The Colombian narco terrorists FARC have used submarines or at least semi-submersibles before…. but this is pretty amazing and may be a step further. This appears to be a pretty big, full blown submarine. According to reports this was recovered by the Colombian military in Timbiqui on the Pacific coast, and is believed to have been designed to smuggle narcotics up the Pacific coast to Mexico. Colombian sources estimate it cost over $2Million to build. but could carry up to 8 tons of illegal narcotics…. simple ROI.
I’m no submariner but it looks to me that this is designed to run, probably, on a snorkel – I would guess it is powered entirely by conventional air breathing engines, meaning the tip of the mast has to be above the surface at all times. I would wager it doesn’t have battery powered motors (but that’s a guess). I wonder how they managed to maintain trim?
In terms of context this report from a year ago here, gives some useful context on modus operandi and operational issues. Note the reference in the report to a system for cooling exhaust gases to prevent IR surveillance. Note too that by February 2010, the Colombian authorities has already seized over fifty submersibles. That’s quite a fleet. Note too that in Ecuador a 30ft fully submersible submarines with electric motors and capable of a 20m dive was recovered in July 2009.
Here’s an interesting video with more background, from a couple of years ago. Here’s a link to another big sub picked up in Ecuador.
