Every September 3rd, Argentine Submariner's Day is commemorated in memory of the arrival of the Navy's first submarines at the Mar del Plata Naval Base in 1933.

Those ships were the ARA Santa Fe, the ARA Salta, and the ARA Santiago del Estero, known as the “Tarantinos” because they were built at the Franco Tosti shipyard in Taranto, Italy. The three vessels set sail for Buenos Aires on January 26, 1933, under the command of Commander Ramón A. Poch, and sailed with an Argentine crew for more than 7,000 miles, almost nonstop, for 40 days.

The first to arrive in Mar del Plata was the Santa Fe, and on September 3rd, 1933, the remaining two arrived. This date is recognized as the beginning of the history of the Submarine Force Command.

The “tarantinos” served until 1960. Since then, different generations of submarines have joined the Navy, renewing the capabilities of this force. Argentine submariners have been trained in the values of discipline, commitment, and courage, carrying out work that is highly demanding both professionally and personally. Their specialized training allows them to operate in extreme conditions, ensuring the surveillance and protection of our country's maritime spaces in defense of national sovereignty.

Today, we pay tribute to the personnel who make up the Argentine Navy's Submarine Force and to all those who, throughout history, have left their mark on this naval specialty.