The ARA Santa Fe (S-21) class submarine a venerable GUPPY (for details of this class of submarines click here ) built by the Navy Argentina in 1971 took active part in the Falklands feat year 1982 .
27/03 For this, the claw of the Base Naval Mar del Plata . Already in Falkland waters, about 2:30 AM on 2 / 04 the tactical divers submarine off their boats and head for the beach. Done its job the ARA Santa Fe sinks and recedes awaiting news. With the news of the success of Operation Rosario and the satisfaction of the mission to return to Mar del Plata up where 7 / 04.
Photo 1. The tactical divers take a break after the recovery of the Malvinas Islands the April 2, 1982 . Thirteen of them set off in boats from the ARA Santa Fe . (Source: www.flickr.com post by Paul Andreotti) The 16/04 evening sail from Mar del Plata with a new mission, carrying a fraction of Marines called Golf Support Group for Argentina reinforce the garrison in the port leading Grytviken, South Georgia . After a pretty rough sailing due to a continuing series of failures (The power unit, consisting of three other never worked at full capacity, should be part of the journey with two of them and sometimes only one), on 24/04 near Midnight Cove enters the Vago and landed on the Marines and their equipment. The
25/04 at 5:30, and before the confirmation of the presence of enemy warships in the area, sailed from Grytviken looking deep water. A short time after the start of the navigation ARA Santa Fe area is caught in a Westland Wessex helicopter HAS.3 "Humphrey" (XP142 belonging to the County-class destroyer HMS Amtrim-D18-) that appears stern and get to throw two depth charges MK-11 to port. The explosions lifted the bow of the submarine, causing a power outage and communications. In response, the Santa Fe seeks to return to the cove fending off helicopters with rifle and machine gun fire from the candle practiced, leaving behind a curtain of smoke and oil.
Shortly after their appearance makes a Westland Lynx HAS.2 (XP725 in the frigate HMS Brilliant Type 22-F90-) launch engaged MK-46 torpedoes not hit. A third helicopter, in this case the Westland Wasp HAS.1 (XP429 of the Type 12 frigate Plymouth HSM-F126-) appears on the scene fired a missile AS-12 that followed an erratic path without breaking the Argentine submarine. A hunt is added then a Westland Wasp HAS.1 (XS527 polar ship HMS Endurance-A171-) that shoots a AS-12 missile impacting on the wing without exploding and crosses from side to side, due to the material that comprised the same ( GPR - Glass Reinforced Plastic , plastic reinforced with glass fiber). For this action the Cape Alberto Macías Camarero, who was in the candle machine gun ammunition lost his right leg. A third HAS.1 Westland Wasp (XS539 polar embarked on the ship HMS Endurance) is also involved in the attack, though in support of his fellow squad. In short, the old Santa Fe, is attacked with depth charges, torpedoes, missiles and machine gun fire shot from 5 (five) British helicopters operating with leading British naval force in Grytviken to rescue the South Geogia .
Given the overwhelming disparity of forces, the Argentine troops and divers will perform at 16:00, minutes after lowering the national flag in formation of honor.
Photo 3. Very good image of the battered Santa Fe cut of the snowy mountains of Georgia . Shows the heel to port and the damage that caused the English attack on the sail reinforced plastic fiberglass allows a part of its internal structure (Source: www.gacetamarinera.com.ar )
Photo 4. Details of the damage to the sail of ARA Santa Fe by British helicopters. Besides the destruction caused by the missile, are easily measurable impacts of machine gun. (Source: www.flickr.com post by Modly)
On 26/04 the British decided to move to Santa Fe ARA, heeled and sank stern to the quay of the old whaling factory, about 400 yards from where was tied to release the main spring Grytviken. To this request the assistance of CC Bicain and six of his men that are guarded closely by British marines. During the maneuver, unfortunately a British marine shot against Felix Artuso Sergeant First wounding of death, to interpret the movement to open a ballast valve to correct the list and better stability, as an attempt to sabotage to cause to sink (*).
Photo 5. This photo has traveled the world. British sailors buried with honors at the First Sergeant Felix Artuso in Grytviken . anyway The submarine reached its new position mooring. British engineers firing up the ship to check the damage: the port shaft was cut, the engine of the same gang had jumped from his bed by the effect of shock waves from depth charges, the candle several directions was the effect of missiles and had numerous cracks in the oil lines, fuel oil and air. Shortly after it sinks, drawing on the bottom to 20 feet deep and list to port, leaving only the old sail.
But there was not going to finish the story, three years later, in 1985 the Services Department of the Navy Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom , orders the rescue of the captured ARA Santa Fe (S-21) to remove the mooring of Caleta Vago and remove as "war trophy" to Britain. Between 8 and 11 February 1985 the submarine manages to be refloated and begin the work to seal the bearings in the hull and the sail. The 20/02/1985 when you start your journey to the UK towed by the tug Salvageman , and because of a severe storm sinks forever open water, more precisely in position 54 ° 08.05 '"S 36 ° 19.8 '"O .
Photo 6. "Recent Images of the Shipwreck, "the ARA Santa Fe heeled seems to lie on the tug Salvageman ," refusing to follow the navigation to Britain. "
Photo 7. similar image from the band starboard. The ARA Santa Fe heeled on Salvageman . At the back "looking" at the scene HMS Endurance (A-171) . (Source: www.histarmar.com.ar)
La Yapa: ARA Santiago del Estero (S-22) participated in the conflict?
The answer would be a "NI" . Despite to have been radiated service since December 1981, the Navy you have an assigned mission: to deceive the British submarine with its real capacity. For this ordering the displacement of retired submarine ARA Santiago del Estero (S-22) still in the Naval Base Mar del Plata (BNMP) to the Puerto Belgrano Naval Base (BNPB) supported by tugs Tehuelche ARA (R-3) and Querandí ARA (R-3) . The navigation area was appropriate in view of the limited operational capacity of "Santiago del Estero" . During the war did not come out of the port, but reviewed the "Enemies eyes" as a unit that operated from the BNPB .
(*) The remains of Sergeant First Felix Artuso rest in the cemetery at Grytviken as another milestone of our sovereignty over these lands. Sources
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARA_Santa_Fe_ (S-21)
http://www.elsnorkel.com
http://www.gacetamarinera.com.ar http://www.histarmar.com.ar
http://www.irizar.org - "One against all" by Jorge R. Vault
the Falklands War. Fernández Reguera editions. 1987.
War Machine. Encyclopedia of the twentieth century weapons. Planeta Agostini. 1986.
Falklands Air War. Open Editions Argentina. 1988.
Museum Submarine Force. Several other
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