ARA Veinticinco De Mayo (CV-1928 (1938-mod))
The Veinticinco De Mayo started out life as the Germanic States liner Columbus. Launched in 1913 the ship was still fitting out at the start of WW1 and so the ship was accorded low priority and not completed till after the war. The ship was part of the Allied War Reparations Committees list of ships for sale and the Argentinians purchased the ship in 1921. Re-christened Veinticinco De Mayo, the ships conversion to an Aircraft Carrier was undertaken by the Blohm and Voss Shipyard at Hamburg, the ship being towed there from Danzig. Work proceeded slowly and various features were added and subtracted as news of other countries travails with aircraft carriers percolated through to the Germanic States shipyard.
The basic hull was kept with the long line of portholes showing the ships
civilian beginnings. A large 650 foot by 17 foot high hangar area was fitted
directly over the maindeck of the liner. All previous superstructure above that
point being removed. The engines were removed and replaced by a new
propulsion unit of greater power to increase the speed from 18 to 25 knots. The
engines came from two of the uncompleted light cruisers in German yards at the
end of WW1. Once completed the first trip to Argentina the ship was full of
German navy and shipyard workers who had taken up Argentina's offer of guaranteed
employment in the Argentinian Navy.
As completed:
| Displacement | 30,500 tons std, 34,800 full load |
| Length | 775 ft (hull) 780 ft flight deck |
| Breadth | 83 ft (hull) 99 ft flight deck |
| Draught | 32.5 ft |
| Machinery | 2 shaft Steam Turbines 70,000shp |
| Speed | 25 knots |
| Range | 7400 miles at 18 knots |
| Armour | over magazines only |
| Armament | 5 x 88mm AA (5x1) 14 x 37mm (7x2) 8 x 20mm (8x1) |
| Aircraft | 36 |
| Torpedoes | nil |
| Complement | 1550 |
| Notes |
The ship went through various refits through to 1939 for an upgrade of AA weaponry, catapults to be fitted, enclosed bow, and other modifications to be made. The old single 88mm being replaced with the new twin 88mm L56 turrets. At this point the aircraft aboard were the JU-87C (dive-bomber) and JU-87E (torpedo bomber), with the He-112B as the fighter.
As refitted through to 1939:
| Displacement | 30,500 tons std, 34,800 full load |
| Length | 775 ft (hull) 794 ft flight deck |
| Breadth | 83 ft (hull) 102 ft flight deck |
| Draught | 32.5 ft |
| Machinery | 2 shaft Steam Turbines 70,000shp |
| Speed | 25 knots |
| Range | 7400 miles at 18 knots |
| Armour | over magazines only |
| Armament | 8 x 88mm AA (4x2) 20 x 37mm (10x2) 22 x 20mm (4x4, 6x1) |
| Aircraft | 40 |
| Torpedoes | nil |
| Complement | 1640 |
| Notes |
Navalised JU-87-C that made up the bulk of the attack aircraft. The HE-112B
providing the fighter element.
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SS Columbus under construction at Danzig 1913.
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