Posted on 05/30/2010 1:11:17 PM PDT by lbryce
Three German-built Israeli submarines equipped with nuclear cruise missiles are to be deployed in the Gulf near the Iranian coastline.
The first has been sent in response to Israeli fears that ballistic missiles developed by Iran, Syria and Hezbollah, a political and military organisation in Lebanon, could hit sites in Israel, including air bases and missile launchers.
The submarines of Flotilla 7 Dolphin, Tekuma and Leviathan have visited the Gulf before. But the decision has now been taken to ensure a permanent presence of at least one of the vessels.
The flotillas commander, identified only as Colonel O, told an Israeli newspaper: We are an underwater assault force. Were operating deep and far, very far, from our borders.
Each of the submarines has a crew of 35 to 50, commanded by a colonel capable of launching a nuclear cruise missile.
The vessels can remain at sea for about 50 days and stay submerged up to 1,150ft below the surface for at least a week. Some of the cruise missiles are equipped with the most advanced nuclear warheads in the Israeli arsenal.
The deployment is designed to act as a deterrent, gather intelligence and potentially to land Mossad agents. Were a solid base for collecting sensitive information, as we can stay for a long time in one place, said a flotilla officer.
The submarines could be used if Iran continues its programme to produce a nuclear bomb. The 1,500km range of the submarines cruise missiles can reach any target in Iran, said a navy officer.
Apparently responding to the Israeli activity, an Iranian admiral said: Anyone who wishes to do an evil act in the Persian Gulf will receive a forceful response from us.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
Yes, Israel should sit back, take a breath, and discuss the situation in the U.N.
This saber rattling that they are showing will only infuriate the Persian elites into doing something uncalled for by the rest of the world. /s
Saber rattling? ... Have you paused to consider that it is just prudent preparation?
If these are anything like American nukes, they alone could destroy Iran...plus most of the REST of the Middle East.
Given that the name given has no connection with the man's actual name, is their any coincidence that of all 26 letters in the English alphabet they could use, they choose "O".
Get on with it already. I’m soo tired of this non-sense, either destroy Iran’s nuke program or commit national suicide. What’s with the totally unnecessary news releases.
Fish or cut bait guys!
Thank you. The very essence of my comment only better said.
Given that to my knowledge Israel has never publicly admitted to having nukes and are even less given to press releases detailing their operational capabilities or plans, I put little credence to this report.
The Hizballah forces in Lebanon are preparing a Summer Offensive that will change the nature of the world as we know it.
Iran has a nuke, but no way to deploy it against Israel yet. Israel is doing what needs to be done to ensure Iran’s nuke stays in Iran.
I am concerned that Iran’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon is simply a deliberate provocation to induce an Israeli preemptive strike. That preemptive strike presumably would be launched against military targets rather than major cities. Iran surely would incur many casualties, but nothing on a scale to threaten its survival.
Conversely, the Iranian nuclear retaliation would wipe out at least one or two of Israel’s most populated cities. In conjunction with 40,000 to 80,000 Hezbollah-controlled missiles, chemical weapons and whatever other military capabilities Iran chooses to toss in, Iran at least has a shot at decapitating Israeli leadership which would short-circuit the Samson option. Israel as a nation would be destroyed as the residual population almost certainly could not repel the ground forces that would follow from neighboring enemy states.
In this context, having a submarine-launched nuclear capability that is unequivocally survivable could then carry out elements of the Samson strategy. Whether knowledge of this could ever deter a mad-man such as I’mANutJob is debatable.
What cannot be deterred, must be foreclosed. Israel has the means to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power, should they chose to employ it.
The story is clearly bogus. Israel has never admitted to having nuclear capability. In fact, an official declaration that Israel is a nuclear state would be a much bigger deal.
I thought the Gulf was too shallow for subs to operate.
ping
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.