NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Santiago del Estero 1971 Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comm	Fate
Santa Fé (ex-Lambrey)	S11		Manitowoc SB, USA	2.1944	18.6.1944	11/1944 // 21.8.1960	BU 1971
Santiago del Estero (ex-Macabi)	S12		Manitowoc SB, USA	5.1944	19.9.1944	3/1945 // 21.8.1960	BU 1972
Santa Fé (ex-Catfish)	S21	109	Electric Boat, Groton, USA	1.1944	19.11.1944	3/1945 // 5.7.1971	beached 25.4.1982
Santiago del Estero (ex-Chivo)	S22	111	Electric Boat, Groton, USA	2.1944	14.1.1945	4/1945 // 1.7.1971	deleted 1983

Technical data

Displacement standard, t
Displacement normal, t	S11, 12: 1845 / 2415 S21: 1870 / 2440 S22: 1830 / 2440
Length, m	S11, 12: 92.2 wl 95.0 oa S21, 22: 93.6
Breadth, m	S11, 12: 8.31 S21, 22: 8.20
Draught, m	S11, 12: 4.65 S21, 22: 5.20
No of shafts	2
Machinery	4 General Motors diesel-generators / 4 electric motors
Power, h. p.	S11, 12: 5400 / 2740 S21, 22: 4610 / 5400
Max speed, kts	S11, 12: 20.25 / 8.75 S21: 18 / 16 S22: 18 / 15
Fuel, t	diesel oil 378 - 472
Endurance, nm(kts)	SS11, 12: 11000 (10) / 96 (2) S21, 22: 11000(10) / 100(3)
Armament	S11, 12: 10 - 533 TT (6 bow, 4 stern, 24) S21, 22: 10 - 533 TT (24 torpedoes or 40 mines, 6 bow, 4 stern)
Electronic equipment	S11, 12: SS, ST, SV radars, WFA, JT sonars, APR-1 ECM suite S21: SS, ST, SV radars, BQR-2, BQS-2, JT or SQR-3 sonars, APR-1 ECM suite S22: SS, SV, BPS-1 radars, BQR-2, BQS-2, JT or SQR-3 sonars, APR-1 ECM suite
Complement	S11, 12: 60 S21, 22: 82
Diving depth operational, m	120

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Santa Fe (i) was refitted at Mare Island Navy Yard, and commissioned 21 August 1960. Santa Fe (ii) received a GUPPY II refit in 1948-50.

Santiago del Estero (i) was refitted at Mare Island Navy Yard and commissioned 21 August I960. Santiago del Estero (ii) received a GUPPY IA refit in 1961.

Modernizations

1966, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero: fin was modernized.

Naval service

The Santa Fe (ii) was employed in the initial invasion of the Falklands. On 2 April 1982 a small force of frogmen swam from the submerged submarine off Port Stanley and secured the landing site for the 600-plus Argentine Marine Corps invasion force. On 25 April Santa Fe was attacked by three British helicopters while on the surface after she had dropped supplies to the Argentine garrison of S Georgia. The submarine was hit by a Wasp AS 12 missile; she managed to reach King Edward Cove where she settled on the bottom. One petty officer was severely wounded during the attack and another killed by a British sentry after the crew had been taken prisoners. The hulk has since been moved out of the anchorage. Santiago del Estero (ii) was not operational during the Falklands conflict. Initially the submarine remained at Mar del Plata, the primary submarine base. During April she was moved to Puerto Belgrano in an attempt to keep the Royal Navy guessing.