ARA Robinson (P-45)

ARA Robinson (P-45) is the fifth ship of the MEKO 140A16 Espora class of six corvettes built for the Argentine Navy. The ship is the second ship to bear the name of British Captain Carlos Robinson, who fought in the Argentine Navy during the Cisplatine War and died commanding a squadron of gunboats during the Battle of La Colonia.

For other ships with the same name, see ARA Robinson.
The corvette ARA Robinson (P-45)
History
 Argentina
Name: Robinson
Namesake: Carlos Robinson
Owner: Argentine Navy
Builder: Río Santiago Shipyard
Laid down: 1 March 1983
Launched: 25 November 1984
Commissioned: 28 August 2000
Homeport: Puerto Belgrano
Status: Active
General characteristics
Class and type: MEKO 140A16 Espora-class corvette
Displacement: 1,560 tons (1,790 tons full load)[1]
Length: 91.2 m (299 ft)[1]
Beam: 11.0 m (36.1 ft)[1]
Draught: 3.33 m (10.9 ft)[1] (hull)
Installed power: 22,600 bhp (16.9 MW)[1]
Propulsion: 2 × SEMT Pielstick 16 PC 2-5 V400 diesels, 2 × 5-blade props[1]
Speed: 27 knots (50 km/h)[1]
Range: 4,000 nautical miles (7,410 km) at 18 knots (33 km/h)[1]
Crew: 11 officers, 46 petty officers, 36 enlisted[1]
Sensors and
processing systems:
  • Thales DA-05/2 air/surface search
  • Thales WM-28, LIROD fire control
  • Consilium Selesmar NavBat
  • Atlas AQS-1 hull MF sonar[1]
Electronic warfare
& decoys:
  • Decca RDC-2ABC
  • Decca RCM-2 jammer
  • 2 × Matra Dagaie decoys[1]
Armament:
Aircraft carried: 1 × Eurocopter Fennec
Aviation facilities: Helideck and telescoping hangar

Origin

Robinson and her sister ships were part of the 1974 Naval Constructions National Plan, an initiative by the Argentine Navy to replace old World War II-vintage ships with more advanced warships. The original plan called for six MEKO 360H2 destroyers, four of them to be built in Argentina, but the plan was later modified to include four MEKO destroyers and six corvettes for anti-surface warfare and patrol operations.

Construction

Robinson was constructed at the Río Santiago Shipyard of the Astilleros y Fábricas Navales del Estado (State Shipyards and Naval Factories) state corporation. Her keel was laid down on 1 March 1983 and was launched on 25 November 1984.

Fitting out of Robinson and her sister ship Gómez Roca was suspended in 1992, briefly resumed in July 1994 and finally started again on 18 July 1997.[1] Following the resumption of construction, the ship was delivered to the Navy in 2000 and commissioned in 2000.

As part of the second batch of the class, Robinson is fitted with a telescopic hangar.[1] All members of the class have the Thales DAISY combat system, but Robinson is the only one to have an indigenous command system as well.[1] Along with Gómez Roca she has improved automation, communication and electronic systems compared to earlier members of the class.[1]

Service history

Following her commissioning Robinson participated in several naval exercises and conducted fishery patrol duties in the Argentine exclusive economic zone. She also accompanied the flagship of Irish Naval Service, LÉ Eithne, during her 2006 visit to Argentina.

Robinson is homeported at Puerto Belgrano Naval Base and is part of the Navy's 2nd Corvette Division with her five sister ships.

  • ARA Robinson fires her 3-inch gun during a surface gunnery exercise
  • With USS Klakring during Southern Seas 2010

References
  1. Wertheim, Eric (2007). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems (15 ed.). Naval Institute Press. p. 9. ISBN 9781591149552.

Bibliography
  • Guia de los buques de la Armada Argentina 2005-2006. Ignacio Amendolara Bourdette, ISBN 987-43-9400-5, Editor n/a. (Spanish/English text)


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