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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Iran would 'hit US warships' at war
2008-12-01
Iran says heavy enemy warships in the Persian Gulf would become prime targets for its forces in the event of an attack on the country.

The general said the "heavy weight" of enemy warships provides the Iranian side with an ideal opportunity for launching successful counter-attacks.
Top Iranian Army commander Major General Ataollah Salehi said Sunday that the recent war rhetoric against the country has prompted Iran's military brass to task analysts with developing quick-reaction contingency plans. The general said the "heavy weight" of enemy warships provides the Iranian side with an ideal opportunity for launching successful counter-attacks.

This is while earlier in June, The New York Sun reported that America's intelligence analysts were poring over scenarios for an Iranian attack on the US 5th Fleet, located in Bahrain. The scenarios included offensives by Iranian warships equipped with Russian-designed Shkval torpedoes.

Among the US warships currently present in the Persian Gulf are the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima and USS Mount Whitney as well as the Destroyer Squadron 50/CTF 55 and the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group.

Maj. Gen. Salehi also stated that the Iranian Navy is on a constant watch in the Persian Gulf as the Iranian Commander-in-Chief, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, has warned that the enemy is on the lookout for "a moment of neglect".

Salehi's remarks come shortly after chief Iranian navy commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said Saturday that Iran is "perfectly capable" of blocking the Strait of Hormuz to protect its sovereignty should the country come under attack. "We are perfectly capable of blockading the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf and whoever doubts our capabilities can take a step and see the consequences," Sayyari warned.

Iran, in further preparation has also upgraded the Asalouyeh Naval Base in the Persian Gulf and inaugurated a new naval base in the port of Jask located in the Sea of Oman in order to tighten its grip on the strategic region.
Posted by:Fred

#12  HISTORY CHANNEL > "SPUTNIK" Programming > VLAD LENIN was quoted in late 1950's = POTUS EIsenhower-era US TV as arguing [paraph]"IT DOESN'T MATTER IFF THE BULK OF THE WORLD's POPULATION IS KILLED OFF OR OTHERWISE FORCIBLY ELIMINATED - WHAT MATTERS IS THAT THE THOSE REMAINING = WHOM ARE STILL ALIVE IN THE AFTERMATH ARE DEDICATED TO COMMUNISM AND SOCIALISM".

Was LENIN = PRO-MUTUAL DESTRUCTION "MAD MULLAH"???
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2008-12-01 20:18  

#11  No surpise here - this was another old dream/vision of mine like those Chin PLAN warships transiting close to Hokkaido, Japan.

The true threat or danger of SHKVAL lies in improved follow-on designs which combine supervelociy + stealth + independent maneuverab;e warheads[submissles], etc. essentially making the underwater dimension no different than the air, or even space, dimension as per anti-Naval or other warfare.

As said before, despite the rhetoric IRAN at this time prefers to keep a low-profile AMAP ALAP while it quietly or "softly" nuclearizes - IMO IRAN MUST DETONATE AN INDIGENOUS NUC BOMB = NUCWEAP NLT 2010, absolute maxima 2012.

TO BECOM A TRUE SUPERPOWER, ALREADY-A-NUCLEAR-STATE CHINA MUST GIVE UP ITS HALLOWED PRO-ISOLATIONIST POSTURE AND BECOM GEOPOL ASSERTIVE -DITTO IN LR FOR NUCLEAR-AMBITIOUS IRAN, ETC. WORLD STATES.

MILPOL DIALECTICISM > The ISLAMIST JIHAD = RAMPAGE AGZ RUSSIA, CHINA, + INDIA, etc. is asmuch for future NUCLEAR GLOBAL SUPERPOWER ISLAM [Space?], AS IS FOR "SAVING THE JIHAD".
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2008-12-01 20:11  

#10  There is an Axis between Russia, Iran, and Ven, maybe China.

There should be a contingency plan to crush every enemy and we should always be prepared.

With no diplomacy for Iran, I say raise threat for the new year. Ensure we don't let them get any fresh hostages either. They love hostages.

If it's not within 6 months, it's in the near future they try to pull some slick crap.
Posted by: Grolush Darling of the Hatfields3195   2008-12-01 20:07  

#9  IIRC the Shkval achieves its high speed at the cost of maneuverability. In fact, it is almost unguidable. As a result the launcher has to get within a few kilometers in order to have a chance at hitting the target.

Since I don't see American carriers comming within a few k's of the Iranian coast, the Iranians would have to come to the carriers. If they can get within a few km of an American warship and live, I'll congratulate them.
Posted by: Frozen Al   2008-12-01 17:04  

#8  If the U.S. struck first, which under B.O. I strongly doubt would happen, there would be about as many counter-attacks as there were from Saddam--that is to say, none. Iran might be hell to occupy but beating its military's ass in the field like a damn drum wouldn't be much of a problem.

If we take Iran down, we need to do it on a "we're bombing you back to the Stone Age--starve and die in the dark, bastards--basis. No more "nation-building" horsecrap. Just swift violence, massive destruction, and weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth by the unlucky survivors.
Posted by: Jolutch Mussolini7800   2008-12-01 16:59  

#7  provides the Iranian side with an ideal opportunity for launching successful counter-attacks.

Counter-attacks? There's a pretty big assumption, that even I can see.
Posted by: trailing wife    2008-12-01 13:56  

#6  And I'd get off my fat ass if dinner was served.
Posted by: Grolush Darling of the Hatfields3195   2008-12-01 12:21  

#5  Iran would 'hit US warships' at war

Huh, no sh*t.
Posted by: bigjim-ky   2008-12-01 11:29  

#4  If they truly believe their own statements, they will act. If not, they will continue to posture. At times, I wish they would attack so we could end this foolishness.
Posted by: Richard of Oregon   2008-12-01 09:52  

#3  It has been a long time since the USN has had one of its aircraft carrier groups fighting defense. By the time all was said and done, I imaging the Strait would be about twice as wide.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2008-12-01 08:13  

#2  Shkval wikipedia entry here.

I would think that a well-placed bomb would collapse the gas cavity around the Shkval or bend its guidance fins and the torpedo would be destroyed by running into a wall of water at 250kph. Might not even detonate.
Posted by: gorb   2008-12-01 03:29  

#1  " The scenarios included offensives by Iranian warships equipped with Russian-designed Shkval torpedoes. "

They are assuming they will still be afloat long enough to get in range. Or even to get out of port.
Posted by: OldSpook   2008-12-01 00:25  

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