TR-1700-class submarine
 TR-1700 submarine ARA Santa Cruz (S-41) at Base Naval Mar del Plata. | |
| 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]
Development
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.
Design
The submarine was designed by Thyssen and its features include high underwater speed, endurance, and survivability. The ship's 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 that INVAP develop the CAREM nuclear reactor to power these submarines, but the program was halted in late 1980s.[4]
Thyssen proposed the TR1700A for the Collins-class submarine program.[5] The proposed design had an reworked pressure hull, was six meters longer, and half a meter wider than the TR1700's for Argentina. It lost to the Type 471 from Kockums, an enlarged Västergötland-class submarine.
Service
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 70 percent (or 52 percent) completion while ARA Santiago del Estero was only 30 percent complete.[6] 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.[7]
In September 2010 it was revealed that the Ministry of Defense is conducting feasibility studies to decide if ARA Santa Fe (S-43) should be completed. The decision should be made sometime after completing the mid-life modernization of ARA San Juan (S-42). The feasibility study includes technicians from INVAP and CNEA, who are investigating the possible use of a CAREM reactor in the unfinished vessel. The estimated cost of completing Santa Fe is $60 million.[8]
Ships
| 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 - 70% (or 52%) Complete[9] Ship could be completed after feasibility studies | |
| ARA Santiago Del Estero | S-44 | Astillero Domecq Garcia | Construction Suspended - 30% Complete | |
| (none) | S-45 | Astillero Domecq Garcia | Construction Suspended - Little Complete[6] Components cannibalized for spares | |
| (none) | S-46 | Astillero Domecq Garcia | Suspended Components cannibalized for spares[6] |
Pictures
-
Argentine Navy ARA San Juan in 2007
-
Argentine Navy TR-1700 Submarines ARA Santa Cruz (S-41) and ARA San Juan (S-42).
See also
- Dolphin class submarine
- Type 209 submarine
- Type 214 submarine
- Ula class submarine
References
- Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Miller, David (2002). The Illustrated Directory of Submarines. Zenith Press. p. 480. ISBN 0-7603-1345-8.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Santa Cruz class Patrol submarine
- ↑ Watts, Anthony (March 2002). Jane's Underwater Warfare Systems, 2002-2003. Jane's Information Group. p. 629. ISBN 0-7106-2451-4.
- ↑ El Carem fue diseñado a partir de la idea de técnicos navales para incluir un reactor de esas características en los submarinos comprados a Alemania en la década del 70
- ↑ Woolner, Derek (18 September 2001). Procuring Change: How Kockums was Selected for the Collins Class Submarine. Canberra: Department of the Parliamentary Library. p. 34.
- ↑ The hull of the S-42 ARA San Juan again soldier
- ↑ Por primera vez en la historia se construirán en nuestro país submarinos para la Armada
- ↑ Congreso Nacional: del submarino ARA Santa Fe, el cual se encuentra al 70% de su construcción
External links
- Santa Cruz class Patrol submarine
- Submarino de ataque (SSK) classe Santa Cruz / TR-1700
- Classe TR-1700
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