ARA Uruguay

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Gunboat

title: "ARA Uruguay" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["ships-built-on-the-river-mersey", "1874-ships", "training-ships-of-the-argentine-navy", "tall-ships-of-argentina", "museum-ships-in-argentina", "maritime-history-of-argentina", "exploration-of-antarctica", "museums-in-buenos-aires", "non-combat-military-operations-involving-argentina", "gunboats-of-argentina"] description: "Gunboat" topic_path: "history" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARA_Uruguay" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Gunboat ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox ship"]

FieldValue
section1{{Infobox ship/image
imageCorbeta Uruguay (A.R.A.).jpg
image_captionUruguay moored at Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires
section2{{Infobox ship/career
countryArgentina
flag
nameUruguay
namesakeSchooner ARA Uruguay
builderLaird Brothers, Birkenhead, England
ordered1872
launched6 March 1874
commissioned5 July 1874
decommissioned1926
statusMuseum ship in Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires
section3{{Infobox
childyes
label1Coordinates
data1
section4{{Infobox ship/characteristics
classSteam corvette with auxiliary sails
displacement550 MT
length46.36 m
beam7.63 m
draft3.5 m
propulsionSteam, 3-cylinder compound
sail_planBarque
speed*Cruising: 6 kn
*Maximum: {{convert11
range1500 nmi
armament*Original: 4 × Vavasseur mounted 7 inch (bow, stern, port and starboard)
section5{{designation list
embedyes
designation1Argentina
::

|section1={{Infobox ship/image |image=Corbeta Uruguay (A.R.A.).jpg |image_caption=Uruguay moored at Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires

|section2={{Infobox ship/career |country=Argentina |owner= |flag= |name=Uruguay |namesake=Schooner ARA Uruguay |builder=Laird Brothers, Birkenhead, England |ordered=1872 |laid_down= |launched=6 March 1874 |commissioned=5 July 1874 |decommissioned=1926 |in_service= |out_of_service= |struck= |reinstated= |honours= |status=Museum ship in Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires |notes=

|section3={{Infobox |child=yes |label1 = Coordinates |data1 =

|section4={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header= |header_caption= |class=Steam corvette with auxiliary sails |displacement=550 MT |length=46.36 m |beam=7.63 m |draft=3.5 m |propulsion=Steam, 3-cylinder compound |sail_plan=Barque |speed=*Cruising: 6 kn

  • Maximum: 11 kn |range=1500 nmi |complement= |armament=*Original: 4 × Vavasseur mounted 7 inch (bow, stern, port and starboard)
  • 1880 upgrade: two 90 mm and one 150 mm Armstrong guns
  • 1893 upgrade: two 120 mm and two 66 mm Armstrong guns |armor= |notes=

|section5={{designation list |embed=yes |designation1=Argentina

The corvette '*ARA Uruguay''', built in England, is the largest ship afloat of its age in the Armada de la República Argentina (Argentine Navy), with more than 140 years passed since its commissioning in September 1874. The last of the legendary squadron of President Sarmiento, the Uruguay took part in revolutions, expeditions, rescues, and was even floating headquarters of the Navy School. During its operational history 1874–1926 the Uruguay has served as a gunboat, school ship, expedition support ship, Antarctic rescue ship, fisheries base supply ship, and hydrographic survey vessel, and is now a museum ship in Buenos Aires. The ship was built in 1874 at Laird Bros. (now Cammell Laird) shipyard of Birkenhead, England, at a cost of £32,000. This ship is rigged to a barque sailplan (three masts, two of which have cross spars). The ship's steel hull is sheathed in teak.

The ship's namesake is an earlier Argentine Navy schooner, a seven-gun combatant in the Battle of Juncal, 1827.

History

Gunboat and training ship (1874–1887)

Originally built as a gunboat, the ship was soon to be used as a training ship.

Naval training headquarters ship (1887)

After an episode known as the "Mutiny of the Overcoats" ("el Motín de los Gabanes" de Zárate) affected the continuity of studies in the emerging Naval Academy, the ship became a floating headquarters for naval training. In 1879, the gunboat, anchored in Buenos Aires, witnessed the graduation of the academy's first class of Naval Officers.

