ARA Santísima Trinidad (1948)

The "ARA Santisima Trinidad" was one of a number of US "Tacoma" class patrol frigates, operated by the Armada Republica Argentina. These ships were named after Argentine frigates which saw prominent action during the War of Independence.Page 6, "Janes Fighting Ships 1963-64"]

"Santisima Trinidad" was a US "Tacoma" class patrol frigate (type S2-S2-AQ1, hull number 1659) built by the Walsh-Kaiser Yard, Providence, Rhode Island, USA, and transferred to Britain under the lease-lend program. The design was itself an adaptation of the Royal Navy River class frigate, with modifications made mainly to use materials and parts more readily available in the United States. She was laid down as USS "Hannam" (PF77); [ [http://drawings.us-maritime-commission.de/drawing/drawings_s2_s2_aq1_des.htm Maritime Commission Design S2-S2-AQ1, General Description]
[http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/4emergency/walshkaiser.htm Ship building history Walsh-Kaiser Company, Inc.]
[http://www.leander-project.homecall.co.uk/Frigates.html The Leander Project - WWII Frigates] ] but launched as as HMS "Caicos" (K505) on 6 September 1943; and delivered on 31 December 1943. [http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/4emergency/walshkaiser.htm Ship building history Walsh-Kaiser Company, Inc.] ] She was commissioned by the Royal Navy as HMS "Caicos" (K505) on 2 January 1944; it is claimed that this frigate was partially funded by the Turks & Caicos Islands. [ [http://www.timespub.tc/index.php?id=192 Times of the Islands, the International Magazine of the Turks & Caicos Islands, Summer 2007] ] "Caicos", was assigned as an aircraft detection frigate, stationed in the North Sea to detect V-1 flying bombs, targeted at Britain. [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/279.html uboat.net HMS "Caicos" (K 505)] ] [ [http://www.visitgrandturk.com/about/history.aspx Visit Grand Turk - History of the Turks and Caicos Islands] ] Two of her crew died on war service. [Act/Yeoman of Signals Leslie A Russell, C/JX 298130, was listed as killed on Friday 30 June 1944. [http://www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1944-06JUN2.htm Casualty Lists of the Royal Navy and Dominion Navies, 1922-present, researched & compiled by Don Kindell - 15th-30th June 1944]
Act/Able Seaman William A Sewell, C/JX 406285, was listed as died on war service on Friday 23 February 1945. [http://www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1945-02FEB.htm Casualty Lists of the Royal Navy and Dominion Navies, 1922-present, researched & compiled by Don Kindell - February 1945] ]

"Caicos" was returned to US on 12 December 1945.. The US Maritime Commission sold "Caicos" for scrapping in June 1946 to N. B. Walcott, New York. However the plans to scrap her were cancelled and she was resold to Argentina in July 1947. She was incorporated into the Armada Republica Argentina under decree Nº 24,121 of 4th August 1947 (O.G. 224 47), and assigned the name "Trinidad", in memory for the previous "Santísima Trinidad". Commander(S) ["Capitan de Fragata Contador" has been translated into English as "Commander(S)", the "S" stands for "Supply & Services". Before 26 October 1944 this rank was known in English as "Paymaster Commander".] D. Rodolfo A. Muzzio initiated a campaign to assign the full name "Santísima Trinidad" to her. She therefore became the ARA "Santísima Trinidad" under decree Nº 20.896 of 3 October 1950 (B. N. P. 124,950). [http://www.histarmar.com.ar/Armada%20Argentina/Buques1900a1970/FragStaTrinidad.htm Fragata "Santisima Trinidad" 1948] ]

"Santisima Trinidad" (P-34) served as part of the Force of Frigates of the Fleet of Sea from 1948 until 1960. During this time she operated actively in the waters of the South Atlantic, participating in annual fleet exercises; especially anti-submarine warfare exercises since this was what she was designed for. In 1948-49 she participated in the 11th Antarctic Campaign. In 1959, she participated in Operation Neptune II, and received a battle honour ["Pabellón de combate" has been translated as "battle honour".] from Vicario General Castrense and Cardenal D. Antonio Caggiano on 8 December 1960. She then went into reserve in 1961-62. In 1963, she was reclassified as a Buque de Investigacion (survey vessel) and renamed "Comodoro Augusto Lasserre" (Q-9),Page 7, "Janes Fighting Ships 1963-64"] She was sold for scrap in 1970, or 1971.Page 9, "Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995".] under decree Nº 811963.

According to Janes Fighting Ships, her armament in Argentine service consisted of: 2 x 105mm (4.1 inch) guns, 8 x 40mm AA guns, 1 Hedgehog, and 6 x depth charge throwers. Conways states that she had 4 x 47mm AA guns instead of 8 x 40mm AA guns.

Captains in Argentine Service as "Santísima Trinidad"

1948-49: Commander D. Raúl V. Franzini.

1949-50: Commander D. Fernando V. Muro de Nadal.

1950-51: Commander D. Helvio Guozden.

1951-52: Commander D. Manuel A. Martínez.

1952-53: Commander D. José M. Guzmán.

1953: Commander D. Orlando Argento.

1954: Commander D. Carlos García Favre.

1955: Commander D. Alfredo Sánchez Pupulo.

1956: Commander D. Jorge Aguirre Urreta.

1957: Lieutenant Commander D. Roberto Ulloa.

1958: Commander D. Raúl Francos.

1959: Commander D. Alberto J. Oliver.

1960: Commander D. Jorge Sciurano.

1961-62: In reserve.

1963: Lieutenant Commander D. Horacio Gómez Beret.

Note "capitán de fragata" is the Spanish translation of "commander", whilst "capitán de corbeta" is the Spanish translation of "lieutenant commander".

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.suite101.com/view_image.cfm/198319 A photo of "Comodoro Augusto Lasserre" (Q-9) taken in 1965; it shows that she had been disarmed. Photographer: "Robert Hirst".]
* [http://drawings.us-maritime-commission.de/drawings_special.htm Outboard Profiles of Maritime Commission Vessels Design: S2-S2-AQ1]
* [http://drawings.us-maritime-commission.de/drawing/drawings_s2_s2_aq1_specs.htm Technical Specifications Maritime Commission Design S2-S2-AQ1]
* [http://drawings.us-maritime-commission.de/drawing/drawings_s2_s2_aq1_des.htm Maritime Commission Design S2-S2-AQ1, General Description]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/08077.htm NavSource Online: Frigate Photo Archive - HMS Caicos (K 505), ex-Hannam (PF 77), ex-PG-185] Has photos of her as "Caicos", as "Santísima Trinidad" and disarmed as "Comodoro Augusto Lasere".