08/07/2026 15:04 - Judiciales
On July 8, 2026, the Federal Oral Court of Santa Cruz issued its ruling in the trial for the sinking of the Argentine Navy submarine ARA San Juan, which tragically disappeared on November 15, 2017. By a majority, the judges sentenced Claudio Villamide, the former Commander of the Submarine Force, to three years of suspended prison (meaning he will not serve time in jail unless he commits another offense). He was found guilty of negligent damage causing death (known locally as 'estrago culposo') for the loss of the 44 crew members, and breach of duty as a public official.
The tribunal, composed of judges Mario Gabriel Reynaldi (president), Enrique Nicolás Baronetto, and Luis Alberto Giménez, unanimously acquitted the other three defendants: Rear Admiral Luis López Mazzeo, Captain Héctor Alonso, and Frigate Captain Héctor Correa. The complete legal grounds for the sentence will be read on August 21, 2026.
| Defendant | Rank/Position at the time | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| Claudio Villamide | Former Submarine Force Commander | 3 years suspended prison for negligent damage and breach of duty |
| Luis López Mazzeo | Commander of Training and Readiness | Acquitted |
| Héctor Alonso | Former Chief of Staff of the Submarine Force Command | Acquitted |
| Héctor Correa | Former Chief of Operations of the Submarine Force Command | Acquitted |
To acquit Alonso and Correa, the court understood that they did not have command over the event, as they served as advisors within the General Staff and were not part of the chain of command with direct decision-making capacity. In López Mazzeo's case, the court considered that direct control over the submarine was not within his specific functions.
The ARA San Juan was an Argentine Navy submarine that vanished on November 15, 2017 while sailing back from Ushuaia (the southernmost city in the world) to the naval base in Mar del Plata. Almost exactly a year later, in November 2018, the vessel was located at a depth of 907 meters (about 2,975 feet) in the South Atlantic, roughly 500 kilometers off the coast of the Valdés Peninsula in Patagonia. This tragic accident claimed the lives of 43 men and 1 woman who made up the crew, leaving a profound mark on Argentine history.
Before hearing the verdict, Claudio Villamide proclaimed his innocence and questioned the accuracy of the prosecution. “To this day, I do not clearly understand why I have been accused of the shipwreck. They have not been able to indicate what I did wrong or what the breach of my duties was that caused the loss of control of the ship,” he stated.
The former commander highlighted that there is still no definitive explanation for the mechanics of the tragedy and defended the training of the submariners, describing the process as “a trial against the Navy.” In closing, he paid tribute to the 44 crew members and affirmed that Captain Pedro Fernández and his crew “honored the highest Brownian and Argentine Navy traditions.” (Note: 'Brownian' refers to Admiral William Brown, the Irish-born founder of the Argentine Navy).
Alfredo S. Quiroga
