Mission to rescue Argentina submarine

PRESSURIZED RESCUE MODULE (PRM)
A U.S. Navy submarine rescue team equipped with a mini sub has joined an international effort to locate an Argentine submarine missing in the South Atlantic


Remotely-operated vehicle can submerge up to 600m to mate with submarine and seal over hatch, allowing safe transfer to rescue chamber. PRM can rescue up to 16 personnel each time

Control van

Length: 7.3m
Height:4.5m
Capacity: Up to 16 rescuees (seated on both sides of module)
Navigation, video, propulsion, and life support systems mounted on frame and hull
Transfer skirt
Crew: Two attendants

PRM can dock with submarine settled on ocean floor at up to 45-degree angle in both pitch
and roll

Before going missing, submarine reported electrical breakdown related to “short circuit” in battery system

ARA SAN JUAN (S-42)
Inaugurated 1983. Four diesel engines and electric propeller engines replaced during maintenance in 2008

Length: 65m 
Beam: 7.3m 
Endurance 30 days

Speed, surface 15 knots
Submerged 25 knots

Generators 
Electric motor
Batteries
6 x 533mm torpedo tubes


URUGUAY
Mar del Plata
ATLANTIC OCEAN
Buenos Aires
ARGENTINA
Valdez peninsula
Comodoro Rivadavia
Gulf of San Jorge
Tierra del Fuego
PACIFIC OCEAN
CHILE
Ushuaia, Nov 8: Submarine departs
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
400km 250 miles


Nov 15: Submarine vanishes 430km off Argentine coast while returning from routine mission in Ushuaia to its base at Mar del Plata. Ships and aircraft from at least 10 countries involved in search

Sources: U.S. Navy, Argentine Army, Global Security      © GRAPHIC NEWS