In the context of the prelude to the start of Exercise Gringo-Gaucho II with the USS George Washington aircraft carrier from the United States, the personnel and assets of the Sea Fleet of the Argentine Navy are preparing for the beginning of these combined activities. During yesterday’s session, on May 27th, the navy reported on their social media platforms the departure from the Mar del Plata Naval Base and the Puerto Belgrano Naval Base of various ships, including MEKO 360 destroyers, MEKO 140 corvettes, and OPV 90 oceanic patrol vessels.
Between May 30th and 31st, the Argentine Navy and the United States Navy (US Navy) will carry out the Training Exercise called PASSEX “Gringo-Gaucho II.” Over the past few months, this combined activity has gained high visibility due to the participation of the USS George Washington aircraft carrier, along with the USS Porter destroyer and the USNS John Lenthall logistics vessel; all part of the Southern Seas 2024 deployment under the operations area of the US Southern Command.
Thus, following the previous reports from the Argentine Navy, an important deployment of assets from the Sea Fleet to participate in these activities has been listed. Yesterday, the departure of several oceanic patrol vessels from the Mar del Plata Naval Base was observed, including the ARA Almirante Cordero, ARA Piedrabuena, and ARA Storni from the Maritime Patrol Division.
Similarly, departing from the Puerto Belgrano Naval Base, the departure of ships from the Destroyer and Corvette Division was observed. Among these are the MEKO 360 destroyers ARA La Argentina and ARA Sarandi, along with the MEKO 140 corvettes ARA Espora and ARA Rosales.
According to the latest reports, the mentioned units are carrying out final preparations for the start of Exercise Gringo-Gaucho II, with emphasis on navigation in restricted waters. This allowed for maneuvers alongside the aeronaval component of the Argentine Navy Aviation Command participating in the exercise, consisting of a Fennec helicopter from the First Naval Helicopter Squadron (EAH1) and a Sea King from the Second Naval Helicopter Squadron (EAH2).
The Argentine Navy stated: “Individually, roles such as abandonment, firefighting, damage control, and search and rescue at sea were covered, along with English communications and passage to spoken distance. A tactical encounter between the ships belonging to the Sea Fleet and the Maritime Patrol Division based in the Mar del Plata Naval Base was also carried out.”
Adding: “Once the George Washington aircraft carrier enters Argentine jurisdictional waters, it will be received by the ARA La Argentina destroyer. This unit will escort them to the rendezvous point with the other ships to begin the PASSEX Exercise Gringo-Gaucho II.”
Finally, and in order to provide further details, a Zona Militar team is present at the combined activities of the Gringo-Gaucho Exercise to bring the readers and subscribers community the latest news of this important activity for the Argentine Navy.
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