Ghadir-class submarine

Ghadir (Persian: غدیر‎‎) is a class of midget submarines built by Iran specifically for cruising within the shallow waters of the Persian Gulf, with a displacement (surfaced) estimated at about 115 long tons (117 metric tons), is probably better described as a coastal or littoral submarine, similar in concept to the Italian Sauro class though significantly smaller.^[1] It is named after Ghadir Khumm, a holy place to Shia Muslims. It is based on the North Korean Yono class submarine. Photographs indicate a pair of bow torpedo tubes around 21 inches (530 mm) diameter, allowing them to fire typical heavyweight torpedoes. It could thus serve as a launch platform for the VA-111 Shkval rocket torpedo.

History

On 24 November 2007 Iranian rear-admiral Habibollah Sayyari announced: "A home-made destroyer called Jamaran and a home-made submarine of Ghadir class will launch operation on November 28." ^[1] He also said that the submarine was equipped with the latest military and technological equipment and that its capabilities are equal to that of foreign types. Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei was quoted saying to Iran's navy commanders on the day the submarine was launched: "Today, you have been able to design and build many of the military requirements. We have become self-sufficient from other countries."^[2]

New Ghadir submarines were delivered to the Iranian navy on June 2009, August 2010,^[3][4] August 2011,^[5] November 2011,^[6] February 2012^[7] and November 2012.^[8] While Ghadir resembles the North Korean Yono class submarine, it is probably better described as a littoral submarine.^[9]

Submarines in the class

There are 21 Ghadir-class minisubs in service with the Iranian Navy.

See also

• Islamic Republic of Iran
• Current Iranian Navy vessels

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ghadir-class submarines.

• Defence Industries Organization
• Photos of a Ghadir class submarine (from FARS)
• Ghadir class submarine production (at OSGEOINT)

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