BB - La Argentina Class

Argentina’s alliance with Germany immediately caused great concern among the other South American countries which quickly started modernizing their respective militaries in order to keep up with the Argentinian Armed Forces. The situation became more complicated in 1934 when another agreement was signed with Italy for military cooperation that allowed the Italian navy to also station ships in Argentina therefore increasing Axis military presence in the South Atlantic. One of the biggest sources of concern was Argentina’s acquisition of four units of the projected Littorio Class battleships two of which would be built in Argentina this meant that not only Venezuela, Brazil and Chile would likely encounter the German and Italian Navies in South America but also a very well equipped Argentinian Navy that was aspiring to become the greatest naval power in South America.

The Argentinian battleships were named La Argentina Class with construction of the first two ships beginning in 1934 in Italy with the both ships launched in 1938, simultaneously construction of the remaining two ships began in Argentina in early 1935 with the first ship launched in 1938 followed shortly by the last ship ordered. The first ship of the class was commissioned into the Argentinian navy in 1940 with the remaining ships following in 1941 and early 1942.