Rivadavia is the only dreadnought in the South American race built outside a British yard, despite the otherwise good relationship between Britain and Argentina at the time. Its six twin 12-inch turrets include wing positions, so the theoretical twelve-gun broadside is less clean than Wyoming's all-centerline arrangement. Its machinery supports 22.5 knots, about 7,000 nautical miles at 15 knots, or 11,000 nautical miles at 11 knots. The machinery and cruising performance are strong, but the armament layout raises a pointed question: why did a builder capable of a better domestic solution supply a compromised layout abroad?
Chapter · 21:03-23:33
Rivadavia pairs long range with a compromised gun layout
Argentina's Rivadavia class is the South American dreadnought race's sole non-British-built design, combining 22.5-knot speed and long range with a compromised wing-turret layout.