It seems that the AP did overvalue the Iranian submarine unveiling. While the AP breathlessly claimed that the submarine could lob missiles and field a crew of divers, the BBC actually produced a picture online that shows that this submarine is probably not much more than a torpedo that could sit someone on board. The Confederate Submarine Hunley, which was the first submarine to sink another ship carried a larger crew, and the strategic goals that resulted in their production are very similar.
The Hunley carried a crew of nine, while this Iranian sub has a crew of two, with space for three divers. That gives you some sense of the size of the craft. However, we should not underestimate the capabilities of the new subs such as they are.
The Iranian submarine is not designed to take on an aircraft carrier group per se, but is more likely designed to take out unsuspecting oil tankers. It is an area denial weapon, or more precisely, the kind of weapon that terrorists would love to have their hands on. A suicidial crew of jihadis could use the sub to take out unsuspecting cruise ships, cargo ships, or oil platforms/tankers in the Persian Gulf. It could be used to permit terrorists to infiltrate other countries.
Their small size and low cost per unit would make this an attractive weapons system for trying to control littoral waters (that's coastal waters, not deep oceans). This is a calculated smart play on the part of the Iranians. It's a cost effective way to project power.
Hat Tip: Chapomatic
No comments:
Post a Comment