On the morning of 22 May 1982, ”Río Iguazú” was transporting two [[OTO Melara Mod 56]] 105 mm pack [[howitzer]]s from Stanley to Darwin. The vessel was attacked in [[Choiseul Sound]] by two [[British Aerospace Sea Harrier|Sea Harriers]] of [[800 NAS]], flown by Lieutenant Commander Rod ‘Fred’ Frederickson in XZ460 and Lieutenant Mike Hale in XZ499. Hale attacked the vessel with his twin [[ADEN cannon|30 mm cannon]], while Frederickson provided top cover.<ref name=”Pook2006″/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aposmalvinas.com.ar/hist004.htm#GCS |title=Argentine account of the Sea Harrier strike |website=Aposmalvinas.com.ar |access-date=29 August 2025}}</ref>
On the morning of 22 May 1982, ”Río Iguazú” was transporting two [[OTO Melara Mod 56]] 105 mm pack [[howitzer]]s from Stanley to Darwin. The vessel was attacked in [[Choiseul Sound]] by two [[British Aerospace Sea Harrier|Sea Harriers]] of [[800 NAS]], flown by Lieutenant Commander Rod ‘Fred’ Frederickson in XZ460 and Lieutenant Mike Hale in XZ499. Hale attacked the vessel with his twin [[ADEN cannon|30 mm cannon]], while Frederickson provided top cover.<ref name=”Pook2006″/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aposmalvinas.com.ar/hist004.htm#GCS |title=Argentine account of the Sea Harrier strike |website=Aposmalvinas.com.ar |access-date=29 August 2025}}</ref>
{{ill|Julio Omar Benítez|es|Julio Omar Benítez}}, a PNA [[Petty officer second class|second-class petty officer]] manning one of the vessel’s Browning machine guns, was killed, three others were wounded and the ”Río Iguazú” was intentionally beached in Button Bay. The survivors removed the ship’s [[Icon|image]] of the [[Our Lady, Star of the Sea|Stella Maris]] to prevent desecration by British forces and were evacuated by [[Argentine Air Force]] helicopters to Darwin. Benítez was [[military honours|buried with military honours]] on 24 May and later reinterred at the [[Argentine Military Cemetery]]; Benítez would be posthumously promoted to [[Petty officer first class|first-class petty officer]] and was awarded the ”{{ill|Medalla al Muerto en Combate|es|Medalla al Muerto en Combate}}” (“Medal for Death in Combat”).<ref name=”apos”/> The two howitzers were salvaged and used in the defence of Darwin before being captured by British forces.
{{ill|Julio Omar Benítez|es|Julio Omar Benítez}}, a PNA [[Petty officer second class|second-class petty officer]] manning one of the vessel’s Browning machine guns, was killed, three others were wounded and the ”Río Iguazú” was intentionally beached in Button Bay. The survivors removed the ship’s [[Icon|image]] of the [[Our Lady, Star of the Sea|Stella Maris]] to prevent desecration by British forces and were evacuated by [[Argentine Air Force]] helicopters to Darwin. Benítez was [[military honours|buried with military honours]] on 24 May and later reinterred at the [[Argentine Military Cemetery]]; Benítez would be posthumously promoted to [[Petty officer first class|first-class petty officer]] and was awarded the ”{{ill|Medalla al Muerto en Combate|es|Medalla al Muerto en Combate}}” (“Medal for Death in Combat”).<ref name=”apos”/> The two howitzers were salvaged and used in the defence of Darwin before being captured by British forces.
Argentine claims of a Sea Harrier being shot down in the engagement are not substantiated by British records.<ref name=”RioIguazu”/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.naval-history.net/F63-Falklands-British_aircraft_lost.htm |title=British aircraft lost 21 April – 12 June 1982 |website=Naval-History.net |access-date=19 August 2025}}</ref>
Argentine claims of a Sea Harrier being shot down in the engagement are not substantiated by British records.<ref name=”RioIguazu”/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.naval-history.net/F63-Falklands-British_aircraft_lost.htm |title=British aircraft lost 21 April – 12 June 1982 |website=Naval-History.net |access-date=19 August 2025}}</ref>
Argentine patrol boat
_Federacion.JPG)
Replica of the patrol boat Río Iguazú (GC-83) in Federación, Entre Ríos, Argentina |
|
| History | |
|---|---|
 Argentina |
|
| Name | PNA Río Iguazú (GC-83) |
| Namesake | Iguazú River |
| Launched | 1978 |
| Commissioned | 4 July 1980 |
| Fate | Beached and abandoned in the Falkland Islands on 22 May 1982 |
| General characteristics [1] | |
| Displacement | 81 tonnes (80 long tons) |
| Length | 28 m (91 ft 10 in) |
| Beam | 5.3 m (17 ft 5 in) |
| Draught | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) |
| Propulsion | 2 MTU diesel engines, 785 kW (1,053 hp) |
| Speed | 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph) – 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph) |
| Range | 1,200 nmi (2,200 km; 1,400 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
| Complement | 15–23 |
| Armament | 2 × M2 Browning machine guns |
The PNA Río Iguazú (GC-83) was a patrol boat of the Prefectura Naval Argentina (PNA; “Argentine Naval Prefecture,” the de facto Argentine coast guard), launched in 1978 and commissioned in 1980.[2] Built by Blohm+Voss, she undertook routine patrols in southern waters before her deployment in the 1982 Falklands War, alongside her sister ship Islas Malvinas (GC-82).
