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Columbia's two (90 ton (submerged) SX-506 mini-subs (Scroll 2/3s down here for photo and specifications)
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Both 206s being loaded on BBC Sapphire for the journey to Columbia (Photo courtesy Kieler Nachrichten)
" Colombian submarines traveling piggyback
NavalTodaydotcom, November 12, 2015, reports http://navaltoday.com/2015/11/12/columbian-navy-acquires-two-subs-from-germany/
Columbian Navy Acquires Two Subs From Germany
Two [Type 206(see photo above)] submarines left the ThyssenKrupp Shipyard in Kiel, Germany and headed to Colombia, November 11, [2015] and are expected to arrive at the Naval Base ARC Bolívar by November end.
...The newly arrived [206s] will receive the same names as their predecessors, namely ARC Intrepido and ARC Indomable and will be used for drug interdiction operations.
The purchase agreement for the [206s] was concluded in August, 2012, between Colombian Ministry of National Defense and the German Federal Ministry of Defence.
Modernization and upgrades were performed by [TKMS] in Kiel, Germany. Each of the submarines has a displacement of 500 tonnes, accommodates 23 people and measures 49 meters.
These units will strengthen the existing fleet of two ocean-going Pijao-class, [TKMS] Type 209 submarines and replace the two Italian made SX-506 submarines (see photo below) with 40 years of service in the Colombian submarine force.
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Both 206s being loaded on BBC Sapphire for the journey to Columbia (Photo courtesy Kieler Nachrichten)
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I was also leafing through the Kieler Nachrichten as usual :) the other day when I noticed an article in it published: Sunday, 08.11.2015 in which Frank Behling reported the 206 being loaded on a ship (see photo above)http://www.kn-online.de/News/Aktuelle-Nachrichten-Kiel/Nachrichten-aus-Kiel/Kieler-Marinearsenal-Kolumbianische-U-Boote-reisen-huckepack:
...The overhaul of [206s] for Colombia had according to unconfirmed information only [cost ] in the lower double-digit million [Euro] range. While [ex] "U 23" and "U 24" [are now] "Indomable" and "Intrepido" [return to] use, German sister boats"U 16" and "U 18" [have been sold to Columbia for cannibalization - spare parts].
COMMENT/BACKGROUND
I have a theory that the Columbian 206s will be heavily involved in monitoring drug/narco submarines and low profile boats travelling from Columbia to central America and Mexico. (see map below).
If the anti-drug function is central then it would be interesting to know the extent that US anti-drug and military money funded the 206s? US funds may have perhaps (?) gone to the Columbian military or to the German Government and onto TKMS to part-fund the upgrades to the two 206s. Such part funding may explain the low costs of the 206 upgrades (perhaps as low as 10 million Euros each judging from the Kieler Nachrichten article.
The 206s modernization/upgrades may include new sonars, electronics in the combat system, air conditioning for warmer tropical water and climate, new paintjob in Columbian Navy colours and de-rusting for the steel hulls.
The two Pijao-class (ARC Pijao and ARC Tyrona), Type 209/1200 submarines are 40 year old, commissioned in 1975, they were upgraded in 2009 and 2011 but would be nearing retirement in the 2020s? TKMS may have priced the 206 renovations at low prices as a sweetener to encourage Columbia to perhaps buy Types 210mods in the next decade.
(Map courtesy Honduprensa) The mainly cocaine drug flows north from Columbia and Venezuela to central America for further transporting up to the US.
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One of Columbia's Pijao class sub Type 209/1200s (just 1,200 tons surfaced) sails slowly into the East (or West) (Photo courtesy Pan American Defense)
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Pete