-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 WTXgXXzS6C6gdfd2NU1TqA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001285650-06-000004.txt : 20060119
<SEC-HEADER>0001285650-06-000004.hdr.sgml : 20060119
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060119160130
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001285650-06-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060118
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060119
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060119

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CALAMOS STRATEGIC TOTAL RETURN FUND
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001275214
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2020 CALAMOS COURT
		CITY:			NAPERVILLE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60653
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6305779688

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2020 CALAMOS COURT
		CITY:			NAPERVILLE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60653

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TRIPPLE DAVID D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001010506

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-21484
		FILM NUMBER:		06538289

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		60 STATE STREET 19TH FLOOR
		STREET 2:		60 STATE STREET 19TH FLOOR
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109-1820
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6302457296

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2020 CALAMOS COURT
		CITY:			NAPERVILLE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60563
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-01-18</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001275214</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CALAMOS STRATEGIC TOTAL RETURN FUND</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CSQ</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001010506</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TRIPPLE DAVID D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2020 CALAMOS COURT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NAPERVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60563</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-01-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.13</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ James S. Hamman, Jr. Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-01-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
