From Navy Times

 

Iran says it plans major gulf naval exercise

 

By Philip Ewing - Staff writer

Posted : Tuesday Nov 27, 2007 5:38:40 EST

 

Iran’s navy will stage a large exercise in the Persian Gulf in February, an official English-language Tehran newspaper reported Sunday, including maneuvers planned specifically for the Strait of Hormuz, the choke point through which some 20 percent of the world’s oil passes.

 

Code-named “Etand 86,” or “Unity 86,” the exercise will include the operational debut of a homebuilt diesel-electric attack submarine, The Tehran Times reported. Navy commander Rear Adm. Habibollah Sayari told the newspaper that the navy expected to take delivery of the new sub on Wednesday, Iran’s national navy day. A state news service also reported that Iran was claiming it would accept a new destroyer the same day.

 

“The navy has the potential to control all enemy movements in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman and to give a crushing answer to enemies when needed thanks to domestically-made equipment,” Sayari told the Times. He called the U.S. presence in the Persian Gulf “a propaganda campaign” against Iran, and he said that “foreign forces should leave the region as soon as possible so to escape the quagmire they have created for themselves.”

 

The U.S. has maintained a carrier strike group — and, at times, two — in the 5th Fleet area of operations since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The Enterprise strike group is on station there now, to be relieved in a few weeks by the Harry S. Truman Strike Group.

 

There were few details about the new ships that officials said were joining the Iranian fleet. According to Jane’s Fighting Ships, the Iranian navy fields three Russian-built Kilo-class diesel-electric subs, but there are reports that it plans new types of small, coastal defense boats. Jane’s lists no destroyers in the Iranian fleet; it says that Iran’s largest surface warships are the 1,350-ton Alvand-class frigates.

 

[CV32: Anyone have decent technical information on the new Iranian sub - supposedly called 'Ghadir' ? Some links follow:

 

Pics of the sub with President Bob Barker (er, Ahminejad) checking her out here

 

YouTube video of a model of the sub (I especially like the part where they say it is difficult to track with radar while underwater ... well, thats a breakthrough !)

 

... or on the new Iranian destroyer - supposedly called 'Moj' ?]

Combat Fleets says that the Zolfaqar (of which 3 have been apparently ordered) will be 88 meters long and 1400 tonnes in displacement. They claim it will be capable of making 30 knots and is to be able to preform AAW, ASuW, and ASW. There will be a helo. The initial ship was planned to be completed in 2001 and the third in 2003. The “hull” is said to be of 70% Iranian manufacture and the “missile launcher” 90%, indicating a large amount of foreign (Chinese?) input.

 

The Iranian navy is calling this a destroyer.

 

No other information is given. If any of the above information is anywhere near correct (and I wouldn't bet the farm on that), then this indicates a vessel that is slightly smaller than a Gepard class frigate, which is 1600 tonnes standard.

 

The sub is.....small. Smaller than even the old German Type 205s and they were tiny. I can't speculate on it's capabilities other than it can't be all that hot on underwater endurance due to the warm weather of the Gulf. (lack of heat dissipation kills batteries, they have the same problem with their Kilo's).

 

Later

D

Combat Fleets says that the Zolfaqar (of which 3 have been apparently ordered) will be 88 meters long and 1400 tonnes in displacement. They claim it will be capable of making 30 knots and is to be able to preform AAW, ASuW, and ASW. There will be a helo. The initial ship was planned to be completed in 2001 and the third in 2003. The “hull” is said to be of 70% Iranian manufacture and the “missile launcher” 90%, indicating a large amount of foreign (Chinese?) input. The Iranian navy is calling this a destroyer.

 

Barely a frigate, more like a corvette. I've seen the names Jamaran and Moudge II applied to the first two hulls ?

 

The sub is.....small. Smaller than even the old German Type 205s and they were tiny. I can't speculate on it's capabilities other than it can't be all that hot on underwater endurance due to the warm weather of the Gulf. (lack of heat dissipation kills batteries, they have the same problem with their Kilo's).

 

Yes, a mini sub more than anything. Supposedly derived from or similar to the DPRK Sang-O ? Can't imagine that fiberglass hull doing much to help with the heat dissipation problem.