The real cause of the Nose Patches on VAO 17
Zona Militar is the most important military forum in Argentina, where many veterans, researchers and personnel in service of Argentine military share their knowledge with enthusiasts from al Latin America. I've published in Spanish most of my findings in this thread, and a few days ago I was surprised to see that an Argentine Navy officer that was in charge of the Amtrack Battallion stated the real cause of the damage on VAO 17's nose. This officer is Retired Ship Captain of Marine Infantry Armando Vittorangelli, and he commented about this picture published by Ricky Phillips in his Twitter account. Here's his declaration:
Click on pictures to enlarge
"I was VAO Company Chief for 3 years, Second Commander of the Amphibious Vehicle Battalion for 2 years, Commander for one year and Head of the Project that repowered them for 8 years. In fact, I had to have VAO 17 prepared and sent to Necochea when I was Second Commander. That vehicle did not go to Malvinas [Falklands]. The weld marks seen on the bow, where it says Patch, are repairs for holes that were made when hitting against the BDT San Antonio bow door and that damaged the bow buoyant, during maneuvers to enter through the ramp at sea. These entries were difficult and dangerous, especially when there was a lateral current component towards the bow (when anchored with bow anchor), or the ship anchored with elbow anchor (stern) swinging very strongly. Several hulls have it. Where it says No Sight, goes the episcope of the Embarked Scoutmaster, the vehicle went with it [to Quequén Monument], today it must be part of the collection of some thief who took it out of the vehicle (it is very easy to remove). The vehicle hit in Malvinas [Falklands] was the 07, which received 107 (if I remember correctly) 7.62 mm impacts, but none pierced the hull. Regarding the fire on the vehicles on April 2, none were hit by anti-tank weapons, confirmed in the conference given by CN Santillan on April 7 at the Argentine Defense Forum. In fact the part that is shown in the photo [the light cluster] I don't know what it is, but it is not from an LVTP7, because that part is made of steel and the vehicle is made of aluminum. What he [Phillips] says about the amphibious vehicle is pure fantasy.
Neither do I [remember when the collision happened], but it was common, almost everyone had hit it at some point. I think that in #17, one [hit] was when I was Head of the Company"
A collision with ARA Cabo San Antonio's ramp was the main hypothesis to explain the patch, but it seems that it was actually one of the bow doors. Vittorangelli's deposition brings a confirmation that VAO 17's damage is not the product of a hit during combat, but the result of the complicated maneuver to embark through that narrow ramp during an exercise.
