ARA General Belgrano: Argentina's Lost Cruiser
A Pre-World War II Cruiser
The ARA General Belgrano was an Argentine Navy light cruiser that served from 1951 until 1982. Originally commissioned as the USS Phoenix in 1938, she was transferred to Argentina in 1951 and renamed General Belgrano. The vessel was named after Manuel Belgrano, one of the leaders of Argentina's independence movement.
Modernization and Service
During the 1960s, the General Belgrano underwent several modernization upgrades, including the installation of new anti-aircraft and anti-submarine weapons. She also received a new radar system and electronics. The cruiser played a significant role in the Argentine Navy's operations during the years leading up to the Falklands War. In 1982, the General Belgrano was deployed to the South Atlantic as part of Argentina's response to the British invasion of the Falkland Islands. On May 2, 1982, the ship was torpedoed by the British submarine HMS Conqueror and sank with the loss of 323 sailors. The sinking of the General Belgrano was a major turning point in the Falklands War. It led to widespread outrage in Argentina and contributed to the country's eventual defeat in the conflict. The wreck of the General Belgrano remains on the seabed off the coast of Argentina.
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