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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Iran Launches Baby Sub |
| 2006-03-09 |
| DEBKAfileÂ’s Gulf sources disclose that Tehran accompanied the 35-member International Atomic Energy AgencyÂ’s decision Wednesday, March 8, by launching a new, locally-built submarine, the Nahang (whale) in the Persian Gulf. With the capability to carry multipurpose weapons, the sub is especially adapted to Gulf waters. Military experts report Iran also has six Russian-built SSK or SSI Kilo class diesel submarines patrolling the strategic waterway. Picture of sub at link. Judging scale from the size of the guy standing in front of the conning tower, it's about 40-50 feet long with a 8-10 foot beam. More of a swimmer delivery vehicle or mine layer than a attack sub. Possibly designed to sneak into another Gulf countries port and attack anchored vessels. Worst case, they could install a crude nuke in it for a suicide mission. From MEMRI: Following are excerpts from footage of the new Iranian Nahang 1 submarine, aired on the Iranian News Channel (IRINN) on March 8, 2006. Reporter: The Nahang 1 ("Whale") sumarine has joined the navy of the Iranian army. This submarine was designed and manufactured with Iranian knowledge, and it is one of Iran's largest defense programs. Navy Commander of the Iranian Army, Admiral Sajjad Kouchaki: Nahang 1 is the result of the labor of the navy's scientists, scholars, researchers, and experts. It took a long time, but fortunately, we've managed to design this submarine. Reporter: The Nahang 1 is fully compatible to conditions in the Persian Gulf. In terms of maintenance and repairs, there is Iranian knowhow. It provides the navy with unique options for its use. Its design and construction involved 220 experts, and 1.2 million hours of scientific and industrial work. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #31 OS---That made my day! ROFLMAO! |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul in Hooper Bay, AK 2006-03-09 23:47 |
| #30 Oh, dear. I almost fell off my chair, Old Spook. Not at all what I was expecting. Have I mentioned how comforting I find it that you poke your head periodically? :-) |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-03-09 22:19 |
| #29 Ping them with this pattern: Hava nagila, hava nagila Hava nagila venis'mecha Repeat Hava neranena, hava neranena Hava neranena venis'mecha ... |
| Posted by: OldSPook 2006-03-09 21:50 |
| #28 If Iranian sailors could float around for 10 days before the Navy stumbled upon them, who's to say they haven't managed to export these baby subs under our noses to where they could be used against us, in say Lake Michigan? Saddam had a little sub to putter down river, that even had an escape hatch and could launch from a yacht. Never trust them and expect the worst case scenario. |
| Posted by: Danielle 2006-03-09 21:25 |
| #27 Re #23: Heh, mojo, my thoughts exactly. This little toy is going out on a mission some day soon, never to be heard from again. This little toy and the mobile Shahab 3 missiles and President Ahmadinejad and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will all be history within a half hour span. |
| Posted by: Darrell 2006-03-09 20:46 |
| #26 Its design and construction involved 220 experts, and 1.2 million hours of scientific and industrial work. Maybe. Likely it's an adaptation of an existing design. There were reports the new sub resembles the Nork SANGO-class sub here. It also has some of the physical features of the KILO class. Odds are some of those experts are expatriates. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2006-03-09 19:07 |
| #25 The Japanese lost a couple of this design outside Pearl about 65 years ago. Never had a chance. |
| Posted by: 6 2006-03-09 17:40 |
| #24 Isn't that the same sub that used to be at Disneyland? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2006-03-09 16:55 |
| #23 Awww, how cute! Allow me to introduce you to this Los Angeles-class hunter-killer... |
| Posted by: mojo 2006-03-09 16:52 |
| #22 This submarine was designed and manufactured with Iranian knowledge And thus will sink like a lead balloon |
| Posted by: mmurray821 2006-03-09 16:03 |
