So, as feared it looks like the search for survivors has been officially abandoned and it is now a mission to locate and if possible recover the wreck. My deep condolences to the to the families of the crew. Hopefully the bodies of their loved ones can be recovered and the cause of the accident determined, although given the depths involved the latter will probably be a big ask.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-0...e-crew/9216042
Related to this I think this accident could well spell the end for Argentina's submarine service. The following is only guesswork on my part of course but their Navy only has one fully operational sub left (the Santa Cruz) which is currently going through exactly the same cut price, 'mid-life refit' the San Juan was put through. (I know they have the Salta but my understanding is that it is restricted to 'training' duties only and it seldom if ever puts to sea, let alone conducting long duration operational missions.)
Even if the Navy decides to continue with that refit the need to run over every detail three times over to eliminate any possible error will blow their time-line for completion out into the early 20's (at best) by which time the Santa Cruz will what? 37/38 years old!
And if they don't refit then the Argentine Government would have to go through the process of going to tender and purchasing new/used replacement vessels (assuming they could find the money). A process which I doubt at this stage could be completed before the refitted Santa Cruz was due anyway.
Either way looks to me like there will be a lot of hard decisions to make in Buenos Aires shortly.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-0...e-crew/9216042
Related to this I think this accident could well spell the end for Argentina's submarine service. The following is only guesswork on my part of course but their Navy only has one fully operational sub left (the Santa Cruz) which is currently going through exactly the same cut price, 'mid-life refit' the San Juan was put through. (I know they have the Salta but my understanding is that it is restricted to 'training' duties only and it seldom if ever puts to sea, let alone conducting long duration operational missions.)
Even if the Navy decides to continue with that refit the need to run over every detail three times over to eliminate any possible error will blow their time-line for completion out into the early 20's (at best) by which time the Santa Cruz will what? 37/38 years old!
And if they don't refit then the Argentine Government would have to go through the process of going to tender and purchasing new/used replacement vessels (assuming they could find the money). A process which I doubt at this stage could be completed before the refitted Santa Cruz was due anyway.
Either way looks to me like there will be a lot of hard decisions to make in Buenos Aires shortly.
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