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US Warship Spots 2 Iranian Subs in Persian Gulf
Officials aboard the cruiser Vicksburg spotted and photographed two surfaced Iranian Kilo-class submarines in the Persian Gulf a few weeks ago, the ships skipper told U.S. Navy Secretary Donald Winter during a visit to the ship on Nov. 24. The Russian-designed diesel-electric attack subs were tracked and photographed by sailors onboard the Mayport, Fla.-based ship, said Capt. Chip Swicker. Crew members showed Winter the photographs of the surfaced subs. The Vicksburg did not communicate with either of the subs, Swicker said.They watched us and we watched them. Crew members aboard the cruiser didnt consider the encounters hostile, although it wasnt clear if the Iranian boats surfaced within view of the cruiser or if the U.S. warship happened to see the Iranian subs while they were already running on the surface. Iran has a fleet of three Kilo-class SSKs, according to Janes Fighting Ships. Swicker indicated the Vicksburg was close enough to Iranian waters at the times of the encounters that crew members didnt consider it out of the ordinary to see Iranian navy vessels. Winter, accompanied by a Navy Times reporter, was aboard the ship as part of a nine-day trip through Iraq, Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf. The Vicksburg crew told Winter about their encounters less than a week before Irans top navy commander claimed it was expanding its undersea fleet.The incidents recalled an encounter in October 2006 when a Chinese Song-class attack submarine surfaced near the carrier Kitty Hawk in the Western Pacific. Some analysts at the time called the act provocative, and pointed out the vulnerability of surface ships while they are shadowed by foreign submarines. It wasnt clear whether Iranian sailors were attempting to send such a message to the Vicksburg. The Vicksburg is wrapping up a six-month deployment to the Persian Gulf, where since August it has conducted maritime security operations. The ship is due back in Mayport in January. Posted by: Pappy 2007-12-04 |
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