On 22 May 1982, Río Iguazú was attacked by Sea Harriers while carrying two OTO Melara Mod 56 howitzers. One crewman was killed, three wounded, and the ship was badly damaged before being deliberately beached in Button Bay. Later refloated, her cargo was used in the defence of Darwin at the Battle of Goose Green.[3]
History
In 1979 the Argentine Navy purchased 20, Z-28-class patrol boats under contract with Blohm+Voss of Hamburg, West Germany, at a cost of US$1.6 million each. Names, pennant numbers, and stations were assigned to all the vessels. GC-83 was named Río Iguazú and assigned to the PNA in Buenos Aires and commissioned on 4 July 1980.[4] She initially patrolled the Paraná River, Uruguay River, and Río de la Plata.[4]
Falklands War
Following the invasion of the Falkland Islands on 2 April 1982, Río Iguazú and her sister ship Islas Malvinas sailed from Puerto Nuevo, Buenos Aires, on 6 April.[5] They stopped at Puerto Madryn and Puerto Deseado to take on fuel and supplies before sailing the 1,100 kilometres (590 nmi) south to Port Stanley, arriving on 13 April. The voyage was undertaken in conditions for which they were not designed, operating at the limit of their endurance.[6]
On arrival in the Falklands they were repainted from white to a brown and green disruptive camouflage scheme, armed with two .50 BMG heavy machine guns and employed on patrol duties, guarding the approaches to Stanley and transport missions.[7]
Attack
On the morning of 22 May 1982, Río Iguazú was transporting two OTO Melara Mod 56 105 mm pack howitzers from Stanley to Darwin. The vessel was attacked in Choiseul Sound by two Sea Harriers of 800 NAS, flown by Lieutenant Commander Rod ‘Fred’ Frederickson in XZ460 and Lieutenant Mike Hale in XZ499. Hale attacked the vessel with his twin 30 mm cannon, while Frederickson provided top cover.[3][8]
Julio Omar Benítez, a PNA second-class petty officer manning one of the vessel’s Browning machine guns, was killed, three others were wounded and the Río Iguazú was intentionally beached in Button Bay. The survivors removed the ship’s image of the Stella Maris to prevent desecration by British forces and were evacuated by Argentine Air Force helicopters to Darwin. Benítez was buried with military honours on 24 May and later reinterred at the Argentine Military Cemetery; Benítez would be posthumously promoted to first-class petty officer and was awarded the Medalla al Muerto en Combate (“Medal for Death in Combat”).[6] The two howitzers were salvaged and used in the defence of Darwin before being captured by British forces.
Argentine claims of a Sea Harrier being shot down in the engagement are not substantiated by British records.[7][9]
Final strike and disposal
On 13 June 1982, a Lynx helicopter from HMS Penelope launched a Sea Skua anti-ship missile against the stranded Río Iguazú, causing further damage. The attack formed part of the final phase of neutralising any remaining Argentine threats.[10]
After the conflict, the wreck was towed to Darwin, salvaged for spares to support her sister ship Islas Malvinas, and scrapped.[11][12]
Decorations and honours
- On 22 May 1982, Julio Omar Benítez was posthumously promoted to Petty Officer First Class and awarded the Medal for the Fallen in Combat
- Crew members Baccaro and Bengochea received the Medal for the Wounded in Combat and Ibáñez received the Cross of Heroic Valour in Combat[13]
- In 1997, the Prefectura Naval awarded Río Iguazú the “Prefecture in the Falklands” decoration
Memorials
- A monument depicting Río Iguazú was erected in Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires[14]
- A replica of the patrol boat stands in Federación, Entre Ríos, honouring the Argentine dead of the Falklands War[15][16]
- A monument was inaugurated in Los Antiguos, Santa Cruz Province, on 22 May 2010
- In Caleta Olivia, a symbolic representation of Río Iguazú honours the Prefectura’s role in the war
- A replica is exhibited on the Puerto Deseado waterfront
