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ARA General Belgrano (C-4)

1951 COLD WAR FALKLANDS WAR

History

The Argentine Navy's warship ARA General Belgrano (C-4), originally built as the fifth American USS Phoenix (CL-46) in the Brooklyn class of cruisers, was quietly launched in March 1938. She survived the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 and earned a valiant career with nine battle stars.

She officially enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1946.

On April 9, 1951, the U.S. Navy sold two Brooklyn-class cruisers, the USS Phoenix CL-46 and her sister ship, the USS Boise CL-47, to Argentina. The Argentine Navy (ARA) renamed the Phoenix "ARA 17 Oct (C-4)" and the Boise "ARA Nueve de Julio (C-5)". After the Peron Revolution, the ARA 17 de Octubre C-4 was again renamed "General ARA Belgrano (C-4)" after the father of the Argentine Navy.

The Belgrano performs normal maritime patrol and training missions in the South Atlantic, protecting Argentina's homeland and islands, which Argentina considers its indisputable territory.

Argentina and the United Kingdom have been in dispute for some time over the legal ownership of the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. On April 2, 1982, Argentina invaded and subsequently occupied the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, leading to the start of an undeclared war with the United Kingdom, which resulted in the capture of British civilians and troops. Argentina considered the original invasion legitimate because the disputed islands had been under Argentine control since 1833.

Instead, the UK viewed landings and captivity as an invasion of legally held British territory overseas.

Britain, which had no significant naval presence in the region, sent a naval task force to engage the Argentine navy and air force to retake the islands. The Argentine navy outnumbered the British and was outnumbered by the technology of the time. The UK has a modern First World Navy with nuclear submarines, a large combat force and a land-based air base within striking distance. The ARA Navy consists primarily of WWII-era equipment, although its aircraft are comparable to British aircraft and are fully capable of using air-to-air and air-to-ship missiles.

The Argentine army has sufficient numbers but not as well trained as British special forces and general army personnel.

The cruiser Belgrano, although improved in some respects, is basically the same as when it entered service in 1938, with a speed of 32.5 knots. She maintained strong firepower with a 15 x Mk 16 6"/47 cal (152 mm) main gun capable of firing 130 pounder shells at a range of 14.5 miles. This is supported by 8 x 5"/54 card (127mm) guns and 40mm and 20mm anti-aircraft guns for close range work.

The British Seacat anti-aircraft missile system was upgraded in 1967/68 and two missiles were ready for launch, although no test launches had been conducted before that. For supply and reconnaissance missions, Belgrano managed two French Aerospatiale Alouette III helicopters.

Her regular crew consists of 1,138 officers and soldiers.

On 26 April 1982, General Belgrano departed Tierra del Fuego with Task Force 79.3, consisting of two destroyers - ARA Piedra Buena (D-29) and Bouchard (D-26). The two ships are also former U.S. warships during World War II. The sortie was aimed at confronting the British task force, which was reportedly heading south to land more troops on the islands.

The Argentine military decided to offset this and in turn strengthen the islands with more Argentine troops. As part of these exercises, Belgrano and her task force, as well as the aircraft carrier ARA Veinticinco de Mayo, were ordered to deploy positions around the island.

The boats patrolled the banks of the Birdwood River south of the island on 29 April. On the 30th, Belgrano was discovered by the British nuclear-powered submarine HMS Conqueror. In the days that followed, the U-boats followed the cruiser, requesting permission to fire. After deliberation at the British Cabinet level, it was decided that the Belgrano posed a clear threat to British shipping and that the Conquerors should continue to attack the Belgrano.

On 2 May, the Conqueror approached and fired three conventional Mk 8 mod 4 torpedoes, each armed with an 800 lb (363 kg) torpedo warhead. Two hit the Belgrano - the first forward on the bow, the inner bulkhead held. Therefore, the front powder magazine did not detonate.

The second torpedo exploded behind the second funnel outside the side armor cover and in the rear nacelle. The blast swept through the heavily trafficked area, killing some 275 sailors and exposing a 20-meter hole in the main deck. While the explosion did not start a fire on the ship, the resulting explosion produced thick smoke that limited communications and rescue.

Additionally, the ship began flooding when its electrical system was damaged, limiting any communications that could be sent to the destroyer's screen for support. In the chaos, the conquerors quietly retreated to a safe position and watched them.

After the Belgrano entered the water, it began to lean to the left and sank on its head. Only twenty minutes after the attack, Captain Bonzo of the Belgrano gave the order to abandon the ship. The evacuation, although orderly, was made more difficult by the rising waves.

With no distress signal, the two escort destroyers did not notice the sinking and went about their business by placing depth charges. When the Belgrano was visibly damaged and needed assistance, night had fallen, the waves were rising, and the rescue of the crew on the raft was a dangerous proposition.

It wasn't until May 5 that the entire crew was rescued by the combined efforts of Argentina and Chile, and about 770 people were found and brought aboard. The attack on the Belgrano took away her crew of 321.

Argentina formally handed over control of the islands to the UK on 14 June 1982 after a land dispute, but there is no sign that it will give up its political claim to the islands (a position that has continued to today). In 1994, the Argentine government and Captain Bonzo stated that the sinking of the Belgrano was a legal act under the rules of engagement at the time.