Asserting Argentina's sovereignty claim to Patagonia (1878)

In 1878 it became part of the expedition of Commodore Louis Py to Patagonia, south of the Santa Cruz River, along with the monitor Los Andes and the gunboat Constitución, with the goal of asserting Argentina's sovereignty claim on that region, threatened by Chile.

First scientific expedition (1884)

In 1884 it transported foreign scientific committees who came to observe a Transit of Venus (the passage of the disk of Venus across the Sun).

Configured for expedition support (1887–1903)

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/Corbeta_Uruguay_en_la_dársena_norte_-_1903.jpg" caption="ARA ''Uruguay'' near 1903 in Buenos Aires"] ::

In 1887 the ship was removed from its training assignment and fitted for expedition support.

Rebuilt for Antarctic rescue (1903)

In 1903 the ship was extensively refitted specifically as a steam rescue ship with auxiliary sail propulsion. The original horizontal reciprocating engine was replaced with a more compact yet more powerful engine and boilers salvaged from a wreck, allowing addition of more water storage, coal bunkering and fuel oil for heating. Additional bulkheads to create a total of eight compartments and hull reinforcement were added. The bilge keels were removed to facilitate damage-free passage through ice. Hard shell above deck storm and wave protection for crew was added fore and aft. Additional insulations of cork and sawdust were added.

Rescue of the Swedish Antarctic Expedition (October 1903)

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/Capitan_Julien_Irizard_Postcard_Clip.jpg" caption="Julian Irizar as Admiral (promoted 1914)]] -->"] ::

The ship's most notable action was carried out in 1901–1903 when the Uruguay supported and then later rescued the Swedish Antarctic Expedition led by Otto Nordenskiöld, their ship, the Antarctic, having been destroyed by ice. The rescue effort was led by Lieutenant Commander Julián Irízar who returned from his London diplomatic post of Naval Attache.

A special crew of eight officers and nineteen men was selected based upon experience, courage, and ability to withstand the severe polar conditions. With all of the expedition members rescued successfully, the ship returned through a severe storm in a thoroughly battered condition, having been rolled up to 40 degrees and now partially dismasted. Arriving first at Puerto Santa Cruz, they telegraphed their success to headquarters. On December 2, 1903, they arrived at home port to a great rejoicing by the citizens of Buenos Aires, with all participants receiving a hero's welcome from one hundred thousand dockside greeters, to be followed by many days of receptions and parades.

Support of Charcot expedition (1904–1906)

The Third French Antarctic Expedition, led by Jean-Baptiste Charcot, was supported by the Uruguay.

Base support and hydrography (1904–1922)

The ship operated through the Drake Passage, around Cape Horn, and resupplied a base in the South Orkney Islands (called by the Argentines Órcadas) with trips to South Georgia (called by the Argentines San Pedro Island) and supporting the Argentinean Fisheries Association (Sociedad Argentina de Pesca) whaling station with coal and food supplies. During this time ship was engaged in performing hydrographic and geographic surveys for the preparation of maritime navigation charts.

Out of service (1926)

She was dismissed from service in 1926 (with 52 years of naval service), to become a floating ammunition dump.

Restoration for use as a naval museum ship (1954)

In 1954 the Uruguay was rebuilt in the Río Santiago Shipyard. It was moored two years later at the pier of the Naval School, now officially designated as a museum ship.

Public museum ship and historic monument (1967–present)

Removed from naval service in 1962, the Uruguay was in 1967 declared a National Historic Landmark. Currently integrated since 1967 as a museum ship with the frigate ARA Presidente Sarmiento in the Museum of Sea and Navigation.{{refn|group=note|[Historic monument] "Monumento histórico ...el Poder Ejecutivo declaró por decreto del 06 de Junio de 1967 a la corbeta Uruguay monumento histórico, responsabilizando a la Comisión Nacional de Museos, Monumentos y Lugares Históricos, junto con la Armada de la conservación de la nave y de proyectar su futuro destino y funcionamiento."

Gallery

Corbeta Uruguay Cubierta mirando a popa.jpg|Weather deck, aft Corbeta Uruguay Brújula.jpg|Binnacle Corbeta Uruguay museo naval.jpg|Naval museum exhibits

Notes

References

National Commission for Museums and Monuments and Sites (1998). Monuments of Argentina. Secretariat of Culture of the Nation. . Almanac 1958 Daily Nation, with reminders of historical dates in Argentina.

