I am pleased to announce the winner of the 2008 Subsim Story contest:
Almost Successful: ARA San Luis War Patrol
Mariano Sciaroni
With
J. Matthew Gillis
Quote:
The Armada de la República Argentina (ARA) submarine San Luis (S-32) was one of the two new Type 209 submarines in service in 1982 with the Argentine Navy. The drums of war sounded on April 2nd, 1982 surprising San Luis and all of its crew, including her commander, docked at a pier of Mar del Plata Naval Base (BNMP), home base of the small ARA submarine force.
The surprise came because the Navy High Command chose not to inform the commanders of the diverse units not directly involved, about an operation initially designated "Blue" and later (mid-approach to target) "Rosary". This operation was the assault on the Malvinas/Falklands Islands.
However, ARA San Luis did not receive the order to get ready for a combat patrol until 24 hours after the assault of the Malvinas/Falkland, by an order issued by the Submarine Forces Command (COFUERSUB) numbered it as 2/82. COFUERSUB ordered the San Luis to "disrupt the operations of the British Expeditionary Force in the Malvinas–Georgias focal area, in order to contribute to maintaining and consolidating the conquest of the Malvinas"
The TOAS (South Atlantic Theater of Operations) commander, an ‘old school’ submarine officer, Vice Admiral Lombardo, had reasoned validly that a conventional diesel/electric submarine could not go safely to seek an encounter with the enemy, but instead "needs to be in a patrol area and to wait for it there".
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I am adding five runner ups prizes: Silent Hunter 4 t-shirts to:
Chris Weisensel:
Puppies of the Pacific
Andrew Glenn:
The Krusanov Ultimatum
Kit Walker:
Der Schlafende Drache
Alan ‘Chock’ Bradbury:
Do You Believe in Miracles, Jake?
Wayne K. Mathias:
Der Spanier
All authors published in the Almanac will receive a complimentary copy of the book when it is published in early December. Additonally, I am considering several other stories submitted for inclusion in the 2008 Submarine Almanac. I will notify these authors pending final editing of the book.
Many thanks for submitting your work!
Neal