro destino y funcionamiento."}} It is moored at Puerto Madero in the city of Buenos Aires, in the dock area No. 3, a short distance from the Sarmiento.[https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Buenos+Aires&sll=37.892587,-122.080977&sspn=0.014055,0.014226&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Buenos+Aires,+Argentina&ll=-34.604137,-58.36644&spn=0.003665,0.003557&t=h&z=18 Google map centered on ARA Uruguay.] (Scroll south to see the ARA Presidente Sarmiento).

Gallery

Corbeta Uruguay Cubierta mirando a popa.jpg|Weather deck, aft

Corbeta Uruguay Brújula.jpg|Binnacle

Corbeta Uruguay museo naval.jpg|Naval museum exhibits

Notes

References

National Commission for Museums and Monuments and Sites (1998). Monuments of Argentina. Secretariat of Culture of the Nation. {{ISBN|950-720-057-6}}.

Almanac 1958 Daily Nation, with reminders of historical dates in Argentina.

{{cite web

|title = Buque Museo ARA Corbeta Uruguay

|publisher = Armada Argentina

|url = http://www.ara.mil.ar/pag.asp?idItem=113

|access-date = December 26, 2009

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121031170845/http://www.ara.mil.ar/pag.asp?idItem=113

|archive-date = October 31, 2012

|url-status = dead

}}

[https://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ara.mil.ar%2Fpag.asp%3FidItem%3D113&sl=es&tl=en Google translation of above]
{{cite web

|title=Buque Museo Corbeta A.R.A Uruguay

|publisher=SUGARA Lifesaving Organization

|url=http://www.sugara.com.ar/cnfragatasarmiento/corb_uruguay/historia.htm

|access-date=December 26, 2009

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090127043454/http://sugara.com.ar/cnfragatasarmiento/corb_uruguay/historia.htm

|archive-date=January 27, 2009

}}

SUGARA is Sindico Unico de Guardavidas y Afines de la Rep. Argentina (Trustee Union of Lifeguard and Related of Argentina)
[https://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sugara.com.ar%2Fcnfragatasarmiento%2Fcorb_uruguay%2Fhistoria.htm&sl=es&tl=en Google translation of above]
{{cite web

|title=La expedición Nordenskjöld y el rescate de la Corbeta Uruguay 1901–1903

|publisher=SUGARA Lifesaving Orgwnization

|url=http://www.sugara.com.ar/cnfragatasarmiento/corb_uruguay/aventura_antartica.htm

|access-date=January 1, 2010

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090130014416/http://sugara.com.ar/cnfragatasarmiento/corb_uruguay/aventura_antartica.htm

|archive-date=January 30, 2009

}}

[https://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sugara.com.ar%2Fcnfragatasarmiento%2Fcorb_uruguay%2Faventura_antartica.htm&sl=es&tl=en Google translation of above] (Note that this article has an extensive reference list of resources in Spanish)
{{cite web

|title = La Corbeta Uruguay

|publisher = Maritime commercial site Cibernautica

|url = http://www.cibernautica.com.ar/corburuguay/index.htm

|access-date = January 2, 2010}}

[https://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cibernautica.com.ar%2Fcorburuguay%2Findex.htm&sl=es&tl=en Google translation of above]

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20121031170845/http://www.ara.mil.ar/pag.asp?idItem=113 Ship Museum and Corvette Uruguay ARA] - official museum site {{in lang|es}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20100106045123/http://liveargentina.com/Argentina/BuenosAires/Lugares/CapFedBuqueMuseoCorbUruguay.htm] (in Spanish, text only)
[http://www.cibernautica.com.ar/corburuguay/index.htm] {{in lang|es}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20110531161204/http://www.atna.com.ar/web/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=60&Itemid=29 ATNA - Friends of Argentina Nautical Traditions] (in Spanish), images of ARA Uruguay being moved
[http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/argentina/pages/uruguay_1874_page_1.htm Some antique images] (in English)
[http://www.histarmar.com.ar/Armada%20Argentina/CorbetaUruguayBase.htm Maritime History and Archeology] - General history of the ship, with some events not described in other sites (in Spanish)
[http://www.histarmar.com.ar/InfHistorica/Antartik/fotosUruguay1.htm Historic photos from above site]
[http://www.histarmar.com.ar/InfHistorica/Antartik/fotosUruguay2.htm Interior photos of the museum ship from the above site]