Argentine Navy pulls 1982 War sloop from auction for scraps
Argentina’s Defense Ministry recently announced the decision to withdraw the decommissioned sloop ARA Alférez Sobral from an upcoming auction for scrap metal due to its historical significance in the 1982 South Atlantic conflict over the Falkland Islands. The vessel is now planned to be transformed into a museum, a move approved by Minister Luis Petri.
The auction, which includes four units, will proceed as scheduled on Sept. 13 at the Mar del Plata Naval Base. The Argentine Navy set a minimum price of AR$ 14.2 million for the Alférez Sobral. The other three ships will be sold for scraps, while the Sobral will be awarded to the highest bidder for museum development.
Interested institutions or individuals have until Dec. 16 to submit proposals for the museum project. The ship, originally commissioned in 1944 in the United States, served in the Pacific before joining the Argentine Navy in 1972. Named after Ensign José María Sobral, the vessel played a crucial role in the 1982 conflict, resulting in the death of its captain and crew members.