ARA Santísima Trinidad

Santísima Trinidad
Career Argentina
Builder:	AFNE, Rio Santiago
Laid down:	1973
Launched:
Commissioned:	1980
Out of service:	1989
Status:	In Reserve Awaiting Overhaul
Homeport:	Puerto Belgrano Naval Base
General characteristics
Displacement:	4,100 tons
Length:	125 m (410 feet)
Beam:	14.6 m (48 feet)
Draught:	5.2 m (17 feet)
Propulsion:	COGAG - 2 x RM-1A Gas Turbines (8,200shp); 2 x TM-3B Gas Turbines (54,400shp) 2 shafts
Speed:	28 knots
Complement:	270
Armament:	1 x 4.5in DP; 1 x 2 Sea Dart; 4 x MM38 Exocet; 2 x 20mm AA; 2 x 3 12.75in torpedo tubes
Aircraft carried:	1 helicopter

The ARA Santisima Trinidad is a Type 42 destroyer, of the Armada Republica Argentina. She was built at the Argentine AFNE shipyard and commissioned in 1980. Commissioning of the ship, whose construction began in 1973, was long delayed by a bomb attack carried out by the guerrilla organization Montoneros in 1975. Santisima Trinidad's hull suffered severe damage and the ship's performance after entering service was greatly hampered as a result of the attack. The Argentine Navy upgraded the warship by enhancing her offensive capabilities with MM-38 Exocet missiles. She was the leading ship of the Argentine landings on the Falklands, on 2 April 1982. During the remainder of the Falklands War, along with her sister ship ARA Hercules, she served as the main escort to the aircraft carrier ARA Veinticinco de Mayo. After the war the British weapons and supplies embargo on Argentina forced the Navy to try to sell both Type 42s to another country. When the attempts failed, the Navy decided to place Santísima Trinidad in reserve as a parts supplier for Hércules. Her last Sea Dart missile launch was conducted in 1987, and Santísima Trinidad´s last cruise took place in 1989. She has not sailed since. At present, the Santisima Trinidad is listed as "in reserve awaiting overhaul", however, it is expected that the Navy will formally decommission her. There are projects in the Argentine Congress calling for Santisima Trinidad to be converted into a museum ship.