Argentine Navy

The Argentine Navy (ARA; Armada de la República Argentina), is one of the three branches of the Armed Forces, along with the Army and the Air Force. Its mission is to prepare, train, and sustain the nation's naval assets. These assets are distributed across four branches, forming the integrated naval force: the Navy, the Marine Infantry, the Naval Aviation, and the Submarine Force.

Navy of the Argentine Republic
Armada de la República Argentina
Shield, the red Phrygian cap symbolizing pursuit of liberty
Founded	25 May 1810 (1810-05-25)
Country	Argentina
Branch	Navy
Size	18,368 (2018)
Part of	Argentine Armed Forces
Main Base	Puerto Belgrano Naval Base
Colors	Light blue and white
March	Navy March
Anniversaries	May 17 (Navy Day)
Fleet	2 submarines (not operational) 3 destroyers 6 corvettes 11 patrol boats 1 amphibious warfare ship 19 auxiliary ships
Engagements	Argentine War of Independence Cisplatine War Anglo-French blockade of the Río de la Plata Paraguayan War Spanish Civil War Revolución Libertadora Cuban Missile Crisis Falklands War Gulf War Operation Uphold Democracy
Website	argentina.gob.ar/armada
Commanders
Commander-in-chief	President Javier Milei
Chief of General Staff	Vice Admiral Carlos María Allievi
Deputy Chief of General Staff	Vice Admiral Marcelo Ricardo Flamini
Insignia
Jack
Ensign
Aircraft flown
Attack	AS-555 Fennec
Patrol	P-3C/N Orion (planned for service entry in 2024/25) BE-200 Cormorán S-2T Tracker
Trainer	T-34 Mentor
Transport	PC-6 Porter SH-3 Sea King

In addition to its mission, the Navy participates in internal security operations alongside the Ministry of Security, participates in UN peacekeeping operations, provides logistical support for Antarctic campaigns alongside the Joint Antarctic Command, and provides humanitarian support to the community in the event of a disaster.

The Navy is subordinate to the President of Argentina as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

Ranks

Officers

Rank insignia consists of a variable number of gold-braid stripes worn on the sleeve cuffs or on shoulder-boards. Officers may be distinguished by the characteristic loop of the top stripe (in the manner of British Royal Navy officers). Combat uniforms may include metal pin-on or embroidered collar rank insignia. Rank insignia is worn on the chest when in shipboard or flying coveralls.

Officers are commissioned in either the Command (line) Corps (those who attend the Escuela Naval Militar- Military Naval College) or the Staff Corps (Professional Officers who only attend a short course in the Naval Academy after getting a civilian degree, except for the Paymasters who instead attend the Naval College).

The Line Corps is divided into three branches: the Naval branch (including Surface Warfare, Submarine Warfare and Naval Aviation sub-branches), the Marine Corps branch, and Executive -Engineering- branch. Line Corps' reserve officers are considered Restricted Line ( Escalafon Complementario ) officers in any of the Warfare Communities (Surface, Submarine, Marines, Aviation and Propulsion), and can only raise to OF-4 rank ( Capitan de Fragata ).

All Line Corps officers wear distinctive branch/sub-branch insignia on the right breast. Some Staff Corps officers also wear specialisation badges (Aviation, Surface, Submarine and Marines). Other common insignia is the Naval War College insignia, parachute wings, etc., also worn on the right breast. Medals and Ribbons, if awarded, are worn on the left breast, just above the chest pocket. The rank insignia of Staff Corps' officers is placed over a background colour denoting the wearer's field, such as purple (Chaplains), blue (Engineers), red (Health Corps), white (Paymasters), green (Judge Advocate Officers), brown (Technical Officers, promoted from the ranks) and grey (special branch). The background colour for Command Corps officers is navy blue/black.

Enlisted ratings and Non-Commissioned Officers

Other ranks' insignia (not including Seamen) is worn on either shoulderboards or breast or sleeve patches. Seamen and Seamen Recruits wear their insignia on their sleeves. The shoulderboards denote the wearer's specialty.