---
title: "This is what happened to Argentina’s lost submarine"
date: "2021-12-19"
modified: "2021-12-19"
authors:
  - name: "Harold C. Hutchison"
    link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/haroldhutchison/"
url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-trending/what-happened-argentinas-lost-submarine/"
categories:
  - "Military News"
  - "Ships"
  - "Tactical"
---

# This is what happened to Argentina’s lost submarine

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17533108/origin.jpg>)

The loss of the submarine ARA *San Juan* this past November is the most significant loss of a submarine since an explosion sank the Russian Oscar-class nuclear-powered guided-missile submarine *Kursk* in 2000. All 44 sailors aboard the German-designed Type 209 diesel-electric submarine were lost when it went on eternal patrol.

---

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17533112/origin.jpg>)
*ARA San Juan pierside. (Photo by Martin Otero)*

It took over four months, but the story of what happened to the *San Juan* was finally revealed in August of 2018. According to [a report by TeleSurTV.com](<https://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Crew-of-Argentine-San-Juan-Submarine-Endured-Hours-of-Agony--20180406-0018.html>), the submarine suffered a fire in her forward battery compartment on Nov. 15, 2017, after seawater went down the submarine's "snorkel."

The crew of the sub fought the fire for two hours as the submarine descended. The vessel then reportedly imploded, instantly killing all 44 sailors on board. Claims that the submarine was in poor material condition were denied by the Argentinean Navy. A [massive rescue effort](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-trending/this-is-how-the-navy-rescues-crews-of-sunken-submarines/>), which included a Lockheed P-3 Orion and a Boeing P-8 Poseidon from the United States Navy, went on for weeks before the search was called off.

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17533120/origin.jpg>)
*USS Cochino (SS 345) departing on her last mission. One civilian engineer was killed when she was lost, as well as six sailors from USS Tusk (SS 426). (U.S. Navy)*

In the years after World War II, the United States lost two Balao-class diesel-electric submarines. In 1949, [USS *Cochino* (SS 345)](<https://www.navalhistory.org/2010/08/25/the-loss-of-the-uss-cochino-ss-345>) suffered a pair of battery explosions that sank the ship despite a 14-hour effort to save the vessel. One civilian engineer on the Cochino and six sailors from USS *Tusk* were lost.

In 1958, [USS *Stickleback* (SS 415)](<https://www.submarinesailor.com/history/sticklebackrescue/sticklebackloss.htm>) was taking part in a training exercise when she lost power, broached the surface, and was rammed by the John C. Butler-class destroyer escort USS *Silverstein* (DE 534). Efforts by the crews of both vessels, plus the submarine USS *Sabalo* (SS 302), the destroyer escort USS *Sturtevant* (DE 239), and the submarine rescue ship USS *Greenlet* (ASR 10) to save the *Stickleback* failed. The sub sank, but all aboard were rescued.

## Author
WATM contributor Harold Hutchison was consulting senior editor at Soldier of Fortune magazine and is the author of the novel Strike Group Reagan. He has also written for the Daily Caller, National Review, Patriot Post, Strategypage.com, and other national web sites.