Posted on 09/30/2009 12:31:14 PM PDT by NativeNewYorker
TEL AVIV, Israel, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Israel has taken delivery of two German-made submarines capable of launching missiles with nuclear warheads.
"We have received two Dolphin-class submarines built from Germany," Israel and Arab media reported quoting an anonymous Israeli military spokesman.
Called U212s, the submarines were upgraded in Germany by Israeli technicians and engineers in order to enable them to carry nuclear warheads.
Initially in 2006, when the sale was confirmed, the German government said the two vessels were not equipped to carry nuclear weapons.
The submarines were ordered in 2005, and delivery was originally scheduled for 2010.
With the latest delivery, Israel now holds five state-of- the-art U212s, designed for a crew of 35 and capable of launching cruise missiles that carry nuclear warheads to a distance of 2,810 miles. The submarines are the most expensive weapon platforms in Israel's arsenal.
Since the end of the Second World War and the mass murder of Jews under the Nazi regime, Germany has made it its historic obligation to help Israel.
The first two U212s were donated by Berlin to the government of Israel after the 1991 Gulf War.
It split the cost of the third with the Jewish state, offering it at an almost symbolic price, local media reported. "The German government decided to deliver Israel … the five vessels and allow its experts to manipulate them in order to provide Tel Aviv with hardware needed to evacuate its entire nuclear weaponry arsenal on an appropriate fleet, while allowing it to be employed in warfare," the Arab monitor reported.
It said the delivery was in violation of German law forbidding the export of military equipment or weapons of non- NATO countries engaged in warfare.
One of the subs delivered by the German government is permanently stationed in the Gulf, and Israeli media have said that the fleet of five vessels could be key in any decision by Israel to launch an attack on Iranian targets from the sea.
An Israeli submarine recently used the Suez Canal for the first time, anchoring in the Red Sea in a journey that would have normally required the Israeli vessel to travel around the coast of Africa. Escorted in June by Egyptian navy vessels, the move was intended to send a message to Iran. The delivery of the submarines follows Tehran's missile tests earlier this week.
Israel suspects Iran of trying to develop atomic weapons under the pretext of its civilian nuclear program. Tehran has repeatedly denied the charges, saying it is acting well within its rights.
lol
In the last few months there have been many stories of Israeli subs and military ships traversing the Suez in to the Red Sea which leads to the Arabian Sea and great access to Iranian targets.
Which may lead one to also think of those other stories stating Many Muslim countries do NOT care for Iran to get nukes. One of which is Egypt another is Saudi Arabia,the ones bankrolling the whole shindig.
Sometimes irony is too delicious for words.
35 crewmen, ten officers.
U212s are designed for a crew of 35, have a range of 4,500 kilometres (2,810 miles)
The range is that of the sub not the missle.
Like I said...
Compare that quote to the following one:
"War has never solved anything!"
- Jürgen Prochnow “Beerfest” ( 2006 )
“capable of launching cruise missiles that carry nuclear warheads to a distance of 2,810 miles.”
If that’s the range of the sub, not the cruise missiles, that’s pretty bad writing.
sucks they can’t get through the Suez w/o being noticed. The trip around would take a few weeks which is enough time for either Iranian intel to notice the subs gone or for something to go wrong on the subs themselves or even allow the soviets to track them. Not to mention the trip home would almost be impossible given that there would be a whole lot of effort given on finding them. They’d also have no place to get provisions and fuel unless a false flagged fueler happens to be sitting around, it would most likely be a suicide mission or they would abandon and scuttle the boat.
lots of logistical issues to be worked out before anything can happen.
SOF, probably
How deep can they go? What is their range? How long can they stay under? How noisy are they? What do/can they carry weapon and otherwise? How will they be used? Where are they stationed? and so on.
I have a feeling these subs will be quickly outfitted with nuclear missiles all aimed at Iran.
I really like Fogery’s version also. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIgn4lLW7zI&feature=related
Sorry for the typo. Should be Fogerty.
One of my favorites of Fogerty. Also a favorite of a buddies that drowned in the Columbia River years ago. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTl-NnuLjaE&feature=related
You got me on a roll now and I’m showin my age.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.