Expected to Join Maritime Patrol Division Next Month
The ARA Contraalmirante Cordero, fourth and final of the class of OPVs built for Argentina, was handed over to the Argentine Navy in Concarneau, France, on 13 April, bringing to a close the 2018 contract with Naval Group.
The first OPV, ARA Bouchard OPV, was received in February 2020; ARA Piedrabuena arrived at the Mar del Plata Naval Base in June 2021; ARA Almirante Storni arrived in December 2021. The procurement programme was conducted as part of the Navy’s Maritime Naval Patrol Capacity Recovery Project.
Contraalmirante Cordero is expected to sail from France to Argentina in early May, to join the Maritime Patrol Division, based at the Mar del Plata Naval Base and which reports to the Atlantic Naval Area command. The vessels already delivered are now in operation, allowing the Navy to conduct operations essential to the defence of Argentina’s sovereign interests at sea.
Technical specifications
Displacement: 1,650t
Dimensions: Length 87m; Beam 13.6m; Max draft 4.2m
Propulsion: Two diesel engines, two Schottel axle lines with controllable pitch propeller and Noristar control system, two main generators, two secondary generators and an emergency generator, two non-retractable stabilising fins.
Maximum speed: 21kt
Range: 7,000 miles at 12kt
Crew: 40, with capacity to embark an additional 19 personnel
Armament: Leonardo Marlin WS mount with a Mauser Mk 30-2 30mm gun, with day/night EO sensors; two Reutech Sea Rogue mounts, each with a remotely-operated 12.7mm Browning M2 machinegun
Equipment: Two 9.39m Zodiac Hurricane ZH-935 IO RHIBs, stern-launched; a semi-rigid rescue boat; a hangar for a 5t-class helicopter and flight deck for helicopters up to 10t-class; capable of operating UAS (Argentine-developed Asteri a possibility).
Santiago Rivas reporting from Buenos Aires for MON