ARA Almirante Domecq Garcia (D23)
# ARA Almirante Domecq Garcia (D23)

ARA Almirante Domecq Garcia (D23) was a Fletcher-class destroyer which served with the Argentine Navy from 1971 to 1983.

Almirante Domecq Garcia was acquired from the United States Navy, with which she had served as USS Braine (DD-630) (DD-630). She was commissioned on 11 May 1943, in Bath, Maine, sponsored by Mrs Daniel L. Braine, wife of the grandson of the ship′s namesake, Rear Admiral Daniel L. Braine Braine (1829-1898), a veteran of the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War. While in service with the U.S Navy, Braine participated in many famous campaigns in the Pacific War during World War II, and also had a distinguished role during the Cold War.

The Argentine Navy took possession of Braine on 17 August 1971 and renamed her Almirante Domecq Garcia, after Admiral Manuel Domecq Garcia (1859–1951), one of the founders of the modern Argentine Navy. The ship was commissioned at Treasure Island in San Francisco, California, in a ceremony attended by Admiral Garcia's daughter, Mrs. Eugenia Domecq Garcia de Forn. Commander Mario Eduardo Olmas assumed command and raised the flag of Argentina. USS Cowell (DD-547), also a Fletcher-class destroyer, was also acquired by Argentina in 1971 and renamed ARA Almirante Storni (D-24). Argentina had already acquired three destroyers of the Fletcher class in 1962: USS Stembel (DD-644), USS Dortch (DD-670), and USS Heermann (DD-532).

After minor repairs, Almirante Domecq Garcia (D-23) left California in October 1971, reaching El Callao, Argentina, in November. She arrived at the Naval Base of Puerto Belgrano and joined the fleet on 21 November 1971.

In 1975, Almirante Domecq Garcia observed the British Royal Research Ship RRS Shackleton conducting oceanographic investigations in waters claimed by Argentina. In 1976, Almirante Domecq Garcia operated in joint exercises with the Brazilian ships Pernambuco and Maranhao. She participated in the international exercise UNITAS XVII in 1976, with the Uruguayan Navy in the exercises CORMORAN IV and VI in 1977 and 1978 respectively, and in the internaational exercise UNITAS XXI in 1980. During the Falklands War in 1982, she operated near Bahia Blanca as a radar picket ship to provide early warning of British air attacks. She also fulfilled functions related to the control of Argentine waters, looking for fishing ships operating illegally in waters claimed by Argentina.

On 30 November 1982 Almirante Domecq Garcia′s flag was lowered. She had steamed 123,000 nautical miles (228,000 km; 142,000 mi) under the flag of Argentina. She was sunk as a target on 7 October 1983 off Mar del Plata by the combined action of an Exocet MM38 antiship missile launched by the corvette ARA Drummond and a torpedo fired by the submarine ARA San Luis. Her wreck lies at 39°57′S 057°57′W﻿ / ﻿39.950°S 57.950°W﻿ / -39.950; -57.950﻿ (ARA Almirante Domecq Garcia (D23)).

The logbook of the Argentine Navy patrol vessel ARA Francisco de Gurruchaga offers a different account of the fate of Almirante Domecq Garcia. It states that on 16 November 1986 Francisco de Gurruchaga towed Almirante Domerq Garcia to the position 39°57′S 057°56′W﻿ / ﻿39.950°S 57.933°W﻿ / -39.950; -57.933 and stopped her engines at 17:30 with Francisco de Gurruchaga 1 nautical mile (1.9 km; 1.2 mi) from Almirante Domerq Garcia. At 19:04, Francisco de Gurruchaga lost contact with Almirante Domerq Garcia, indicating Almirante Domerq Garcia had sunk.

