ARA San Juan crew feared dead
GMA reports that the 44-man crew of the Argentine submarine, ARA San Juan, is feared to be lost.
The news came as Argentine naval officials said that a sound detected during the desperate search for the sub, which vanished last week in the southern Atlantic Ocean, was consistent with an explosion.
The vessel was last heard from Nov. 15, and officials feared that it would run out of oxygen soon.
According to the Argentine navy officials, the sound, described as “consistent with a nonnuclear explosion” that was “abnormal, singular, short, violent” was detected three hours after the last known communication.
The sound, which originated about 270 miles east of the Gulf of San Jorge in the southern part of the country, was picked up by U.S. sensors and international agencies that are capable of detecting nuclear explosions.
From the Associated Press;
Argentina’s navy says it’s too early to say what might have produced the sound detected by U.S. and international monitors. They describe it as “short” and “violent.”
But some experts say there’s a fearsome possibility.
The search location straddles the edge of the continental shelf and depths reach about 10,000 feet (3,000 meters).
Retired Navy Capt. James H. Patton Jr. says that if a submarine went too deep, “it would just collapse.”
He says “It would sound like a very, very big explosion to any listening device.”
Category: Breaking News
Condolences to the families and RIP crew.
One of the news stations quoted the wife of the sub’s engineer (did not say his exact status) who told her they had serious maintenance neglect problems and lack thereof.
My Bubblehead bud says he thinks, but not sure, that the female crew member may be the first to perish on a sub.
As the old Airborne song goes “…what a hell of a way to die.”
RIP
Why exactly does he think that?
Were you going to cite a prior female fatality on a sub at sea?
me or Sj?
This is not good news.
The USS Thresher went down 6 months before I went to Boot Camp. That incident brought safety changes in the Industries construction of Subs. Piping/silver soldering issues I believe. Can be googled.
That was the start of it. Silbraze versus welded joints on seawater systems.
The EMBT system was another, along with the moisture content of the air that went into those tanks.
Prayers up for my brothers (and sister) of the ‘phin.
The loss of the Thresher resulted in the SUBSAFE. Extra inspections for maximum assurance of submarine hulls and welding.
There some changes in the design for better ballast reliability allowed the Thresher Class to be called Permit Class(SSN594)
There are no roses on a sailor’s grave,
No lilies on an ocean wave.
The only tribute is the seagulls’ sweeps,
And the teardrops that a sweetheart weeps.
Very moving.
mr. sharkman. Isn’t that the Kriegsmarine WW2 U-BOOT Sailors poem?
I think the WW2 German submariners used it, yes. But its use predates WW2 for certain.
Thanks for the heads up on that Sub poem.
Lord God, our power evermore
Whose arm doth reach the ocean floor
Dive with our men beneath the sea
Traverse the depths protectively
O hear us when we pray, and keep
them safe from peril in the deep.
Amen.
The Sea is a very fatal Mistress to many.
So sorry to hear this news, may God bless the crew and their families. Rest in Peace good sailors.
Anyone who serves on a sub is either crazy or totally crazy that said for anyone that has served on one
You have my complete RESPECT!!!!!!!
I’m surprised we don’t see more possers claiming Submarine service
There aren’t because it’s called the, “Silent Service” for more than one reason.
👍👍👍
Plus, we could out a faker in less time than it takes to smell a silent but deadly. 🙂
Damn. Was hoping for a rescue – but usually, that’s not in the cards if a sub has serious problems in deep water.
Descansen en paz, marineros. Que Dios consuele a sus familiares, amigos y colegas profesionales.
Even with escape procedures that submariners are trained on, less than 1 percent of the ocean is shallow enough from which a submarine crew could even survive an ascent.
Couple that with the water temperatures and sea state there now, and yeah, not looking good.
To say nothing of the “procedures” we undertook prior to Westpac. Messenger buoys rattle ya know.
Sad to hear. Sub batteries are notorious. I hope I’m too early when I say RIP brothers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Bonefish_(SS-582)
Jorge (CTIC(SG) (Ret))
rip my brothers I served with them on unitas 30
May the Lord bless and keep them, gathering them into his arms and soothing the tears of the families they leave behind.
I have a nephew who’s a bubblehead.
This news hits hard. But who am I kidding, they all hit hard.