TheSubReport.com
Posted on 04/13/2006 6:30:38 AM PDT by esryle
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The silent submarine forces of the United States, Israel and Iran are all ramping up for a hot war, adding yet more tension to an already volatile Middle East -- made all the more uneasy by Iran's relentless march to become a nuclear power.
Leading off the always lurking and deadly wolfpacks is Israel's fleet of Dolphin-class submarines, each carrying U.S.-supplied Harpoon cruise missiles -- armed with nuclear warheads.
The Israel submarines can remain at sea for a month and are equipped with six torpedo tubes appropriate for conventional torpedoes. The tubes can also be used to launch the nuclear-tipped cruise missiles -- missiles that could reach some of the targeted sites in Iran critical to its nuclear development.
Starting with just three of these Dolphin-class undersea intruders, the Israeli inventory quickly went to a fourth and a fifth. And there are reportedly at least a half-dozen in the pipeline -- two being built by the People's Republic of China.
Although most particulars of Iran's military assets -- both personnel and hardware -- is closely held by that country, military experts opine that Iran has up to six Russian-built SSK or SSI Kilo-class diesel submarines prowling the Gulf.
Most recently, Iran's armed forces added to this fleet by deploying a new locally built submarine in Persian Gulf waters, state television reported.
The vessel was christened the Nahang, meaning whale. Built by the Iranian Defense Ministry, the sub has the capability "to carry multipurpose weapons for different missions," according to Iranian Rear Adm. Sajjad Kouchaki.
"The submarine is fully adapted to the Persian Gulf," he said, adding that the Iranian navy is pursuing a policy of deterrence in the strategic waters.
Perhaps even more significant, is the recent Iranian deployment of a super high-speed torpedo. The new torpedo was reportedly successfully tested last month during war games that Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards held in the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea.
State news sources touted the successfully test-firing of the new torpedo, called the "Hoot." The development ups the profile of Iran's power in the Gulf, where the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet is based to, among other things, safeguard the flow of oil.
Gen. Ali Fadavi, deputy head of the Revolutionary Guards' navy, said that the torpedo, speeding at 223 miles per hour, was too fast to elude.
"It has a very powerful warhead designed to hit big submarines," Fadavi told state television.
Meanwhile, the Bush administration recently announced plans to add conventional ballistic missiles to the armory of its nuclear Trident submarines –- adding yet another potential arm to any military option considered against Iran, if diplomacy and/or sanctions fail to persuade that country to give up its nuclear designs.
According to Defense Daily last January, four ultra-stealthy Ohio-class Strategic Nuclear Submarines, or SSBNs, were having their 24 Trident II D-5 nuclear ballistic missiles removed and replaced with up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
I hope our submarines make alot of noise soon. This thing with Iran has been a festering sore since the Carter Administration. It is time to clean up Jimmy's mess.
In the event of war, Iran's "silent submarine force" will be destroyed in less than 24 hours.
Iran -- we're talking to you...
You don't know much about D/E boats I take it. They are harder to detect than a nuc boat unless they are snorkling. They are pefectly suited to the littoral waters of the Persian gulf and especially the Suez canal.
I have the utmost faith in our ASW forces but the Kilo should not be underestimated, in it's environment it could prove to be a very nasty foe.
Actually the submariners hope they dont make alot of noise...
I wouldnt put a lot of stock in the Iranian Navy's submarine program. The Iranian "whale" submarine looks to me like it has the same size and seakeeping ability of the WWII German Seehund boats.
They have a few export Kilo boats, and a little bit of advanced technology to go with it, but Kilo's are a known commodity to the US Navy. I imagine the Israeli navy knows a thing or two about them too.
I hope everyone does remember who started this mess. Thank you Jimmy Carter.
susie
I think you're giving them about 23 hours I wouldn't.
I agree that these boats can be deadly. If you don't think a diesel / electric boat is quiet when running submerged, take a minute and raise the hood of your car and listen to the battery.
I understand that when running electric, they are dead silent. If they have been operating in these waters for some time now, do you think that we have 'signatures' on each of their boats and have at least a reasonable idea of where they are? I would hope so.
But what we saw in Iraq (both times) is that some military folks don't make proper use of what they have.
If the Iranian navy used active sonar when looking for our subs, I wouldn't be surprised. There is a lot of bone-headed things they could do. We might say: "They'd never do anything that stupid!"
Wait and see. Iraq made many, many embarassing mistakes.
Can a submarine travel the length of the Suez Canal and not be detected?
Some canals are more difficult to traverse without being spotted.
Yeah training of the submariners is the top factor.
The US navy performs exercises with D/E boats from European and South American countries, even a Kilo from Poland. We can detect them but if the guys operating know what they are doing they are the only subs that can actually go dead quiet. A nuc boat always puts out a 50 or 60 cycle hum depending on it's country of origin.
Photo didn't come through.
Depends on the guys operating and what the ASW forces are using for detection. Running at 3(ish) knots on batteries a D/E boat is pretty much completely silent. No sub can hide from a Magnetic anomaly detector but the detection range on those is fairly small. Active sonar (pings) can also find anything but it gives away the position of anything using it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_anomaly_detector
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