  • {{cite web |title = Buque Museo ARA Corbeta Uruguay |publisher = Armada Argentina |url = http://www.ara.mil.ar/pag.asp?idItem=113 |access-date = December 26, 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121031170845/http://www.ara.mil.ar/pag.asp?idItem=113 |archive-date = October 31, 2012 INSTITUTCIONAL to get to page " Museo Naval de la Nación", then use the right sidebar "Institucional Museos", item "Buque Museo ARA Corbeta Uruguay: to obtain the page and use the resultant link number above--
  • Google translation of above
  • {{cite web |title=Buque Museo Corbeta A.R.A Uruguay |publisher=SUGARA Lifesaving Organization |url=http://www.sugara.com.ar/cnfragatasarmiento/corb_uruguay/historia.htm |access-date=December 26, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090127043454/http://sugara.com.ar/cnfragatasarmiento/corb_uruguay/historia.htm |archive-date=January 27, 2009
  • SUGARA is Sindico Unico de Guardavidas y Afines de la Rep. Argentina (Trustee Union of Lifeguard and Related of Argentina)
  • Google translation of above
  • {{cite web |title=La expedición Nordenskjöld y el rescate de la Corbeta Uruguay 1901–1903 |publisher=SUGARA Lifesaving Orgwnization |url=http://www.sugara.com.ar/cnfragatasarmiento/corb_uruguay/aventura_antartica.htm |access-date=January 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090130014416/http://sugara.com.ar/cnfragatasarmiento/corb_uruguay/aventura_antartica.htm |archive-date=January 30, 2009
  • Google translation of above (Note that this article has an extensive reference list of resources in Spanish)
  • {{cite web |title = La Corbeta Uruguay |publisher = Maritime commercial site Cibernautica |url = http://www.cibernautica.com.ar/corburuguay/index.htm |access-date = January 2, 2010}}
  • Google translation of above

References

  1. "ARA Official website page Barque Museo ARA Corbetta Uruguay".
  2. "Official Lifeguard Organization webpage: Ship Museum and Corvette ARA "Uruguay"".
  3. [http://market.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=1449818&member Early school headquarters history] (in Spanish)
  4. For an example of an earlier transit see [http://www.nao.rl.ac.uk/nao/transit/V_1882/ 1882 Transit of Venus (HM Nautical Almanac Office at The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (HMNAO))] {{webarchive. link. (September 25, 2009)
  5. [http://www.nao.rl.ac.uk/nao/transit/V_1882/vta_1882_Punta_Arenas.gif Animated diagram of 1882 transit from Punta Arenas, Chille (HMNAO)] {{webarchive. link. (August 22, 2007)
  6. "La Corbeta Uruguay". Maritime commercial site Cibernautica.
  7. "La expedición Nordenskjöld y el rescate de la Corbeta Uruguay 1901–1903". SUGARA Lifesaving Organization.
  8. [http://www.south-pole.com/p0000091.htm Otto Nordenskjöld] (in English)
  9. [https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Puerto+Santa+Cruz,+Argentina&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=45.014453,77.607422&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Puerto+Santa+Cruz,+Santa+Cruz,+Argentina&t=h&ll=-50.080057,-68.411865&spn=1.145651,2.425232&z=9 Google Maps location of Puerto Santa Cruz, Argentina]
  10. }} It is moored at [[Puerto Madero]] in the city of Buenos Aires, in the dock area No. 3, a short distance from the ''Sarmiento''.[https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Buenos+Aires&sll=37.892587,-122.080977&sspn=0.014055,0.014226&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Buenos+Aires,+Argentina&ll=-34.604137,-58.36644&spn=0.003665,0.003557&t=h&z=18 Google map centered on ''ARA Uruguay''.] (Scroll south to see the ''ARA Presidente Sarmiento'').

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

ships-built-on-the-river-mersey1874-shipstraining-ships-of-the-argentine-navytall-ships-of-argentinamuseum-ships-in-argentinamaritime-history-of-argentinaexploration-of-antarcticamuseums-in-buenos-airesnon-combat-military-operations-involving-argentinagunboats-of-argentina