| #21 This submarine was designed and manufactured with Iranian knowledge... Yeah, right. |
| Posted by: Listen To Dogs 2006-03-09 15:31 |
| #20 Muzzie "Boomers" so wats nu? |
| Posted by: Visitor 2006-03-09 15:17 |
| #19 i'm thinking a barny the dinosoar ping tune Evil! I like it. |
| Posted by: Slavique Shinenter9520 2006-03-09 13:51 |
| #18 Thanks for the great link, Carl! I can't believe I forgot so much about that episode... I wasn't as news-aware then though. And a big thanks to Mr. Gore for the Internet! |
| Posted by: Dar 2006-03-09 13:49 |
| #17 iranian subs, wots that banging sound 5 times a day? /forehead deadgiveaway |
| Posted by: RD 2006-03-09 13:00 |
| #16 rofl, 24 hour pinging would really screw the crews heads up,be like someone ringing your doorbell every 10 seconds! Perhaps we could make a musical 'pinging tune' ,hmm i'm thinking a barny the dinosoar ping tune and perhaps some evil western pop music. suppose they have to stop to pray every hour or so anyway which isnt to good for combat - i remeber reading about Saudi AWACS crews that used to stop everything they were meant to be doing like reading sht from the radar and the pilots would switch to auto pilot and fckin prey for 10 mins! hahaha |
| Posted by: ShepUK 2006-03-09 12:07 |
| #15 prepare to be pinged 'round the clock |
| Posted by: macofromoc 2006-03-09 11:58 |
| #14 The last time the Iranian Navy took us on, they didn't do so hot: Iran: 2 platforms destroyed, 2 ships sunk, one more crippled, 6 speedboats sunk, hundreds dead. US: 2 people lost in a helicopter accident (bodies recovered), plus numerous complaints of tintinnitis from all the Iranian things blowing up. |
| Posted by: Carl in N.H. 2006-03-09 11:50 |
| #13 Does the Iranian Navy ever go to sea, let alone their submarine fleet? I don't know, but I do know that without constant seagoing, a Navy is worthless. |
| Posted by: Penguin 2006-03-09 11:18 |
| #12 I bet it's got the smallest prayer room in the Caliphate. |
| Posted by: Screaming Nun 2006-03-09 11:13 |
| #11 Can run drugs, too. |
| Posted by: anonymous2u 2006-03-09 11:05 |
| #10 Baby sub, you say? Well, I predict crib death. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-03-09 11:04 |
| #9 The've been running things of this sort for years. Only news is they copied the designs well enough to do one on their own. They have yet to show they can maintain these things in seaworthy condition for any amount of time. Typicallyt hey cannot - they can "surge" to get it ready with extra effort, but thats a telltale that they're up to something, since they cannot maintain it in that state for long. Logistics: its what sets apart the pros from the wannabees. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2006-03-09 10:06 |
| #8 Plans for Iranian submarine revealed: |
| Posted by: doc 2006-03-09 10:02 |
| #7 Not to be a killjoy, but one of these loaded with a crude, first-generation Iranian nuke, snuck into the harbor in Dubai, could truly ruin someone's day. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2006-03-09 09:29 |
| #6 I'm sure the same level high tech - stealth designs used were similar to their buildings designed by their structural engineers....chosen by their faith and loyalty rather than competence.... |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-03-09 08:56 |
| #5 But will Kouchaki be demoted for failing to mention Allan's input into the project? |
| Posted by: Howard UK 2006-03-09 08:56 |
| #4 I presume our satellites are monitoring the baking powder factories... |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2006-03-09 08:51 |
| #3 just looking at it i wonder if its some kinda lame 'suicide sub' , reminds me of bath time toys when i was a kid with the little crappy plastic submarine :) |
| Posted by: ShepUK 2006-03-09 08:47 |
| #2 oh this is about as scary as the over hyped kilo class subs, wonder how many hours it'll take for us to find and track it from when it was launched - i'd take a guess at half an hour or so. lol 1.2 million hours of work put into it eh - only take about 10 mins to sink too! |
| Posted by: ShepUK 2006-03-09 08:44 |
| #1 And right now the USN is listening to the sound of the Nahang's captain chewing his cornflakes. |
| Posted by: Matt 2006-03-09 08:39 |