Britain offers to help find Argentina’s missing submarine after crew failed to make contact on voyage near Falklands
THE British military has stepped forward to offer help finding a missing Argentinian submarine after crew failed to make contact on a voyage near the Falklands.
The sub - with 44 on board - is missing in the South Atlantic, prompting a massive search to locate the vessel which is feared to have suffered a communication breakdown.
The ARA San Juan submarine was in the southern Argentine Sea, 432 km (268 miles) from the Patagonian coast when it gave its last location two days ago.
Ships and aircraft have now been scrambled to search for the vessel.
Sky News Defence Correspondent Alistair Bunkall said the British Government has offered to assist, with an A C130 Hercules stationed in the Falklands Islands on standby if required.
"When the submarine has no communication with land, it has to go to the surface, and so visual or radar detection is what is important," Argentine naval spokesman Enrique Balbi told reporters.
"The search in the area remains hot."
On Friday afternoon, Argentina's foreign ministry said that the US, British and Chilean governments had offered logistical support and exchanges of information to assist with the search.
A Chilean aircraft with the ability to search during the night was en route to assist.
Balbi said the submarine had food supply for several days and would likely continue its journey despite communication problems.
