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List of submarines of Submarine Force Command

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Submarine Force Command
Comando de la Fuerza de Submarinos
Comando de la Fuerza de Submarinos(COFS) building, Mar del Plata
Active1927 – present
CountryArgentina
BranchArgentine Navy
TypeSubmarines
SizeNone active
Part ofNavy
Ministry of Defense
AnniversariesSeptember 3
EngagementsRevolucion Libertadora
Falklands War
Websiteargentina.gob.ar/submarinos
Commanders
Commander-in-ChiefPresident of the Republic
Chief of Staff of the NavyAdmiral
Chief of COFSCapitán de Navío

The ArgentineSubmarine Force Command(Spanish:Comando de la Fuerza de Submarinos,COFS) is thesubmarine servicebranch of theArgentine Navy.

Argentine submarines were traditionally named after theprovinces of the Republicwhose name begins with the letter 'S'; they are home based atMar del Plata Naval Base.COFS members have the same rank insignia and titles as the rest of the Navy. As of 2010, the elite groupAgrupación de Buzos Tácticoswas under the direct command of the submarine force.[not verified in body]

As of 2023, since 2020 the Submarine Force Command has had two submarines, both inactive. Following thedisappearance of ARASan Juanin November 2017, oneTR-1700(ARASanta Cruz(S-41)) and oneType 209(ARASalta(S-31)) submarines remain on the naval list, though neither is operational. Two small surface vessels, ARAPunta Mogotes(P-65) andARALuisito(Q-51),are also part of the COFS and used in a training role.[1]

History

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In 1917 the Argentine Navy sent students to theUnited Statesto begin training courses at theNaval Submarine Base New London.Lieutenants Francis Lajous, Osvaldo Repeto, Eduardo Ceballos and Vicente Ferrer served in theUnited States Navyduring theFirst World War.[citation needed]

Like the rest of the Argentine armed services, the submarine force struggled to maintain its readiness due to budget constraints affecting equipment maintenance and personnel training. In 2012, the three boats then in service had maintenance difficulties and between them spent just 19 hours submerged.[2]

In mid-2019, the governments of Brazil and Argentina began working on a transfer deal for the four Tupi IKL209/1400 submarines then operated by theBrazilian Navy.In the early 2000s the Tupis were upgraded with new combat systems by Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems and Sensors. This gave the submarines the ability to carry and fire theMk 48 Mod 6AT ADCAPTorpedo. Defence ministers and admirals of the Argentine Navy were enthusiastic about moving forward with the arrangement. The submarines were to be repaired and serviced in theTandanordrydock facility. The acquisition would rejuvenate the Argentine submarine force and its strategic position in the South Atlantic.[3][4][needs update]

In January 2020, while touring the Mar del Plata naval base, Defence Minister Augustin Rossi indicated that he would like the submarine capability provided by ARASanta Cruznot to be lost, as it was the last submarine then still active in Argentine service.[5]However, by the end of 2020, the refit ofSanta Cruzwas reported cancelled leaving the entire Argentine submarine service inactive. The submarine service was then relying on international exchanges to permit personnel to serve in foreign submarines (notably with thePeruvian Navy) and was using the submarineSaltaas a training platform at dockside.[1][6][7]

First generation

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First Argentine submarinesSanta Feclass and the submarine tenderGeneral Belgranoat Mar del Plata naval base

In 1927 the Argentine Navy signed a contract with the ItalianshipyardFranco TosiofTarantoin order to build the service's first three ships. The units arrived inBuenos Aireson 7 April 1933, and transferred to Mar del Plata on 3 September, which became the Anniversary Day for the newly created Submarine Force. TheTarantinos,as they were known, served between 1933 and 1960 when the last one,Santa Fe(S-1), was retired after taking over a thousand dives. In 1938, the crew ofSanta Fehad been awarded a civilian medal after assisting a local fishing boat that was in distress offCabo Corrientes.[8]Santiago del Estero(S-2) established (at the time) an immersion record for a submarine in theSouth Atlantic(114 metres).[9]Santiago del Esterotook part in the blockade of theRio de la Plataduring the 1955Revolución Libertadora,where she fought off a strike package ofGloster Meteorfighter aircraft loyal to presidentJuan Domingo Peron.[10]

Second generation

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ARASantiago del Estero(S-12) after being upgraded in Mar del Plata

In April 1960 the United States Navy agreed to transfer twoBalao-class submarineunits on loan under theMilitary Assistance Program.They departed fromSan Francisco,California, on September 23 and arrived in Mar del Plata on November 30. These ships participated in numerous exercises during their career including UNITAS, CAIMAN, SAYONARA and CAIO DULIO. Theconning towersof both submarines were locally upgraded to improvehydrodynamics.[11]In 1996, Argentinian officials disclosed that a group oftactical divershad carried out an incursion on theFalkland Islandson boardSantiago del Estero(S-12) in October 1966.[12]The submarines went back to the United States for mid-life repairs and were retired in 1971.[citation needed]

Third generation

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ARASantiago del Estero(S-22)

In 1971 the US Navy transferred further units in order to replace the previous generation. TwoGUPPY-typesubmarines were an interim measure until new submarines being built in Europe became available.Santiago del Esterowas retired by September 1981 but ARASanta Fe(S-21) would take part in the 1982Falklands War.She landed a team ofBuzos Tácticos(tactical divers) on theinitial amphibious assaultand weeks later, after a successful resupply mission, was spotted on the surface. She was attacked withAS 12 missilesby a BritishWasp helicopterand disabled offGrytviken,South Georgia;scuttled at dock by her crew, the submarine was eventually sunk in deep waters by the British some years after the war ended.[citation needed]

