ROU 26 Vanguardia in 2022
History
Urguguay
NameROU 26 Vanguardia
OperatorUruguayan Navy
BuilderGdansk Shipyards
In service1976
Refit1991
HomeportMontevideo
Statusin active service
General characteristics
Class and typePiast class
TypeSalvage and marine rescue
Tonnage1872 tons
Displacement1697 Tn.
Length238.25 ft (72.62 m)
Propulsion2 Diesel Zgoda Sulzer 6TD48 engines, 3,600 shp (2.7 MW)
Speed16.3 knots (30.2 km/h; 18.8 mph)

ROU 26 Vanguardia is a Piast class salvage and marine research vessel in service with the Uruguayan Navy.[1][2] The ship was laid down for the East German Navy in 1976, before being acquired by the German government after the Reunification of Germany. The ship was purchased by the Republic of Uruguay in 1991 and renamed Vanguardia.[1][3]

History

ROU Vanguardia was laid down as a Piast class salvage and rescue vessel (Bergungsschiff) for the East German Navy on 28 December 1976.[1] The ship was built in Gdansk, Poland using designs provided by the Polish Navy. She was commissioned into the Volksmarine as the 570 Otto von Guericke, named for 17th century Prussian scientist Otto von Guericke. Following the 1990 Reunification of German and the dissolution of the National People's Army, the ship was absorbed into the German fleet reserve. The Otto von Guericke was acquired by the Uruguayan Navy in October 1991, refitted and renamed the ROU 26 Vanguardia, and entered Uruguayan service in 1992.[1][3]

Current role

Vanguardia currently serves as marine research and rescue vessel. Much of the vessel's role in the Uruguayan fleet revolves around the transport of supplies and passengers to Antarctica.[1][4][5][2] The ships makes an annual trip to King George Island to deliver supplies.[6] In November 2017 the Vanguardia was deployed as part of the rescue operations following the loss of the submarine ARA San Juan in the South Atlantic.[7][8]

The ship was celebrated for 26 years in Uruguayan service in December 2018.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e ".:Armada Nacional - Marina de Uruguay:". www.armada.mil.uy. Retrieved 2017-12-02.
  2. ^ a b "Uruguayan Naval Vessel 'Vanguardia' Fulfills Mission to Antarctic Base". Dialogo Americas. Retrieved 2017-12-02.
  3. ^ a b "ROU VANGUARDIA 26 - ShipSpotting.com - Ship Photos and Ship Tracker". www.shipspotting.com. Retrieved 2017-12-02.
  4. ^ El buque ROU 26 Vanguardia zarpó desde el Puerto de Montevideo hacia la Antártida Publicado: 11.01.201 URL: https://presidencia.gub.uy/comunicacion/comunicacionnoticias/el-buque-rou-vanguardia-+zarpo-desde-puerto-+montevideo-hacia-+antartida
  5. ^ "ROU 26 "Vanguardia" zarpó hacia la Antártida Así es el calor / Chasque es una iniciativa de Montevideo Portal". www.montevideo.com.uy. Retrieved 2017-12-02.
  6. ^ ""Uruguay's term in the Antarctic continent is a country project" - Uruguay Natural Marca Pais - Sitio Oficial". marcapaisuruguay.gub.uy. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
  7. ^ Defensa.com (2017-11-20). "La Marina de Brasil destaca más buques para la búsqueda del submarino San Juan. Uruguay no pudo enviar el". Defensa.com. Retrieved 2017-12-02.
  8. ^ "La Armada Española le ofreció a la Argentina equipamiento para el rescate del submarino ARA San Juan". Infobae (in Spanish). Retrieved 2017-12-02.
  9. ^ Marítima, Uruguay Visión (2018-12-20). "El ROU 26 "Vanguardia" celebra sus 27 años". Uruguay Visión Marítima (in Spanish). Retrieved 2019-07-20.
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