ARA Los Andes was one of two El Plata-class monitors built in Britain in the 1870s for the Argentine Navy.

They displaced 1,535–1,677 long tons (1,560–1,704 t), and their crew numbered 120 officers and enlisted men.

[1] The ships had two compound steam engines, each driving one propeller shaft, rated at a total power of 750 indicated horsepower (560 kW).

This gave them a maximum speed of 9–9.5 knots (16.7–17.6 km/h; 10.4–10.9 mph).

They carried 120 long tons (122 t) of coal which gave them a range of approximately 1,400 nautical miles (2,600 km; 1,600 mi).