Ship Disembarkation Dock

Candido de Lasala Q 43

Candido de Lasala Official of the Royal Spanish Navy and an outstanding fighter during the English Invasions. He's considered the forefather of the Argentine Marine Corps (DEHN).

The ship began its illustrious career in 1943 as the USS Gunston Hall LSD 5. In 1970 she was retired from the active American fleet and transferred to the Republic of Argentina. Re-commissioned as the ARA Candido de Lasala Q-43 in May 1970 the ship served in the Argentine Navy for ten years. Decommissioned for the last time in 1981, she was sold to a private contractor and scrapped.

LSD-5 in 1950, Korean War (USN/Col. Santiago L. Aversa)

Aerial View of the Q-43(ARA via Jorge FN Padín)

In 2003, Guillermo Bovone contacted GHRA after he had visited our website. He had served on ARA Candido de Lasala while a young man in the Argentine Navy. There is a story of his experiences on the ship in the Winter 2003-04 newsletter. The photo is of Guillermo on a 40mm anti-aircraft gun.

Stern view of the ARA Q-43. Ushuahia, circa 1980, with a TNC-45 FAC loaded in the Dock (Andrés Nobile)

The Q-43 in Ushuahia, circa 1980 (Andrés Nobile)

Technical Data: Weapons: Two quadruple Bofors mounts, 40mm/60; and two double mounts (samecaliber), controlled by FCS Mk 51. Ten Browning M2HB machine guns, Cal.12,7x99 mm NATO Data of the Ship: Length:138,64 m; Width: 22,35 m; Draught: 5,39 ms; Displacement: 9,375 tn.; Speed: 15 Kts; Operational range: 8000NM @ 8Kts Crew: 250 men plus marines Dock Capacity: Two LCM3; Two LCM6 and eight LCIL

Detail of the deck and dock of the Q-43. (Andrés Nobile)

Commanding Officers of Q 43 Candido de Lasala

From	To	Rank	Name
25 March 1970	09 March 1971	Commander	Luis E. Badaroux
09 March 1971	14 December 1971	Commander	Ruben J. Chamarro
14 December 1971	15 February 1973	Commander	Alberto O. Casellas
15 February 1973	21 February 1974	Commander	Hector A. Terranova
21 February 1974	19 March 1975	Commander	Enrique F. Donadini
19 March 1975	11 June 1975	Commander	Raul Sotelo
11 June 1975	02 February 1976	Commander	Salvio O. Menendez
02 February 1976	19 July 1976	Commander	Hugo Piantanida
19 July 1976	28 December 1976	Commander	Gustavo Grunschlager
28 December 1976	06 July 1977	Commander	Pedro La Plaza
06 July 1977	06 January 1978	Commander	Mario H.A. Brusk
06 January 1978	13 February 1979	Commander	Carlos E. Rucci
13 February 1979	30 January 1980	Commander	Emilio A. Bianchi
30 January 1980	14 April 1981	Commander	Oscar R. Padilla

SOURCES:
Rear Admiral Horacio Rodriguez (ret)
     Ships of the Argentine Navy 1970-1996 Its Commands and Operations.
Martín Ignaci Otero, C.P.A. and Santiago L. Aversa, J.D., LL.M.
     Candido de Lasala
Dr. Santiago L. Aversa, Master of Laws
     Historia y Actualidad Naval Argentina
Argentine Naval History and News.
U.S. Navy, Dictionary of Naval American Fighting Ships

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