page_title: List of submarines of Submarine Force Command
section_title: Fourth generation
hierarchical_section_title: List of submarines of Submarine Force Command / History / Fourth generation
caption_attribution_description: English: Submarine Type 209 Class (S-31) ARA "Salta" in Base Naval Mar del Plata. On a background two submarines of the TR-1700 project are visible Русский: Подводная лодка проекта 209 «Сальта» (S-31) в военно-морской базе Мар-дель-Плата. На заднем плане видны две субмарины проекта «Санта-Крус»
context_page_description: The Argentine Submarine Force Command is the submarine service branch of the Argentine Navy. Argentine submarines have traditionally been named after the provinces of the Republic whose name begins with the letter 'S'; they are home based at Mar del Plata naval base. COFS members have the same rank insignia and titles as the rest of the Navy. As of 2010, the elite group Agrupación de Buzos Tácticos is under the direct command of the submarine force. After the disappearance of ARA San Juan in November 2017, one TR-1700 and one Type 209 submarines remain in service. Two small surface vessels, ARA Punta Mogotes and ARA Luisito, are also part of the COFS and used in the training role.
  Like the rest of the Argentine armed services, the submarine force has been struggling to maintain its readiness due to budget constraints affecting equipment maintenance and personnel training. In 2012, the three boats then in service had maintenance difficulties and between them spent just 19 hours submerged.
  From mid-2019 to the present, the governments of Brazil and Argentina are currently working on a transfer deal of the four Tupi IKL209/1400 submarines currently operated by the Brazilian Navy.
context_section_description: In 1969 a contract was signed in West Germany for two Type 209 submarines. The ships were of the 56-metre (184 ft)/1,100-ton sub-type; they were built in parts by Howaldtswerke at Kiel and delivered to Tandanor shipyard in Buenos Aires where final assembly was completed in 1973. The vessels were commissioned in 1974, but only San Luis (S-32) was in service during the 1982 Falklands War. She reported two encounters with Royal Navy ships but without scoring hits due to problems with her torpedo's firing system. The threat posed by San Luis, however, forced the Royal Navy to give up recovery efforts of two Sea King helicopters which had ditched at sea on 12 May and 18 May 1982 respectively. Both aircraft were eventually destroyed by naval gunfire. She also tied up a considerable number of British naval assets deployed to counter her presence. There was an attempt to deploy Salta to the Falklands area at the end of May, but excessive noise and problems with the torpedo firing system similar to those found on San Luis prevented her operational use. San Luis was struck from the Navy in 1997 after an incomplete overhaul, whilst Salta (S-31) was still in service as of 2017. As of 2020 Salta was reported to be incapable of navigation.
  ARA Salta (S-31)
  ARA San Luis (S-32)
caption: ARA Salta (S-31)
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