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Hércules 1978

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comm	Fate
Hércules	D28, 1981- D1, 2002- B52	1089	Vickers, Barrow, UK	16.6.1971	24.10.1972	10.5.1976	in service (2019)
Santísima Trinidad	D2		AFNE, Rio Santiago	11.10.1971	9.11.1974	7/1981	cannibalized since 1999, deleted 2006

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	3150
Displacement full, t	4100
Length, m	119.5 pp 125.0 oa
Breadth, m	14.3
Draught, m	4.20 hull
No of shafts	2
Machinery	COGOG: 2 Olympus TM-3B gas turbines / 2 Tyne RM-1A gas turbines
Power, h. p.	54400 / 8200
Max speed, kts	28
Fuel, t	gas turbine oil
Endurance, nm(kts)	4000(18)
Armament	1: 1 x 2 Sea Dart GWS-30 Mk 2 SAM (20 Sea Dart), 1 x 1 - 114/55 Mk 8, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 7, 2 x 3 - 324 ILAS-3 TT, 1 DCR(9), 1 helicopter (Lynx) 2: 4 x 1 MM38 Exocet SSM (4 MM38), 1 x 2 Sea Dart GWS-30 Mk 2 SAM (20 Sea Dart), 1 x 1 - 114/55 Mk 8, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 7, 2 x 3 - 324 ILAS-3 TT, 1 DCR(9), 1 helicopter (Lynx)
Electronic equipment	1: type 1006, type 965P (AKE-2), type 992Q, 2x type 909 radars, type 184M, type 162M sonars, 2x Corvus decoy RL, type 738 torpedo decoy, ADAWS-4 CCS 2: type 1006, type 965P (AKE-2), type 992Q, 2x type 909 radars, type 184M, type 162M sonars, RDL-2, RCM-2 ECM suites, 2x Corvus decoy RL, type 738 torpedo decoy, ADAWS-4 CCS
Complement	270

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

On 18 May 1970 the Argentine Government announced the signing of a contract for two ships, one to be built in Argentina and the other in Great Britain. Santísima Trinidad required a long time to build owing to delays caused by the technology transfer. She was sabotaged by terrorists on 22 August 1975, causing moderate damage. Electronic fit differed from their British sisters.

Modernizations

1980, Hércules: + 4 x 1 MM38 Exocet SSM (4 MM38)

1982, Hércules: + RDL-2, RCM-2 ECM suites

1999, both: ability to carry 1 Fennec helicopter

11.2000, Hércules: - 1x type 909 radar (aft); hangar was enlarged for 1 Sea King helicopter, accommodations for 238 marines were placed.

2010, Hércules: - 1 x 2 Sea Dart SAM, 1x type 909 radar; + 2 x 1 - 12.7/90, 1 DCT (Mk 9 DCs)

Naval service

Both were laid up for some years during 1983-86 and reportedly offered for sale lo Turkey in 1986 due to the inability to obtain spares from the UK. After some trials in 1987 both were put back into service in 1988. Santísima Trinidad was placed in reserve and used for cannibalization stores for Hércules until 1999, when she was reported being considered for reactivation for use as a fast transport for Marines (no progress has been made on this plan, which was first proposed in 1991). In 2006 she was finally stricken and preserved as memorial ship at Puerto Belgrano since 2015. During November 2000 Hércules completed a refit in Chile, when an enlarged helicopter hangar replaced the original and the after missile director was removed and in 2002 she was reclassified to fast commando transport.