Iran Preparing for Submarine Ambush of US naval forces

Also how do they plan for an ambush when they just broadcast their intent to everyone doesn't make a lot of sense . Kinda like a bank robber calling the bank to let them know he is on the way to the bank have the safe open

Originally posted by CALGARIAN
LOL Old German diesel subs... US Navy won't need sonar, they can hear them coming.
Btw, you dont think US has subs in the region? Bet there are a whole fleet watching the area.

Iran doesn't have any German subs AFAIK - this article from mid 2011 lists it's fleet as:

Iran's submarine force currently consists of three Russian Kilo-class diesel-electric submarines (Tareq 901, Noor 902, Yunes 903), one 500-ton Nahang and four 120-ton Yono-class (also referred to as Qadir or Ghadir-class) midget submarines.

(the reference given for this dates to 2009)

The Kilo's date from 1992-1996 (commissioning dates), but are too big to be useful in the gulf - as of course are all USN nuclear submarines against any anti-submarine force - although in the absence of such a force they could be useful.

the smaller submarines are probably more dangerous, despite having considerably less capabilities than the Kilo's, their size makes them suitable for the shallow waters. They are all capable of carrying and laying mines which would likely be the major weapon of the Iranians against the USN as they can be laid away from the target, whereas torpedoes require getting up close and personal and the enemy knowing you are around somewhere when they strike.

According to the article the Iranians do not have any submarine launched missiles.

Originally posted by freedomSlave
Also how do they plan for an ambush when they just broadcast their intent to everyone doesn't make a lot of sense . Kinda like a bank robber calling the bank to let them know he is on the way to the bank have the safe open

not really - it is a useful device to raise tensions, put pressure on the enemy allies, etc.

And of course any submarine campaign is, by default, a campaign of ambush - that is what submarines do. And all sides know that - the Iranians are jsut reminding everyone in public what is already known in military circles.

So they really haven't given away any important information at all - but have still upped the ante.

The SuperCavitating Torpedo

Since no one has mentioned it here ....the Iranians have successfully reverse engineered the Russian Shkval
SuperCavitating Torpedo

The SuperCavitating Torpedo creates a vacuum ahead of the Torpedo thus reducing the friction and resistance of the water through which it is penetrating allowing it to reach speeds in excess of 200 mph.

Far too fast for a 30 Knot top speed warship to outmaneuver.

The bubble encasement also makes it undetectable by traditional Sonar.

It uses a massive bubble shock wave underneath the Keel of it's target and is suspected as to have been the type of Torpedo used in the North Korean sinking of the South Korean Cruiser Cheonan.

And also as to why Sonar Operators on the Cheonan were unable to detect the Torpedo which sunk their vessel.

Our Russian "friends" have sold Shkval torpedoes to the Iranians—as well as submarines from which to launch them. The Russians believed Shkval could not be reversed engineered.

They were wrong. Today, Iran manufactures its own supercavitating torpedo, claiming it can reach speeds in excess of Shkval's.

The speed of the Russian Shkval was in the range of 200 mph whereas a standard Heavy Torpedo maxes at 40-50 mph.

The Iranian Mini Subs as with the N. Koreans are capable of firing these torpedoes.

.. And, in both Moscow and Tehran there was recognition, that if a heavy torpedo was used with such success, their supercavitating torpedoes will be unstoppable against the US Navy.

Perhaps this is what Iran's Navy is alluding to for the tactic appears similar by that implemented by the N. Koreans to sink the Cheonan.

Peace


www.godlikeproductions.com...

I'm pretty sure the US knows about supercavitating torpedoes - and as for detecting them with sonar - my understanding is that cavitation is one of the noisiest things in the water, and as soon as one of these is fired every ship for 100 miles will know it if it has hydrophones!

Of course it is not undefeatable - for example publicly available information through google concentrates on the possibility of an acoustic system that would deform the cavitation bubble - causing the torpedo to slam into the surrounding water at 200mph and disintegrate - google search, and yuo can be sure the US and otehr navies are spending a lot of money on this very subject.

a 200 mph torpedo would cover it's reported maximum range of 7000 or so metres in about 1.3 minutes - this is very fast - but it is not instantaneous, and still a lot slower than, say, and missile.

U.S.S. Cole

The U.S.S. Cole, the American ship that was almost destroyed by Al Qaeda suicide bombers in a small motor launch in Aden. Those suicide bombers simply drove up to the side of the Cole and set off their bomb. They killed 17 sailors and wounded 39.

Do a Google search of U.S.S.Cole and see what results you get. The attack above was from Al Queda. Could have been anyone.