Report shows missing Argentine sub had been sent on a Falklands patrol mission
Documents subpoenaed by Argentina's Congress revealed that the submarine ARA San Juan, which disappeared on November 15, had been sent on a mission to monitor ships and aircraft in and around the disputed Falkland Islands.
The confidential Argentine Navy report, dated one month before the San Juan's disappearance, was submitted by Marcos Peña, Chief of Staff to President Mauricio Macri.
The report details the complete mission of ARA San Juan with handwritten coordinates - including two locations just miles off the eastern coast of the Falklands.
One of the specified operations coordinates (52° 00'S 57° 57'W) is 20 miles south of the capital, Stanley. The other (52° 20'S 57° 57' W) is around 23 miles further south, and within 30 miles of East Falkland.
The objective of the mission was stated as "the location, identification, photographic/film registration of ships, oil tankers, research vessels of other flags, etc., that were unloading with a fishing vessel."
Secondary objectives included "verifying the compliance of agreements signed by both countries, regarding the obligation to report movements of ships and aircraft in particular areas."
The Falkland Islands, disputed by Argentina and the U.K. since 1833, have for decades been alleged to serve as a base for seafood poaching off Argentine waters - extended to 350 miles by a 2016 UN ruling.
The relation of the ARA San Juan with the Falklands had been denied in repeated opportunities by the Navy and Defense Minister Oscar Aguad. Family members of the victims have repeatedly called on Aguad to resign.
Forty-four crew members died in still-undetermined circumstances.
"This document was not seen by the relatives," a parent of one of the victims said. "They told us in writing what the OP was, and the briefing they gave us coincided with what my son told me - but not with this corrected data."
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The ARA San Juan in Buenos Aires last May. Both Navy officers shown were among the 44 killed.