Iran says tests missiles able to sink "big warships"

reuters ^ | Feb 8, 2007 | Reuters

[Flavius]

EHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's Revolutionary Guards test fired missiles in wargames on Thursday which a commander said could sink "big warships" in the Gulf, Sea of Oman and the north of the Indian Ocean, the state broadcaster said.

Iran is at loggerheads with the United States over its disputed nuclear program and what Washington calls its meddling in Iraq. The United States has ordered a second aircraft carrier to the Gulf to step up pressure on Iran.

"These missiles, with a maximum range of 350 km (220 miles), can hit different kinds of big warships in all of the Persian Gulf, all of the Sea of Oman and the north of the Indian Ocean," senior Revolutionary Guards naval commander Ali Fadavi said.

Fadavi was also quoted by the state broadcaster's Web site as saying that the warhead of this missile had the capacity to sink "all kinds of big warships".

State television reported that the missile tests, staged on the second day of wargames by the Guards' naval and air units, were "to show that Iran is able to confront any possible threats."

Washington accuses the Iran of seeking to develop atomic weapons, a charge Iran denies. Tehran also dismisses allegations that it is backing militants in Iraq.

[airborne]

Fadavi was also quoted by the state broadcaster's Web site as saying that the warhead of this missile had the capacity to sink "all kinds of big warships".

At least that's what the Russian salesman told him!

[tobyhill]

Oh what BS these Iranians can come up with.

[driftdiver]

"..Web site as saying that the warhead of this missile had the capacity to sink "all kinds of big warships"."

As long as they'll fit in the bath tub of course. They haven't quite worked out the severe bathtub shortage issue though.

[SomeoneNeedsToSayIt]

Here's the problem with that logic.

You may be able to sink big warships with your Russian made missiles.

The big question is can you sink them all at once?

And please remember my good friend, lots of our big warships don't travel on the surface.

[Niteranger68]

"Big Warships"

Like this one?

[Thrownatbirth]

At least that's what the Russian salesman told him!

He made the same claim back in the '60's. I believe it was the Styx (SS-N-2) missile that was promised to make aircraft carriers obsolete. By 1970, Styx was obsolete.

[Jeff Gordon]

There are a couple of carrier groups in the Persian Gulf for them to practice on.

The US Navy has a lot of balls to be cruising around in that little pond begging Iran to take their best shots.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Whom do you think they're playing to? The LSM media?

The relatively tiny Stark did not sink when sucker punched by Iraq. I doubt they can land a lethal blow to a U.S. carrier. If they try real hard they may sink one or two smaller U.S. ships, but at enormous cost, in terms of reprisals.

One thing is certain, if they fire on a U.S. ship, their nuclear weapons program is soooo over.

[Thrownatbirth]

The US Navy has a lot of balls to be cruising around in that little pond

You build and weaponize these ships precisely to do that. You have to sail into harm's way.

[usmcobra]

I'm waiting for the article that says "US testing missiles that will sink small countries."

[familyop]

They might be able to sink big ones, but they'll *not* likely sink ours. Our US Navy is more ready than in the past. It's good to see that they're so focused on what's in front of them, though. [s]

If Iran fires, her leaders' fantasies of power will evaporate overnight. The whole problem will be solved very quickly and with very few US and civilian casualties. We'll hear about it when it's virtually over.

[philman_36]

Iran says tests missiles able to sink "big warships"

US Navy says, "Go Ahead, Make Our Day".

[sukhoi-30mki]

By the time it became obsolete,the Styx had sunk more than a few enemy ships & attacked targets on land as well.

[SlowBoat407]

Incoming, R2! Take it out!

(whistle squeak pop... brrrrrrrrrrrrapppp.)

[capitalist229]

The trap is baited.

We await 28 years of payback.

BUMP

[snowrip]

We already have them.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

We should fire a couple of missles over Iran as a ditto.

[Thrownatbirth]

By the time it became obsolete,the Styx had sunk more than a few enemy ships & attacked targets on land as well.

Yep. The Israelis paid dearly in '67, but the USN already had countermeasures in place, even on the smaller DDs and DEs. When I became an EW in '72, Styx was a no-brainer; there was a whole new generation of guidance systems to worry about.

[philman_36]

"R2D2 with a hard on" says..."I fart in your general direction."