War Game In The Red Sea: Iran In The Dolphin's Cross Hairs

Voltaire Network ^ | July 22, 2009 | By Manlio Dinucci

[Strategy]

The Dolphin emerged from the water in front of the beach-goers come to bathe at Eilat, the Israeli port in the Gulf of Aqabah on the Red Sea. No sea mammal but a Dolphin, one of the Israeli submarines armed with nuclear missiles.

Although the news made a sensation, it is actually no mystery that Dolphins crisscross the Red Sea to keep Iran in their sights. The first subs of this class, equipped with sophisticated navigation and combat systems, were supplied to Israel by Germany in the 1990s, two of them as a gift.

At Israel's request, besides the six 533 mm launching tubes, suitable for short-range cruising missiles, all the subs were outfitted with four additional 659 mm tubes for launching long-range nuclear cruising missiles: the Popeye Turbos, which can strike targets up to 1500 km away.

[GonzoGOP]

Dolphin vs Kilo. The boats are fairly close as far as “On Paper” capabilities. However (1) Russian built equipment rarely performs up to stated capabilities (2) Israeli crews are much better than their Iranian counterparts. Fanaticism and revolutionary zeal might help with infantry, and then it is arguable, but with high tech equipment like submarines and aircraft. In fact with subs you need small, hyper trained, highly cohesive crews. Exactly the sort of unit a theocracy like Iran is unlikely to produce.

[iopscusa]

Popeye misslies, I think I know who Bluto is in this scenario....who is Olive Oyl?

[Tainan]

An...”interesting” website.

[Hazwaste]

...the Popeye Turbos, which can strike targets up to 1500 km away.

Possibly the most fearsome weapons system name since the Brewster Buffalo

(Wasn't the American Buffalo hunted to near extinction? Why would you name a plane after that?!)

[Rebelbase]

Staying in the Popeye name genre, at lest they didn’t call it the Wimpy.

[12Gauge687]

Could it be because it looks like a buffalo?

[Genoa]

Is that a gun? Wouldn’t he shoot his propeller??

[12Gauge687]

I think what you are seeing is a targeting device. The .50 cal. machine gun was built into the nose cowling. However, synchronized machine guns were perfected in WW I by Fokker.

[golfisnr1]

No! It is synchronized to shoot between the propellers.

[Genoa]

Wow! Learn something new every day! Didn’t expect they could synchronize so well.

[FreepShop1]

No! It is synchronized to shoot between the propellers.

How? that seems extraordinarily difficult. Especially if you pulse fire. Was there a delaying relay to ensure sync?

[rahbert]

It looks like a clown airplane.

[12Gauge687]

Agreed, but it was the first line of defense at Wake Island. hard to believe that within 14 months of the first photo I posted, the F4U Corsair (called 'Whstling Death' by the Japanese) was being deployed to ground bases then aircraft carriers.

[CougarGA7]

That is one of the prettiest aircraft ever made.

[CougarGA7]

It was a mechanical linkage that was incorporated into the drive line of the engine. When the cam for it is in a certain position it inhibits the firing mechanism. I’m looking for a picture right now.

[CougarGA7]

Here you go. It's called an interrupter gear.

[rcrngroup]

Great picture of the sub in the article. I wish someone (who knows how) would cut & paste & post this picture to the thread. I also hope & pray that Israel uses these subs & their payload to good effect against Iran & Imanutjob.

[GAB-1955]

The Brewster Buffalo was the worst fighter the Allies had in the war. It was underpowered and couldn’t maneuver. The plane was such a failure that the Brewster Aircraft Company was the only American military contractor to go bankrupt immediately after World War II.

[SunkenCiv]

The Dolphin emerged from the water in front of the beach-goers come to bathe at Eilat, the Israeli port in the Gulf of Aqabah on the Red Sea... The first subs of this class, equipped with sophisticated navigation and combat systems, were supplied to Israel by Germany in the 1990s, two of them as a gift. At Israel's request, besides the six 533 mm launching tubes, suitable for short-range cruising missiles, all the subs were outfitted with four additional 659 mm tubes for launching long-range nuclear cruising missiles: the Popeye Turbos, which can strike targets up to 1500 km away.

Say, olive, kukukukah.