UK offers Argentina our Falklands airbase in hunt for sub
BRITAIN yesterday offered its old enemy Argentina the use of the Falkland Islands airbase to help hunt for its missing submarine.
The ARA San Juan vanished more than a week ago with 44 crew aboard, including the country’s first woman submariner.
Nothing has been heard from it since and its oxygen supplies were due to run out yesterday.
As a desperate multi-national search went on, the UK offered Argentina the Mount Pleasant airfield on the disputed islands – scene of the 1982 invasion.
Britain also sent three liaison officers to the Argentine Navy HQ co-ordinating the hunt.
The humanitarian cooperation may help thaw relations between the former adversaries. But critics warned that Argentina, which still lays claim to the Falklands despite the locals’ desire to remain a UK territory, could use it as a scouting exercise.
The 32-year-old, 2,200-ton submarine went missing on a voyage from southern Argentina to its base at Mar del Plata, near Buenos Aires. Those on board included 35-year-old female sailor Eliana Krawczyk.
There were unconfirmed reports yesterday that a US Navy aircraft had found a “heat stain” 230ft down, 185 miles off the coast. A rescue vessel also reported hearing a sonar signal.
But Argentine navy spokesman Enrique Balbi said: ”We are in the critical phase, particularly with respect to oxygen. There has been no contact with anything that could be the San Juan.”
Britain has sent the ice patrol ship HMS Protector to join the search while a Falklands-based RAF Hercules has been scouring the sea from the air.
Yesterday the Ministry of Defence said the offshore patrol vessel HMS Clyde was heading to the search area with the Navy’s elite Submarine Parachute Assistance Group.
An RAF Voyager has also flown down from Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, carrying three tons of equipment including 12 deepwater life-support pods.
The MoD said: “The prayers of all involved are with the San Juan crew and their families.”