I wonder if this is one of our old fleet type subs.
German, I think.
No, I understand it is a re-conditioned European-style diesel sub. Not “new”, but fairly recent design.
The TR-1700 (Santa Cruz) is a class of diesel-electric patrol submarines built by Thyssen Nordseewerke for the Argentine Navy in the 1980s. These ships are amongst the largest submarines built in Germany since World War II and are among the fastest diesel-electric submarines in the world.[1]
ARA San Juan was completed on June 28th, 1983 and commissioned for service on November 19th, 1985. As-built, the boat displaces 2,140 tonnes when surfaced and 2,336 tonnes when submerged. Its length is 216.3 feet with a beam of 27.4 feet and a draught of 24.1 feet. Drive power is from a diesel-electric arrangement centered on four German MTU marine diesels and a single Siemens electric motor driving a single shaft astern. The boat can make headway at 15 knots when surfaced and up to 25 knots when submerged. The diesel-electric arrangement allows for the diesel units to propel the boat when it is surfaced while the electric motor supplies the needed power when the boat is submerged. Range is out to 12,000 nautical miles. The vessel can stay away from port for up to 30 days.”
Above from the web.
https://www.militaryfactory.com/ships/detail.asp?ship_id=ara-san-juan-s42-attack-submarine-argentina
But compare the range, capability, and weapons to the WWII fleet boats, and the WWII British, Japanese, and German limited range, visual fire control, poor performance submarines. And those fought worldwide, even torpedoing ships in the Gulf of Mexico off of Texas and Louisiana!
German TR-1700 diesel electric. No comparison with WW2 fleet boats. Fast and quiet. Entered service in 1985.
It’s a German sub.
The Germans quit providing maintenance and support due to non-payment.
Argentina kept putting them to sea after doing their own domestic maintenance.
Death Trap.
Republic of China is the last navy still operating old USN Guppy's.