MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Time and oxygen running out for Argentine missing submarine in the South Atlantic
Ships and planes combed a wider area of the stormy South Atlantic on Tuesday in a fruitless hunt for signs of a missing Argentine submarine, adding to growing concerns about the vessel not heard from in six days. Argentine navy officials have worried that if the ARA San Juan was intact but disabled underwater, its crew of 44 might have only enough oxygen to last seven days. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesI really hope this is for real, time is running out.
Nov 22nd, 2017 - 09:47 am - Link - Report abuse 0https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/4970759/missing-argentine-submarine-found/
Yeah I read it had been located by the U.S. Navy. Let's hope this disaster has a happy ending.
Nov 22nd, 2017 - 10:02 am - Link - Report abuse 0A life raft was found and it did come from the submarine and probably fell off another vessel, Argentina, it DID or it DIDN'T. Do they not understand what they are saying or is it in the translation?
Nov 22nd, 2017 - 11:35 am - Link - Report abuse 0Have they tried the sofa? When I lose something it's invariably found down the back there somewhere.
Nov 22nd, 2017 - 12:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Life raft was nothing to do with the submarine. Reports of flares... nothing to do with the submarine. Undersea noises, nothing to do with the submarine. No thermal image of the submarine, as rumours had suggested (you actually read the Daily Mail??) . Satellite phone calls, nothing to do with the submarine. As of this noon 22 Nov the argie navy is saying they have absolutely no sign of the submarine.( “No tenemos ningún rastro del submarino”). Nothing behind the sofa. Not looking good.
Nov 22nd, 2017 - 03:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0But more details being related to argie media for today. Supposedly the electrical problem last Wednesday resulted from trying to use the snorkel and water was getting inside the boat. According to what is being published, that problem was reported repaired.
The government is refusing to publicly release a list of those aboard the boat.
Sadly it's lost. A sub that's completely missing for this long can only be in one place.
Nov 22nd, 2017 - 03:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0It would be quite understanding if the argentine navy were currently hiding pieces of information to let them (including the international team) work freely and without mass media and political pressure.
Nov 22nd, 2017 - 04:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0In addition, submarines are ALWAYS part of hidden missions so not releasing the names of the crew is something reasonable too.
Once, must admit that (as it was during the war in 1982) conventional submarines keep on being a head ache. With all the information available, in a large but limited area the top ranked navies, using the “state of the art” equipment, cannot localize it. Germans did an excellent job again.
Anyway, listening the Argentine Navy spokesman last conference (“We have no idea about its whereabout”) is quite unacceptable. Heads “will be cut” pretty soon in the navy....
@pgerman. They have been giving false information to the press which is worse. What political pressure? All countries are prepared to help and many are. I don't agree with your reason for not releasing names as everyone seems to know the name of the woman on board. Why would that be common knowledge if she was part of a 'secret mission'. If, however, they were not releasing the names until they had contacted all of the crew's families that would be understandable.
Nov 22nd, 2017 - 04:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@Elaine
Nov 22nd, 2017 - 04:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0There are plenty of politicians (from the opposition) that wants to blame the government for this accident. The government, of course, has it responsibility, but they want to directly harm M. Macri and he will try to avoid that.
Remember that a couple of “leftists” politicians criticize the british assistance in the mass media. A couple of nationalist journalist did the same.
Releasing the name of a woman “on board” might be part of the institution, the Navy, will. Her mane was known before this accident. She appeared in the media in an interview and to give an interview she had to get the “green light” from the Navy.
Submarines are ALWAYS in hidden missions. Otherwise navies send surface regular ships.
“Submarines are ALWAYS in hidden missions. Otherwise navies send surface regular ships.” No you dimwit! The submarine was involved in a sea trial. The admiralty should have known the exact movements of the vessel.
Nov 22nd, 2017 - 05:15 pm - Link - Report abuse +2The blame for this disaster lies in the hands of CFK and her band of kleptomaniac thugs. Macri unfortunately now has it in his lap.
Argentine television has been interviewing several crew family members showing pictures and showing pictures of many of the crew, so it's not much of a secret is it?
@pgerman
Nov 22nd, 2017 - 05:32 pm - Link - Report abuse +2I am certain the opposition politicians, the families of the crew, large sections of the general public and the press will want to place blame. However that is no reason to withhold information during a rescue mission.
I honestly think you are making things up because you are contradicting yourself. If they can release the name of one crew member and she can be interviewed about it by the press I hardly think she was on some secret mission.
@ Chicureo
Yes, the Navy was terribly underfunded during the Kirchner period. I imagine it would take more than a decade to make up for the calculated neglect.
Elaine
Nov 22nd, 2017 - 06:08 pm - Link - Report abuse +1I completely agree. It was not only the underfunding, but wholesale plunder of what was left over as well. Chile and Peru yearly receives strict certification for their German manufactured submarines, where Argentina has elected to do it themselves. Chile's two other European submarines also are certified by their manufacturer as well. ...Lo barato cuesta caro...
@ElaineB
Nov 22nd, 2017 - 06:26 pm - Link - Report abuse -1Any submarine mission is a hidden one. Otherwise, the navies send surface ships that are more efficient to sail and of lower operational costs. Submarines are sent EVERY time you don't want to be seen. ALWAYS.
