Currently, Argentina has one aircraft carrier that has not moved since 1985 and 13 major seaworthy surface vessels. There are six destroyers, two Hercules-class (RN Type 42) commissioned in 1976 and 1981, and four Almirante Brown (German MEKO 360) destroyers, all commissioned between 1983 and 1984. The remaining seven ships are four Espora (German MEKO 140) commissioned between 1985 and 1990, and three Drummond (French D'Estienne d'Orves class) 1,250 tonne frigates, once intended for the South African Navy but purchased instead by Argentina and commissioned in the late 1970s. It is unlikely Argentina will be in the market for further surface ships for some time.

Argentina operates submarines. Two are Santa Cruz (German TR-1700) class boats commissioned in 1984-5, and a further three that were to have been built with German help laid down but still only partially completed. There are also two Salta-class boats (German T-209-1200) commissioned in 1974, but one is in refit with little evidence of the work being completed for want of funds. Although Argentina possesses a naval air arm equipped with a squadron of Super Etendard that trains on the Brazilian carrier Minas Gerais, budgetary considerations determine that this is likely to be the last naval combat aircraft for a long time.

Adjacent to Argentina and to the north is Uruguay. On a small defence budget of $323m, Uruguay likewise has a small navy of some 5,000 personnel. There is no submarine capability but it operates three frigates of the General Artigas class (ex-French Navy Cdt Rivere class) commissioned in the early 1960s and recommissioned into the Uruguayan Navy between 1989 and 1991. The emphasis is almost wholly on coastal defence, sharing as it does a common sea area with Argentina.

Brazil is unquestionably the largest and most modern naval power in the region with an establishment three and a half times that of Argentina and twice that of Chile. Brazil is equipped with a carrier, the 53-year-old Minas Gerais, (ex-RN Colossus-class), and six submarines (three Humanita (ex-RN Oberon) commissioned in 1977, and three Tupi (German T-209-1400) commissioned between 1989-96. Its surface fleet comprises 18 frigates, four Greenhaigh (ex-RN Type 22 Batch 1), four Para (ex-USN Garcia), two Constitucao, four Niteroi (Vosper Mark 10) and four Inhumana, all commissioned or recommissioned between the late 1970s and the early 1990s. There's also a fleet of 31 inshore and offshore patrol craft, six mine countermeasure vessels and four amphibious ships.

Peru is Chile's main concern, not because there is an outstanding border dispute between them, but because the naval balance-of-power mentality prevailing on the sub-continent has been upset by Peru's recent heavy investment in new German submarines. Nevertheless Peru has a small defence budget that amounts to just $838m, of which the navy has the minor share. Yet Peru is able to sustain a navy of 25,000 and operate eight submarines and seven major surface vessels. The eight relatively new submarines give Peru the equal largest submarine force in south America; six of them are the reliable, but not spectacular, German-built T-209-1200 SSK Casma-class boats commissioned between 1975 and 1983; the other two are very old Abato-class boats acquired from the US in 1954. However, this is a force that has given neighbouring navies something of a headache.

The also-rans
Peru's surface ships comprise two very old 12,000-tonne cruisers, both former Dutch de Ruyter-class vessels that were laid down before World War II and commissioned in 1953, one ex-RN Daring-class destroyer of 1940s vintage, the Ferre, four 1950s vintage ex-Netherlands Friesland-class frigates, and four Italian-built modified Lupo-class frigates commissioned between 1979-87.

These ships are supported by six Velarde- class (French PR-72) 560-tonne missile patrol craft equipped with ubiquitous Exocet anti-ship missiles. But the overall age of the surface fleet should give the Peruvian Navy some cause for concern. Ecuador's investment in its navy is minimal. With an establishment of just 4,100 personnel, two submarines (German T-209-1300) commissioned in 1977-8, two frigates, (ex-RN Leander Batch 2 acquired in 1991) six Italian-built Esmeralda-class corvettes (650 tonnes) commissioned in the 1980s, and six German-built, 45-metre missile-attack craft, it can assume an effective coastal defensive posture, but not much else.

Colombia, like most of Latin America, operates German T-209-1200 submarines, of which it has two commissioned in 1975 and four German Almirante Padilla class FS-1500 frigates commissioned in the mid-80s. The Colombian navy's main emphasis is on coastal, inshore and river patrol for which it has over 100 craft of varying types and sizes.

Venezuela has an establishment of 15,000, or whom a quarter are conscripts. The Venezuelan Navy mirrors that of Ecuador in its inventory. It operates two German T-209-1300 submarines (the Sabalo class) commissioned in 1976-77 and Italian Lupo class frigates, of which it has six, commissioned between 1980 and 1982. These are supported by six Constitucion-class coastal fast-patrol vessels. In conclusion the navies of Latin America are obsolescent when compared with those of Europe, the Far East and north America. But, the South American states have demonstrated that they are innovative and determined.

But second-hand equipment, however well maintained, and the Chileans especially are good at it, cannot last for ever. Funding and resources also stand in the way of establishing an indigenous ship-building and systems-integration capability, even though many have flirted with the idea.

If economic growth and progress continues, defence budgets should expand proportionately and most likely to the benefit of navies over armies and air forces. This is for the simple reason that the need for internal military political control has gone because all south American countries now have democratic systems, and the focus increasingly is towards protection of the sea lines of communication, trade and protection of each state's exclusive exploitation zone.