Fourth generation

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ARASalta(S-31)

In 1969 a contract was signed inWest Germanyfor twoType 209 submarines,of the 56-metre (184 ft)/1,200-ton sub-type. The vessels were built in parts byHowaldtswerkeat Kiel and delivered toTandanorshipyard in Buenos Aires where final assembly was completed in 1973; they were commissioned in 1974. During the 1982 Falklands War onlySan Luis(S-32) was in service; she reported two encounters withRoyal Navyships but without scoring hits due to problems with her torpedo's firing system. The threat posed bySan Luis,however, forced the Royal Navy to give up recovery efforts of twoSea Kinghelicopters which had ditched at sea on 12 May and 18 May 1982 respectively. Both aircraft were eventually destroyed by naval gunfire.[13][14]She also tied up a considerable number of British naval assets deployed to counter her presence.[15]There was an attempt to deploySaltato the Falklands area at the end of May, but excessive noise and problems with the torpedo firing system similar to those found onSan Luisprevented her operational use.[16]San Luiswas struck from the Navy in 1997 after an incomplete overhaul, whilstSalta(S-31) was still in service as of 2017. As of 2020Saltawas reported to be incapable of navigation.[17]

Fifth generation

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ARASan Juan(S-42)

As part of a major fleet renovation plan which included theMEKOfrigates classes, a contract was signed in 1977 with West Germany'sNordseewerkefor sixTR-1700-class submarines,the last four of them to be built in Argentina.[citation needed]The Argentine Navy sponsored the development of theCAREMnuclear reactor to be installed on these submarines,[18]but for political reasons the whole program was cancelled and only the two German units were delivered. These boats were at the time the largest submarines built in Germany sinceWorld War IIand were among the fastest diesel-electric submarines in the world.[19]

References

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Notes

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  1. ^abc"Estiman que la llegada del próximo submarino operativo para Argentina demoraría de cinco a seis años".nuestromar.org(in Spanish). 8 September 2020.Retrieved24 September2021.
  2. ^"Argentine navy short on spares and resources for training and maintenance".MercoPress.22 November 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 28 December 2012.
  3. ^Dinatale, Martin (7 June 2019)."Brasil cederá 4 submarinos estratégicos a la Armada Argentina".infobae.com(in Spanish).Retrieved14 August2020.
  4. ^"SSK Tupi Class".naval-technology.com.Retrieved14 August2020.
  5. ^"El Gobierno analiza comprar otro submarino para reemplazar el ARA" San Juan "".gacetamercantil.com(in Spanish). 10 January 2020.Retrieved14 August2020.
  6. ^ab"A. Rossi Argentina: Argentina tiene que tener una Fuerza Aérea con aviones supersónicos 2".infodefensa.com(in Spanish). 23 December 2020.Retrieved24 September2021.
  7. ^Watson, Peter (20 September 2023)."Un grupo de 14 marinos argentinos se capacita en submarinos de la Armada del Perú".infodefensa.com(in Spanish).Retrieved20 September2023.
  8. ^Paz, R; Tamburini, F. & Iñurrieta, V (2009).Los Tarantinos: Argentina 1933–1960. Historia de Submarinos(in Spanish). ElSnorkel. p. 151.ISBN978-987-25327-0-3.
  9. ^Paz, Tamburini and Iñurrieta, p. 150
  10. ^Paz, Tamburini & Iñurrieta, pp. 150–151
  11. ^"Historia y Arqueologia Marítima: Submarinos Clase" Balao "".histarmar.com.ar(in Spanish).Retrieved14 August2020.
  12. ^"Malvinas: Los Secretos de la Guerra".Clarín.31 March 1996. Archived fromthe originalon 31 March 2012.Retrieved14 August2020.
  13. ^"UK Military Aircraft Losses - 1982".WolverhamptonAviation Group.Retrieved14 August2020.
  14. ^Howard, L.; Burrow, M. & Myall, E. (2011).Fleet Air Arm Helicopters since 1943.Staplefield. p. 239.ISBN978-0-85130-304-8.
  15. ^Submarine Operations during the Falklands War - Lt Cdr Steven R. Harper USN
  16. ^El Secreto del ARA SaltaArchived2016-03-05 at theWayback Machineby Jorge Rafael Bóveda(in Spanish)[dead link]
  17. ^De Vedia, Mariano (26 January 2020)."El Gobierno negocia con Noruega la compra de un submarino".La Nacion(in Spanish).Retrieved14 August2020.
  18. ^Gallo, Daniel (4 June 2010)."Iniciativa del Ministerio de Defensa. Promete Garré que se construirá un submarino nuclear en el país".La Nacion(in Spanish).Retrieved14 August2020.
  19. ^Miller, David (2002).The Illustrated Directory of Submarines.Zenith Press. p. 480.ISBN0-7603-1345-8.
  20. ^"Ocean Infinity Locates the Missing Argentinian Submarine, ARA San Juan".Ocean Infinity. 17 November 2018. Archived fromthe originalon 18 November 2018.Retrieved21 November2018.
  21. ^"ARA San Juan: Search locates 5 objects with potential links to missing sub".Buenos Aires Times.14 September 2018.Retrieved6 December2018.

Online sources

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