Iran test fires 'world's fastest' underwater missile ( April 2006)

The register.co.uk ^ | Published Monday 3rd April 2006 06:43 GMT | By Lester Haines

[Perdogg]

Iran last Friday test fired what it claims is the world's fastest underwater missile - reported to have a top speed of 360km/h (233mph), according to the BBC.

Special Republican guard troops fired the weapon - dubbed "Hoot" or Whale - and successfully destroyed a derelict ship in the Gulf as part of Iran's "Holy Prophet" war games. Iranian TV interrupted normal broadcasts to show footage of the test.

This latest bit of sabre-rattling, certain to irritate the US whose 5th Fleet operates in the area, comes hot on the heels of a test last week of a multi-warhead conventional missile.

[Perdogg]

This is a Russian Copy of the Shkval. The US Navy doesn't have a weapon like this. It works on the principle of Supercavitation

[Perdogg]

ping

[Dutch Boy]

What is the maximum theoretical underwater speed? It seems to me that once you hit a certain speed it would require a massive amount of fuel to move it a smidge faster.

[Liberty Valance]

"...and successfully destroyed a derelict ship in the Gulf as part of Iran's "Holy Prophet" war games. Iranian TV interrupted normal broadcasts to show footage of the test."

[Perdogg]

328 ft/s (100 m/s)or

200-knots or

230 mph (360 kph)

This is with a 460 lb HE warhead. It works on the concept of Supercavitation not fuel.

[pabianice]

This type of weapon can barely turn and is therefore useless against a fast-moving target.

[Sender]

This is a strange technology. It operates by creating an air "bubble" along the nose cone so that the torpedo can move faster than displacing pure water. I can't quite fathom how this works though, because there still has to be enough water displaced to allow the passage of the bubble and the torpedo...and that takes a huge amount of energy at these speeds.

Anyway, if they do indeed work, they are a danger for tankers and our warships, but Iran needs to worry about what comes from the skies. We don't need no steenking bubble.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Did the Iranians release any photoshopped photos of the test?

[angkor]

It’s probably can’t outrun the shockwave of a 2kt tactical nuke.

[jdege]

What do they expect to hit with an unguided missile?

[G.Mason]

Well ... that's it then!

Iran seems to be able to kick everyones a$$, everywhere.

I suggest we sue for peace and HOPE for some CHANGE in the way Iranians treat us.

Nipples & dimes will be fine.

[edpc]

This all sounds very impressive until you find the system has a range of 7-13K meters, or about 4-8 miles. No Iranian vessel capable of carrying this weapon would get anwhere close to this distance from a US Navy ship without being destroyed first, especially after the British naval personnel incident from last year.

[AZ .44 MAG]

“Nipples & dimes will be fine.”

Think they’re trying to tweak us?

LOL

[Perdogg]

Oil Tankers or Aircraft carriers. The problem is I imagine that a sub that carries these is being manned by the IRGC Navy whose sailors don’t care about their own lives, which would make them more of a threat.

[SlapHappyPappy]

The problem is that just about every Iranian claim is shown to be untrue if there is any way of verifying the information.

Russia may let Iran copy something, but unless Russia builds it for them, it’s probably crap.

[Perdogg]

I believe it’s time to hit them and I have said this since 2004 thankyouverymuch.

[Perdogg]

I am sure the North Koreans lent some technical assistance.

[SlapHappyPappy]

I’m not 100% sold on NK technology either, to be frank. But they do seem better than Iran, FWIW.

[edpc]

If they were able to get close enough (which I seriously doubt), there would be little time to maneuver. However, at its maximum range (reportedly) of about 8 miles, it would take a little more than 2 minutes to reach it’s target. Seems to me that’s enough time to take evasive action.

[musicman]

"Iran test fires 'world's fastest' underwater missile ( April 2006)"