TR-1700 submarine ARA Santa Cruz (S-41) at Base Naval Mar del Plata. |
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | Thyssen Nordseewerke, Emden, Germany |
| Operators: | Argentine Navy |
| In commission: | 1984-present |
| Planned: | 6 |
| Completed: | 2 |
| Cancelled: | 2 |
| Active: | 2 |
| Laid up: | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 2116 tonnes (Surfaced) 2264 tonnes (Submerged) |
| Length: | 66 metres (216.53 feet) |
| Beam: | 7.3 metres (23.95 feet) |
| Draught: | 6.5 metres (21.32 feet) |
| Propulsion: | 1 shaft 4 × MTU diesels 1 × Siemens electric motor |
| Speed: | 15 Knots Surfaced 25 knots Submerged |
| Range: | 12,000 nm at 8 knots surfaced (22,000 km at 15 km/h) |
| Endurance: | 30 days |
| Complement: | 26 |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
radar Thompson CSF Calypso Sonar Atlas Elektronik CSU 3/4, Thompson Sintra DUUX-5 |
| Armament: | 6× 533mm Tubes bow 22 torpedoes |
The TR-1700 (Santa Cruz) is a class of diesel-electric patrol submarines built by Thyssen Nordseewerke for the Argentine Navy in the 1980s. These ships are the largest submarines built in Germany since World War II and are among the fastest diesel-electric submarines in the world.[1]
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The original 1977 plan called for six ships, two TR-1700’s built in Germany by Thyssen Nordseewerke, two in Argentina by Astillero Domecq Garcia, and two smaller TR-1400’s also built in Argentina.[2] The final agreement in 1982 was modified to six TR 1700’s.
The submarine was designed by Thyssen and its features include high underwater speed, endurance, and survivability. The ships four MTU diesel engines, four generators, and Siemens electric motor can propel it for speeds up to 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph).[3] Eight 120 cell batteries are installed on the ships. They have a diving depth of 300 m. Normal endurance of these ships is 30 days with an extended range up to 70 days. These ships are equipped to accept a Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV). Armaments include six bow 533-mm torpedo tubes and 22 SST (Special Surface Target) or Mark 37 torpedo. The automatic torpedo reload system can reload the tubes in 50 seconds.[2]
The Argentine Navy requested the Argentine company INVAP to develop the nuclear reactor CAREM to powered these submarines but the program was halted in late 1980s [4]
The first two submarines were delivered on schedule in 1984-85. The remaining four built in Argentina were suspended due to the Argentinean economic crisis of the 1980s. In 1996 work completely ceased on ARA Santa Fe at 52 percent completion while ARA Santiago Del Estero was only 30 percent complete.[5] After attempts to complete and sell the ships to other countries (Taiwan) failed they were cannibalized, along with the parts for the fifth and sixth units, to support the continued operations of the first two submarines.[1]
The Santa Cruz received its mid-life modernization at Arsenal de Marinha, Rio de Janeiro Brazil between September 1999 and 2001.[2] The work involved the replacement of the engines, batteries, and sonar. Her sister ship San Juan entered Astillero Domecq Garcia shipyard to receive her refit in 2007 and will receive similar work.[6] In the present the ARA its studying the possibility of finish the "ARA Santa Fe" (S-43) after complete "ARA San Juan"'s Mid-life modernization and recoverying "ARA San Luis" (S-32, a 209 Class submarine). In this study there is a chance to give "ARA Santa Fe" AIP propulsion. [7]
On September 2010 was revelead that the Ministry of Defense has the intention to continue the development of the TR-1700 class once the shipyard concludes the San Juan midlife update in 2011. This development included teamwork with INVAP and CNEA in order to power one the unfinish vessels with the CAREM reactor [8]
| Ship | Pennant number | Builder | Completed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARA Santa Cruz | S-41 | Thyssen Nordseewerke | 18 October 1984 | In service with Argentine Navy |
| ARA San Juan | S-42 | Thyssen Nordseewerke | 19 November 1985 | In service with Argentine Navy |
| ARA Santa Fe | S-43 | Astillero Domecq Garcia | Construction Suspended in 1994 - 70% (or 52%) Complete [9] Argentina would like to reset works in 2011 [10] |
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| ARA Santiago Del Estero | S-44 | Astillero Domecq Garcia | Construction Suspended - 30% Complete | |
| (none) | S-45 | Astillero Domecq Garcia | Construction Suspended - Little Complete[5] Components cannibalized for spares |
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| (none) | S-46 | Astillero Domecq Garcia | Suspended Components cannibalized for spares[5] |
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