La Plata-class destroyer

In 1910, Argentina ordered a dozen torpedo boat destroyers in response to a major expansion of the Brazilian Navy. As the nation lacked a major shipbuilding industry, it ordered the ships from experienced foreign shipyards in Europe.^{[1]: 400, 402 [2]: 14} All twelve featured a similar design and identical armament.^[3]: 42 The four destroyers built in France were requisitioned by the French Navy start of World War I and operated as the Aventurier class, and the four built in the United Kingdom were purchased by the Greek Navy in 1912 as the and served as the Aetos class. Only the four built in Germany reached Argentina, with the order equally split between two shipyards. Those ordered from Schichau-Werke in Elbing were named La Plata and Cordoba. The two destroyers had an overall length of 295 feet 3 inches (90.0 m) with a beam of 29 feet 6 inches (9.0 m) and a maximum draught of 16 feet 5 inches (5.0 m). They displaced 875 long tons (889 t) at normal load and 1,368 long tons (1,390 t) at full load and carried a complement of 150. Propulsion was provided by two propellers powered by Curtis AEG steam turbines supplied by five Schulz-Thornycroft boilers, which produced 28,000 shaft horsepower (21,000 kW) and a maximum speed of 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph). The destroyers carried 290 long tons (295 t) of coal and 50 long tons (51 t) of fuel oil, which enabled a range of 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). Armament consisted of four 102 mm (4.0 in) caliber main guns, two 37 mm (1.5 in) anti-aircraft guns, and four 533 mm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes. The design featured three funnels and cost £124,360.^[1]: 402

Both ships were completed in 1912. During the speed trials, La Plata reached 36.8 knots (68.2 km/h; 42.3 mph) and Cordoba 34.7 knots (64.3 km/h; 39.9 mph).^[1]: 402 As World War I disrupted the Navy's ability to procure warships in Europe, the La Plata-class made up half the Argentine destroyer fleet until 1927.^[2]: 14 By the mid 1950s, the Navy acquired American destroyers built during World War II, and the duo were decommissioned by 1957.^{[1]: 402 [2]: 14}