Mendoza-class destroyer
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = Mendoza 1932.jpg | Ship caption = Mendoza in 1932 }} {{Infobox ship class overview |Name=Mendoza class | Builders = JS White, Cowes, England | Operators = {{navy|Argentina}} | Class before = {{sclass|Cervantes|destroyer|4}} | Class after = {{sclass|Buenos Aires|destroyer|4}} | Subclasses = | Built range = 1927–1929 | In commission range = 1929–1961 | Total ships building = | Total ships planned = | Total ships completed = 3 | Total ships cancelled = | Total ships active = | Total ships laid up = | Total ships lost = | Total ships retired = 3 | Total ships scrapped = | Total ships preserved = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = as built | Ship type = Destroyer | Ship displacement =* {{convert|1570|LT|t|0|order=flip|abbr=on}} (standard)
| Ship length = {{convert|102.11|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|9.68|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship draught = {{convert|3.81|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship draft = | Ship propulsion = * 2 shaft Parsons geared steam turbines
| Ship speed = {{convert|36|kn|lk=in}} | Ship range = {{convert|4500|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|14|kn|abbr=on}} | Ship complement = 160 | Ship sensors = | Ship EW = | Ship armament =* 5 × single 4.7 inch QF Mark IX guns
| Ship armour = | Ship aircraft = | Ship aircraft facilities = | Ship notes = }} |
The Mendoza class were a series of three destroyers built in the United Kingdom for the Argentine Navy in the 1920s. They were the first part of the Argentine re-armament programme of the 1920s. Construction began in 1927 and all three were commissioned in 1929. All three destroyers were converted to anti-aircraft escorts in 1958 and remained in service until 1962 when they were discarded.
Design
The ships were based on the British Admiralty type flotilla leader{{efn|name=type}} design built at the end of World War I, with minor modifications.{{sfn|Chesneau|1980|p=421}} The Mendoza-class destroyers had a standard displacement of {{convert|1570|LT|t|0|order=flip}} and were {{convert|2120|LT|t|0|order=flip}} at full load. The vessels were {{convert|102.11|m|ftin}} long overall and {{convert|101.2|m|ftin}} long at the waterline. They had a beam of {{convert|9.68|m|ftin}} and a mean draught of {{convert|3.81|m|ftin|abbr=on}}.{{sfn|Whitley|2000|p=14}}
The Mendoza class were equipped with Parsons single-reduction geared turbines powered by steam provided by four {{convert|250|psi|abbr=on|0}} three-drum boilers. The turbines turned two shafts rated at {{convert|42000|shp|lk=in|0}} giving the destroyers a maximum designed speed of {{convert|36|kn|lk=in}}. The ships carried {{convert|540|LT|t|order=flip|0}} of fuel oil and had a range of {{convert|4500|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|14|kn}}. The destroyers had a complement of 160 officers and ratings.{{sfn|Whitley|2000|p=14}}{{sfn|Blackman|1953|p=124}}
Ships of the Mendoza class were equipped with five 4.7 inch QF Mark IX guns located in single turrets along the centreline of the ship. The Mendoza-class destroyers were also given one {{convert|3|in|mm|adj=on|0}} gun for anti-aircraft (AA) defence and two 2-pounder pom poms. They were also armed with six British 21 inch torpedo torpedo tubes in two triple mounts.{{sfn|Whitley|2000|p=14}} The 3-inch, both 2-pounder and "Q" gun were later swapped out for six 40 mm Bofors guns in 3 twin mountings for AA defense, arranged either side and abaft the second funnel.{{sfn|Blackman|1953|p=124}}
Ships in class
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Construction data !scope="col”|Ship !scope="col”| Pennant number !scope="col”|Builder !scope="col”| Launched !scope="col”| Commissioned !scope="col”| Fate |
| scope="row”| {{ship|ARA|Mendoza|E-3|2}}
| E-3 | scope="rowgroup" rowspan="3"| J. Samuel White & Co, Cowes | 18 July 1928 | 24 January 1929 | scope="rowgroup" rowspan="3"| Discarded, 30 April 1962 |
| scope="row”| {{ship|ARA|La Rioja|E-4|2}}
| E-4 | 2 February 1929 | 23 July 1929 |
| scope="row”| {{ship|ARA|Tucuman|E-5|2}}
| E-5 | 16 October 1928 | 3 May 1929 |
Service history
Contracts were placed with J. Samuel White in 1927 as part of the Argentine Navy's modernisation programme. The three vessels took on the names of destroyers under construction during World War I that had been appropriated by France and Germany. All three ships exceeded their design speed during sea trials, with La Rioja reaching the fastest speed at {{convert|39.4|kn}} without exceeding the limits of its engines. After all three ships had been accepted by the Argentine Navy, the three destroyers sailed for Argentina together from the United Kingdom, stopping only at Lisbon, Portugal en route. Argentina remained neutral during World War II.{{sfn|Chesneau|1980|p=421}}{{sfn|Whitley|2000|p=14}}
In 1952, the Mendoza class' designation was changed from Exploradores (destroyer) to Torpederos (destroyer escort) in 1952 and their pennant numbers changed from "E" to "T" to reflect that.{{sfn|Blackman|1953|p=124}}{{sfn|Gardiner|Chumbley|Budzbon|1995|p=4}} La Rioja and Tucuman were laid up that year and disarmed.{{sfn|Gardiner|Chumbley|Budzbon|1995|p=4}} The class were converted to anti-submarine escorts in 1958.{{sfn|Whitley|2000|p=14}} Mendoza remained in service until 1961, when the last of the class was decommissioned.{{sfn|Gardiner|Chumbley|Budzbon|1995|p=4}} The class was discarded on 30 April 1962 and replaced with former United States Navy ships that were acquired cheaply.{{sfn|Whitley|2000|p=14}}
See also
- List of ships of the Argentine Navy
- {{sclass|Buenos Aires|destroyer|1}}
Notes
{{notes
| notes =
{{efn
|name=type
|Chesneau has the base design as the Scott class which is another name for the Admiralty type flotilla leader while Gardiner, Chumbley & Budzbon have the design basis as the Bruce class, which is another name for the Scott class.
}}
}}
Citations
{{reflist|30em}}
Bibliography
- {{cite book |editor-last=Blackman |editor-first=Raymond V. B. |year=1953 |title=Jane's Fighting Ships 1953–54 |location=London |publisher=Sampson, Low and Marston |oclc=913556389 }}
- {{cite book |editor-last=Chesneau |editor-first=Roger |year=1980 |title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946 |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |location=Greenwich, UK |isbn=0-85177-146-7 }}
- {{cite book |editor-last=Gardiner |editor-first=Robert |editor-last2=Chumbley |editor-first2=Stephen |editor-last3=Budzbon |editor-first3=Przemysław |name-list-style=amp |year=1995 |title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=1-55750-132-7 }}
- {{cite book |last=Whitley |first=M. J. |orig-year=1988 |year=2000 |title=Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=0-87021-326-1 }}
Further reading
- Guillermo J. Montehengo, An Argentinian Naval Buildup in the Disarmament Era, in Warship 2002-2003, Conway's Maritime press.
External links
{{Commons category|Mendoza class destroyer}}
- {{in lang|es}} [http://www.histarmar.com.ar/Armada%20Argentina/Buques1900a1970/DDestructores.htm Destroyers ("Destructores (Tambien llamados Torpederos)") – Histarmar website]
{{Mendoza-class destroyer}}