Argentine Submarine Force The Argentine Submarine Force ( Spanish : Comando de la Fuerza de Submarinos , COFS ) 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 ; two TR - 1700 and one Type 209 submarine submarine are in service . Two small surface vessels , ARA " Punta Mogotes " ( P - 65 ) and ARA " Luisito " ( Q - 51 ) , are also part of the COFS and used in the training role . Like the rest of the Argentine armed services the force is struggling to maintain its readiness in the absence of funds for maintenance and training . All three boats have maintenance difficulties and between them spent just 19 hours submerged in 2012 . History . In 1917 the Navy sent students to the United States to began training courses at the Naval Submarine Base New London . Lieutenants Francis Lajous , Osvaldo Repeto , Eduardo Ceballos and Vicente Ferrer served in the US Navy during the First World War . First generation . In 1927 the Argentine Navy signed a contract with the Italian shipyard Franco Tosi of Taranto in order to build the service ' s first three ships . The units arrived in Buenos Aires on April 7 , 1933 and transferred to Mar del Plata on September 3 , which became the Anniversary Day for the newly created Submarine Force . The " Tarantinos " , as they were known , served between 1933 and 1960 when the last one , " Santa Fe " ( S - 1 ) , was retired after taking over a thousand dives . In 1938 , the crew of the " Santa Fe " had been awarded a civilian medal after assisting a local fishing boat that was in distress off Cabo Corrientes . The " Santiago del Estero " ( S - 2 ) established ( at the time ) , an immersion record for a submarine in the South Atlantic ( 114 metres ) . She took part in the blockade of the Rio de la Plata during the 1955 Revolución Libertadora , where she fought off a strike package of Gloster Meteor fighters loyal to president Juan Domingo Peron . Second generation . In April 1960 the US Navy agreed to transfer two units on loan under the Military Assistance Program . They departed from San Francisco , California on September 23 of the same year and arrived in Mar del Plata on November 30 . These ships participated in numerous exercises during their career including UNITAS , CAIMAN , SAYONARA and CAIO DULIO . The conning towers of both submarines were locally upgraded to improve hydrodynamics . Some years ago , Argentinian officials disclosed that a group of tactical divers had carried out an incursion on the Falklands Islands on board the " Santiago del Estero " ( S - 12 ) in October 1966 . The submarines went back to the United States for mid - life repairs and were finally retired in 1971 . Third generation . In 1971 the US Navy transferred further units in order to replace the previous generation . Two GUPPY - type submarines were an interim measure until new submarines being built in Europe became available . " Santiago del Estero " was retired by September 1981 but " Santa Fe " ( S - 21 ) would take part in the 1982 Falklands War . She landed a team of " Buzos Tácticos " ( tactical divers ) on the initial amphibious assault and weeks later , after a successful resupply mission , was spotted on the surface . She was attacked and disabled off Grytviken , South Georgia ; the submarine was scuttled in deep waters by the British some years after the war ended . Fourth generation . In 1969 a contract was signed in West Germany for two Type 209 submarine s . The ships were of the 56 metres / 1100 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 the " 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 the " 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 2013 . Fifth generation . As part of a major fleet renovation plan which included the MEKO frigates classes , a contract was signed in 1977 with West Germany ' s Nordseewerke for six TR - 1700 class submarines , the last four of them to be built in Argentina . The Argentine Navy sponsored the development of the CAREM nuclear reactor to be installed on these submarines , but for political reasons the whole program was cancelled and only the two German units were delivered . These ships are the largest submarines built in Germany since World War II and are among the fastest diesel - electric submarines in the world .