I have never mentioned “secret” missions. I mentioned “hidden” missions.
The female sailor that was interviewed by the local media had, no doubt about this, the green light of the Navy otherwise she would be out of the force. (This is applicable to all armed forces all around the World).
Most probably she was allowed, or even encouraged, by her authorities (or the government) to be interviewed trying to promote the presence of women in the Navy.
I do agree with you about the essence of peronists governments and politicians.
Pageboy
Nov 22nd, 2017 - 06:47 pm - Link - Report abuse +1The submarine mission in question was described by the armada as a sea trial. We sea salts understand that terminology as NOT being a “hidden one.” Course, heading and location should have been available from the admiralty.
Your ”hidden” mission seems clearly apparent to defend Perónist CFK's disastrous submarine policy of modifying the submarine without the manufacture's approval.
@Chicureo
Nov 22nd, 2017 - 07:03 pm - Link - Report abuse -4Even “sea trials” for submarine are “hidden sea trials”. The essence, the nature, of submarines are to be hidden. In trials they learn, and practice, to be hidden and not to be discovered.
If something went wrong not any single navy in the world would inform other than “the sub was in sea trial”. What other excuse would they be able to say to the mass media?
There is a very complete article in an australian news about the ARA San Juan mentioning, or questioning, the presence of the submarine that far from the shore. Too far for being a “trial mission”. You can read it.
At this point I even doubt that you were a chilean navy member once....
The planned trip for the ARA San Juan to its base at Mar del Plata was announced before the boat sailed. It made readily detectable radio frequency SITREPs twice a day during its travel.
Nov 22nd, 2017 - 07:36 pm - Link - Report abuse +5There was nothing secret about it.
I would think that the only certainty is that the sub. is NOT on the surface. Radar from aircraft would have picked her up by now. They can even pick up an object the size of a snorkel.
Nov 22nd, 2017 - 07:55 pm - Link - Report abuse +2So, the obvious conclusion is that it is on the bottom somewhere, either intact or has broken into pieces if it has sunk below the level of its hulls pressure limits.
If it is lying on the bottom with the crew still alive, one would expect some attempt at signalling by banging on the hull. Not very sophisticated but noise carries a long way underwater and modern passive sonar can pick up even very faint noises.
They say that the Astute class nuclear subs. can pick up noises as far away as New York while off the Scottish coast.
So, at the risk of being called a Jonah, it looks as if the sub. is lost with all hands.
Again, I hope I am wrong
The other article said the sub look a detour to investigate illegal fishing, which would explain why it was so far from the coast. A slightly secret mission to accomplish on the way home.
Nov 22nd, 2017 - 08:01 pm - Link - Report abuse 0They published details of most of the crew in Clarin days ago, so maybe the navy does have something to hide there. Otherwise why not confirm who was on board?
Pageboy
Nov 22nd, 2017 - 08:32 pm - Link - Report abuse +2Go back to your sandbox and play with your Kirchnerist dolls.
Your arguments have become too pathetic to correct.
@Chicureo
Nov 23rd, 2017 - 11:33 am - Link - Report abuse -1I'm sorry. Your comments about my person (and the ones of the so called “argentine” Marti Llazo”) are a proof that I am right. I'm sorry, but today is going to be a very busy day for me. I have to work to pay my bills.
I'm not a priest, I'm not a public servant...I'm not a retired militar...I must work to live !!!
Have a great day.
Pageboy, you must stop referring to Marti Llazo as “argentine.” In the civilised nations that is considered very rude and offensive.
Nov 23rd, 2017 - 12:30 pm - Link - Report abuse +2Haha, no it isn't. I can see why he would think you are Argentine though.
Nov 23rd, 2017 - 01:21 pm - Link - Report abuse -2https://www.infobae.com/politica/2017/11/22/hablo-la-jueza-que-investiga-la-desaparicion-del-submarino-hay-informacion-sensible-bajo-secreto-de-estado/
Nov 23rd, 2017 - 01:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0yes, pageboy, to argentina the existence of fences is considered a state secret
Nov 23rd, 2017 - 03:57 pm - Link - Report abuse +1But in this case it was already leaked that part of the San Juan's andanzas had to do with playing around with UK forces near the Falklands.
A bang? Pressure hull collapse. Impact of torpedo? Torpedo explosion? Collision with another sub? Collision with sunken container?
Nov 23rd, 2017 - 04:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The argentine navy has apparently confirmed that there was an explosion aboard the submarine. Or rather, “ a violent event consistent with an explosion”
Nov 23rd, 2017 - 04:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://www.lanacion.com.ar/2084923-nuevo-parte-de-la-armada-sobre-el-submarino-ara-san-juan-se-registro-un-evento-anomalo-violento-y-no-nuclear-consistente-con-una-explosion
The newspapers are confirming my thoughts. Hydrogen from overcharged batteries, a spark, then boom... 4% hydrogen is all it takes.
Nov 24th, 2017 - 09:59 am - Link - Report abuse 0All of this is conjecture, why say anything. Why not just say that a submarine is missing.Somebody said earlier that it is now a competition between the Russians and the US to see who has the most sophisticated equipment for locating the submarine. Watch for the Russians to say that they found it but will not divulge the whereabouts.
Nov 27th, 2017 - 10:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Commenting for this story is now closed.
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