Argentinian navy submarine "San Juan" missing at sea with 44 crew [Update: Everyone's probably dead]

[MaverickIB]

[QUOTE=bdd458;52929337]When I get back home I’ll bring the article up, but apparently water got in through the snorkel, causing short circuts in the battery.[/QUOTE]

This could spell death for a submarine fairly quickly. Most, if not all, modern submarines have a safety system with sensors that detect water in the air induction valve, so if a swell comes up over it while they are snorkeling, it automatically slams shut. If we have a failure of that system, we have to surface because it's too dangerous to operate submerged with no automatic failsafe system.

If their safety circuit failed as they were snorkeling and a swell came over the mast or something, an absolute fuckton of water would come aboard. For a massive nuclear submarine, it's not the end of the world. We would emergency blow and dewater the ship. However, for a tiny diesel boat, it could spell disaster. I am also not sure what kind of batteries they use, if it's older ones then coming into contact with water produces poison gas.

Terrible way to go. It's part of the job knowing every time we submerge, we may never come up again. Such is the steel submariners are made of who do it anyway. Everyone in the US sub force is hurting for these guys and their families right now.

[Tumama]

Navy called off the rescue operations. There's only a search mission.
All ships prepared for rescuing crew are being recalled back to port. This pretty much kills the last hope to ever find them alive.

[url]https://tn.com.ar/sociedad/ara-san-juan-la-armada-suspendio-el-rescate-pero-mantendra-la-busqueda_837519[/url] (in spanish)

[editline]translation[/editline]
Edited, bad english on my part.

[editline]bbc[/editline]
Source in English
[url]http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-42187139[/url]