Government and Defense - Defence and security

ARA Hercules was transformed from a missilistic destroyer to a multi-purpose rapid transport by succesive redesigns, in some of which INVAP took part. Note the big hangar for two Sea King helicopters, the landing deck and the new stern, designed for quick troop deployment. Now Hercules can act as an infantry-deploying ship without loss of its original radar, electronics, antiaerial, antisub and antiship capacities, or its 30 knot speed.

INVAP has redesigned and rebuilt the sliding doors of the helicopter hangar aboard ARA HERCULES, an Argentine Navy 42 type destroyer. The doors can be operated electromechanically or manually, and allow for a minimum clearance of 6,18 meters in width and 5,43 meters in height either at port or at starboard. The new closing is watertight and lightproof.

This job was part of a local redesigning of the stern sector of this British-built combat unit from the seventies.

Final in-factory tests of the new sliding doors at INVAP’s plant in Pilcaniyeu.

Navy requirements indicate a minimum closing or opening speed of 10 centimeters/second and a maximum 5 minutes for the whole operation to be completed in manual mode, and carried out under extreme roll, pitch, yaw and wind-pressure conditions. In-factory acceptance conditions included the door to operate nominally with a 30 degree roll and a 10 degree pitch at the same time.

The hangar lodges two “Sea King” helicopters.

ARA HERCULES redesign, mostly observable in the stern area, make a commando transport out of this ship without affecting its capacities as an escort frigate.