Operativo Alfil
Operation Bishop was the Argentine contribution to the coalition forces from around 42 nations led by the United States in the Gulf War against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait. Overall the contributions composed of four military vessels and two helicopters.
Operation Alfil led to Argentina being designated a major non-NATO ally of the United States by President Bill Clinton in 1998.
The contributions were organized into two task groups—Task Group 88.0 and Task Group 88.1—each with two vessels with first Task Group 88.0 sent in September 1990 to then be relieved by Task Group 88.1 by February 1991. The task groups comprised the following:
Task Group 88.0
- MEKO 360H2 type Almirante Brown-class destroyer
- MEKO 140A16 type Espora-class corvette
- 2 x Aérospatiale SA 316B Alouette III helicopters
- MEKO 140A16 type Espora-class corvette
- Costa Sur-class amphibious cargo ship