US Navy Transitions to Search and Recovery in Search for ARA San Juan
Story Number: NNS171201-23Release Date: 12/1/2017
By Lt. Lyndsi Gutierrez, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet Public Affairs
MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) — Two U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon aircraft, the Submarine Rescue Chamber (SRC) and the Pressurized Rescue Module (PRM) from the Undersea Rescue Command that were assisting Argentina in the search for Argentine submarine, ARA San Juan, completed operations Nov 30.
Continuing with the transition of operations to search and recovery, the U.S. Navy deployed the Cable operated Unmanned Recovery Vehicle (CURV) 21 to support the ongoing Argentine search efforts onboard R/V Atlantis.
The CURV-21 is a 6,400-pound Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) that is designed to meet the U.S. Navy’s deep ocean salvage requirements down to a maximum depth of 20,000 feet of seawater, and is due to arrive in Argentina, Dec. 1.
COMODORO RIVADAVIA, ARGENTINA
12.01.2017. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Lange, Commander, Submarine Squadron 11
171201-N-HS500-031 COMODORO RIVADAVIA, Argentina (Dec. 1, 2017). The U.S. Navy cable-controlled Undersea Recovery Vehicle (CURVE-21) is offloaded at the Comodoro Rivadavia airport Dec. 1, 2017. The CURVE will be used in support of the Argentinean Navy search and rescue efforts of the ARA San Juan (S-42) (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Lange/Released).
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The two P-8’s, along with sailors from the Patrol Squadron (VP) 5, VP-10, VP-45, VP-26, and Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11, arrived in Bahia Blanca, Argentina Nov 17 and Nov 19.
VP-5 will return to El Salvador’s Comalapa Air Base and resume the counter-illicit trafficking maritime patrol operations they were conducting prior to responding to Argentina’s request for help. VP-10, VP-26, VP-45, and CPRW-11 personnel will return to their home station at Naval Air Station Jacksonville in Jacksonville, Florida.
The URC deployed two independent rescue assets, the SRC and the PRM, Nov. 18. URC will return to their home station in San Diego, California.
Our hydroacoustic network detected an unusual signal near the last known position of #missing San Juan #submarine. The signal from an underwater impulsive event was detected 15 Nov 13:51 GMT, Lat -46.12 deg; Long: -59.69 deg. Details & data shared with Argentinian authorities. pic.twitter.com/SU5XHiICb4
US Navy Deploys Unmanned Submersibles in Argentine Submarine Search
Release Date: 11/19/2017 8:40:00 PM
From U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command Public Affairs
NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) — The U.S. Navy has deployed unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV) to join in the search for the Argentine navy’s submarine, A.R.A. San Juan, in South Atlantic waters.
The equipment consists of one Bluefin 12D (Deep) UUV and three Iver 580 UUVs, which are operated by the U.S. Navy’s recently-established Unmanned Undersea Vehicle Squadron 1, based in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
The UUVs are uniquely capable to help in the search. Both types are capable of deploying quickly and searching wide areas of the ocean using Side Scan Sonar, a system that is used to efficiently create an image of large areas of the sea floor. The Bluefin 12D is capable of conducting search operations at 3 knots (3.5 mph) at a maximum depth of almost 5,000 feet for 30 hours, while the Iver 580s can operate at a depth of 325 feet, traveling at 2.5 knots (2.8 mph) for up to 14 hours.
The U.S. government is providing rapid response capabilities, including aircraft, equipment and personnel to assist the government of Argentina in its search for the missing submarine.
In addition to the UUVs, the U.S. has deployed aircraft to assist in the search, as well as underwater equipment specifically designed for submarine search and rescue.
One Navy P-8A aircraft is already in Argentina, where it joined a NASA P-3 research aircraft currently supporting the ongoing search efforts over the submarine’s last known location.
U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) directed the deployment of this equipment and personnel to Argentina to support the country’s request for international assistance aimed at locating the missing submarine and crew.
SOUTHCOM is one of the nation’s six geographically-focused unified commands with responsibility for U.S. military operations in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
U.S. Navy to Deploy Undersea Rescue Capabilities to Argentina
Story Number: NNS171118-03Release Date: 11/18/2017 4:25:00 PM
From U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command Public Affairs
NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) — The U.S. Navy has ordered its Undersea Rescue Command (URC) based in San Diego, Calif., to deploy to Argentina, Nov. 18 to support the South American nation’s ongoing search for the Argentinean Navy submarine A.R.A. San Juan in the Southern Atlantic.
URC is deploying two independent rescue assets based on a number of factors, including the varying depth of ocean waters near South America’s southeastern coast and the differing safe operating depths of the two rescue systems.
Three U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III and one U.S. Air Force C-5 Galaxy aircraft will transport the first rescue system, the Submarine Rescue Chamber (SRC) and underwater intervention Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) from Miramar to Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina. The four aircraft are scheduled to depart Miramar Nov. 18 and arrive in Argentina Nov. 19.
The second rescue system, the Pressurized Rescue Module (PRM) and supporting equipment will be transported via additional flights and is scheduled to arrive in Argentina early next week.
RELEASE: U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon to Support Argentina Search for Submarine
Release No: 17-013 Nov. 17, 2017
NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. – U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) directed the U.S. Navy to deploy a P-8A Poseidon multi-mission maritime aircraft to Bahia Blanca, Argentina, Nov. 18 to support the South American nation’s ongoing search for the submarine A.R.A. San Juan in the waters of the Southern Atlantic.
The aircraft and its 21-person crew will depart El Salvador’s Comalapa Air Base, where it was supporting counter-illicit trafficking maritime patrol operations. Once in Bahia Blanca, they will join the ongoing international search for the Argentinean Navy vessel and its crew, as requested by the government of Argentina.
The P-8A Poseidon is the Navy’s newest maritime, patrol and reconnaissance aircraft and is configured with state-of-the-art sensors and communications equipment, allowing it to support a wide range of missions over large bodies of water, including sub-surface search-and-rescue operations. It can reach an airspeed of 564 mph, has a ceiling of 41,000 feet and a range of 1,200 nautical miles with four hours on station, allowing it to loiter over search areas.
Description
The P-8A Poseidon is a modified Boeing 737-800ERX, bringing together a highly reliable airframe and high-bypass turbo fan jet engine with a fully connected, state-of-the-art open architecture mission system. This combination, coupled with next-generation sensors, will dramatically improve anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and anti-surface warfare (ASuW) capabilities.
NASA is also assisting in the search by deploying a P-3 Orion, a maritime patrol plane operating under NASA’s Airborne Science Program.