The Aviation Historian — January 2018

80 THE AVIATION HISTORIAN Issue No 21

Built by Vickers-Armstrongs at Barrow-in-

Furness, ARA La Argentina was a light cruiser

designed for training naval cadets. It was

launched on March 16, 1937, although it was

not completed until January 1939, owing to

the pressing demands of Britain’s rearmament

programme. Note the Walrus on its catapult.

performed search-and-rescue and anti-submarine

duties. The Walruses were assigned to sub-unit

Escuadrilla de Observación de la Escuadra de Mar

(EOEM) and operated from the cruisers in the

communication and tactical reconnaissance roles.

Also formed in 1939, EAOA3 was commanded

by Tte Frag Carlos Nuñez Monasterio and based

at BA Punta Indio. The unit was attached to the

Fuerza Aeronaval del Rio de la Plata to support the

Escuadra de Rios. Its initial equipment included

three Fairey IIIF Mk IIIMs, one Fairey Seal and

four 02U-1 Corsairs, but the unit inmediately re-

equipped with three of the newly acquired G-15s.

MORE WALRUSES

During the Second World War the amphibians

and Consolidated P2Y-3 flying-boats of the

Escuadrilla de Exploración, also based at BN Puerto

Belgrano, flew regular neutrality patrols along

Argentina’s long coastline, searching for surface

raiders and undertaking anti-submarine patrols raiders and undertaking anti-submarine patrols

when the Flota de Mar was at sea.

In May 1945, after the war had ended, German

U-boats were detected in Argentinian waters,

the naval authorities becoming convinced that

German crews were trying to reach the Pacific

Ocean, either through the Le Maire Strait,

located to the south of Chile between Tierra del

Fuego and Isla de los Estados, or by passing to

the east of the latter. ARA La Argentina, ARA 25

de Mayo and ARA Almirante Brown sailed from

Puerto Belgrano to the South Atlantic to locate

and destroy the intruders, their G-20 and Walrus

spotters flying regular anti-submarine patrols. In

the event, however, no U-boats were found.

By the time the war ended, few of the Escuadrilla

de Observación’s aircraft remained airworthy and

the lack of spare parts had become critical. The

Ministerio de Marina was therefore anxious to

replace its ageing aircraft and, after considerable

deliberation — which included the possibility

of purchasing 12 Supermarine Sea Otters — it

was decided that the Duck and Walrus were still

suitable candidates for the reconnaissance role.

Negotiations began with Vickers-Armstrongs on

October 2, 1945. October 2, 1945.

At around the same time, approximately 30

British Walruses were placed in long-term storage

at No 15 Maintenance Unit (MU) at Wroughton

in Wiltshire. The aircraft were still there when

During 1936–39 the AN updated its fleet-
spotter reconnaissance capabilities with the
acquisition of two batches of Grumman Duck
amphibian biplanes, a formation of which is
seen here, and which were used alongside
the AN’s pair of Walruses.
VIA AUTHOR

JUAN C. CICALESI VIA AUTHOR