Posted on 11/21/2017 12:49:00 PM PST by BenLurkin
Authorities were investigating white flares spotted in the South Atlantic overnight, as urgency grew on Tuesday in the search for a missing Argentine navy submarine amid worry that its 44 crew members could be running out of oxygen.
Searchers found an empty raft floating in the ocean, and noticed white flares from a distance. But the raft’s brand suggested it did not belong to the ARA San Juan, which was equipped with only red flares for emergencies and green flares for other situations, a navy official said.
Still, boats searching for the submarine were heading toward the flares to investigate further, navy spokesman Enrique Balbi said. The submarine was en route from Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city, to its base in Mar del Plata and was about 300 miles (480 km) off the coast when it gave its last location on Wednesday, soon after reporting an electrical malfunction.
If the German-built vessel had sunk or was otherwise unable to rise to the surface since it sent its last signal, it would be winding down its seven-day oxygen supply.
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The weather was beginning to improve on Tuesday afternoon as wind speeds slowed and waves that rose as high as 8 meters (26 feet) over the weekend diminished.
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The ARA San Juan was inaugurated in 1983, the newest of three submarines in the navy’s fleet, and underwent maintenance in 2008 in Argentina.
That included the replacement of its four diesel engines and its electric propeller engines, according to specialist publication Jane’s Sentinel.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
I’m telling you they are at a marina in Florida being debriefed by the CIA.
Oh hear us as we cry to thee
For those in peril on the sea.
With all the financial collapse Argentina has had, it does seem silly to think that they need to own and operate a submarine.
The better to smoggle the drogs.
An Argentine sub was not successful in its attempts to torpedo British ships during the Falklands war. The reason? They had reversed the wiring causing the gyro in the torpedo to spin the wrong direction and throwing the torpedo off course.
Argentines, submarines, and electricity don't seem to mix very well.
I bet they are below crush depth.
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