South American ABC Tri-Nation Dreadnought Competition: Argentine "Ribadavia" class battleships

The Argentine Navy's plan to expand its navy was approved by the government in 1907, and after learning that Brazil had ordered dreadnoughts from britain (Minas Gerais-class battleships), Argentina also planned to build dreadnoughts.

After soliciting 15 proposals from a number of shipyards in Europe and the United States, it was decided to undertake the construction by the American shipyard with preferential quotations. Two ships of this class were built. In 1912 Argentina had planned to build another large battleship, but this was not achieved under financial pressure.

Due to the start of construction later than the Brazilian battleship, it is relatively novel, the displacement is nearly 50% larger, the 12-inch caliber main gun barrel is 50 times the caliber long, the two main turrets in front and behind the hull are arranged on a back, and the two main turrets in the hull side are arranged in a stepped manner, and the side firepower is superior to that of the Brazilian Dreadnought.

The main engine uses a steam turbine, and the power system is arranged in the front and rear scattered cabins. And it has an advantage over the Brazilian Minas Gerais class in terms of armor and speed. The Rivadavia class has a caged mast unique to American battleships.

Rivadavia: Construction began on 25 May 1910, was launched on 8 November 1911, completed in December 1914, and decommissioned and dismantled in 1958.

Moreno: Construction began on 9 July 1910, was launched on 23 September 1911, completed in March 1915, and decommissioned in 1957.

From 1924 to 1926, the two ships were modernized in the United States. Updated power system, coal-fired boiler replaced with oil-fired boiler; A new fire control system was installed, and a three-legged mast was installed at the rear of the hull.

Standard displacement: 27940 tons; Full load displacement: 30,600 tons; length 178.3 m, width 30 m, draft 8.5 m; 3 Curtis steam turbines, 18 Babcock-Wilcox boilers; The maximum speed is 22.5 knots, the endurance is 11000/11 knots, and the number is 1130 people.

6 twin 12"/50x caliber main guns, 12 6-inch/50x-caliber secondary guns, 16 4-inch/50x-bore rapid-fire guns, 2 21- torpedo tubes; Each 12-inch main gun was stocked with 130 rounds, each 6-inch secondary gun was stocked with 300 rounds, rapid-fire guns with 350 rounds, and 16 white-headed torpedoes.

Waterline armor 10-12 inches, turret front armor 12 inches, command tower 12 inches, deck armor 5 inches.

South American ABC refers to Argentina, Brazil, Chile.