The ceremony for the last lowering of the national flag on the ship took place last Wednesday in the dock of the Puerto Belgrano Naval Base (BNPB), in the town of Punta Alta, in the province of Buenos Aires.
It was out of service after 48 years of sailing in Argentine waters, having even participated in the war in the South Atlantic , defending Argentine sovereignty against the colonial forces of Great Britain.
The protocol event and farewell to the destroyer was led by the naval authorities . In his speech, the second Commander, Lieutenant Commander Sergio Daniel Podoba , highlighted that the national flag flew for the first time on the ship on May 10, 1976 . “Today, we can undoubtedly attest that he has filled us with glorious days and has fulfilled his duty,” said Podoba .
Additionally, during the event, the words sent by Admiral VGM (RE) Enrique Emilio Molina Pico, who was commander of the unit in the Malvinas War, were read. “Every ship is not a set of systems that remains in balance, in fact it has a spirit, a soul that characterizes it and that is transferred to it by its crew, ” the text stated . Our ship is a special case; "He shaped his character in an extreme situation by intervening in a war campaign of historic status."
Finally, Vice Admiral VGM (RE) Álvaro José Martínez , a member of the crew of the Hércules during the war against the usurpers of the Malvinas Islands, spoke. He stressed that “the ARA Hércules has fulfilled its mission of defending the country and the noblest ideals. “He has written his name with indelible letters in the annals of the Argentine naval achievement.”
“His legacy does not belong to the past. The innovative spirit, unwavering dedication and professionalism that characterized him are the same ones that must guide the path of the new generations of sailors,” concluded the uniformed man.
On the page of the Ministry of Defense of Argentina , it is highlighted that "it entered service on September 19, 1977 and was incorporated into the 1st Destroyer Division as the ARA "Hércules" missile destroyer. When its twin, the ARA "Santísima", was incorporated Trinidad "changed its name to D-1, with which it operated until its conversion to multipurpose fast transport."
