ARA Heroína (pennant number D-12) was the third ship of the MEKO 360H2 series of four destroyers built for the Argentine Navy.

The Argentine Navy has struggled to meet maintenance and training requirements because of financial problems and import restrictions.

In the early 2010s it was reported that the Almirante Brown class were short of spares, suffering engine problems and ordnance, at that time, was past its expiry date.

[3] Heroína and her sister ships were authorized under the Naval Construction National Plan of 1974, an initiative by the Argentine Navy to replace old World War II-vintage warships which were nearing the end of their operational lives.

A contract was signed with the Blohm + Voss Shipyards in Hamburg, West Germany for the construction of four MEKO 360H2 destroyers.