From the tip at Freeper it is more clear now the Argentine submarine ARA San Juan had a catastrophic failure of some sort that caused it to sink.
WAS NOT THE RESULT OF THE SUBMARINE STRIKING A NAVAL SEA MINE!
"Crew in missing Argentina submarine reported a fire, leak in final message"
". . . a spokesman for the Argentine Navy, told reporters that in it the ARA San Juan's last message, the vessel’s captain said water had entered through the snorkel when the sub was charging batteries. He said the water entered through the ventilation system to a battery connection tray in the prow and 'caused a short-circuit and the beginning of a fire, or smoke without flame.' Balbi said the captain later communicated via satellite phone that the problem had been contained. 'They had to electrically isolate the battery and continue sailing underwater to Mar del Plata using another battery circuit,'”..
Water entering the vessel from a snorkel failure cause electrical failure, the crew being unable to satisfactorily contain the damage, resulting in a chain-reaction-avalanche of difficulties? This seems to be the case.
coolbert.