History

The Order of May (Orden de Mayo) was originally established as the Order of May for Merit in 1946. It was founded to commemorate the May Revolution of 1811 that resulted in the establishment of Argentina as an independent republic. The Order was re-established as the Order of May on December 17, 1957 by Juan Perón, and it was modified on April 10, 1958.

The Order of May is conferred upon foreign citizens and military personnel in recognition of a variety of meritorious contributions to Argentina.

The Order is classified into four types that are based on the kind of service rendered by the recipient. Type I includes the original Order of May for Merit and all subsequent awards for civil merit. Type II includes the Order of May for Military Merit, while Type III includes the Order of May for Naval Merit, and Type IV includes the Order of May for Aeronautical Merit.

In Type III, the Order of May for Naval Merit was instituted on December 17, 1957 and it is conferred upon Argentinian and foreign military personnel in recognition of meritorious service to the Argentinian Navy.

The Grand Cross of the Order for Naval Merit is called Gran Almirante Guillermo Brown, in honor of the Admiral William Brown who founded the Argentinian navy in 1810, and who led the new navy in several battles during the Argentina's Independence War. His last name is written on the obverse of the star.

The Order features an obverse inscription that translates to "To Naval Merit" and a reverse inscription that translates to “Republic of Argentina, Navy War.”

The Officer consists on the breast star wearing at the left side on the chest.