Testimonies – Beagle Conflict 1978: “Attack the Enemy Submarine”
“In ’78, I was a Second-Class Petty Officer in the Argentine Navy, serving aboard the landing ship ARA Cabo San Antonio. During the Beagle Conflict, we were transporting Marine Infantry troops and supplies towards the south.
At the outset, when we set sail, we were told that we would be navigating without radio communication with higher command, so that the Chileans could not intercept our transmissions.
One evening, at dusk, we supposedly detected a Chilean submarine beneath our ship (which was said to have crossed into Argentine territorial waters). As time passed and it remained there, it was decided to attack it.
I don’t know whether that decision came from higher up (as radio silence was in place) or from our ship’s commanding officer.
Depth charges were dropped, fearing that the submarine might attack us, and hoping that this defensive action would drive it away.
The next morning, at dawn, oil-like patches were spotted on the surface, along with bits of metal or tin, or something of that sort. We never knew what it really was...
We served our country, and we would do it again.”
(Gonzalez, Juan Carlos – Argentine veteran, Beagle Channel Conflict)