Posted on 05/30/2010 6:18:29 AM PDT by Fennie
Israel is to deploy three submarines equipped with nuclear cruise missiles in the Persian Gulf, the Sunday Times reported on Sunday.
According to the Times report, one submarine had been sent over Israeli fears that ballistic missiles developed by Iran, and in the possession of Syria and Hezbollah, could be used to hit strategic sites within Israel, such as air bases and missile launchers.
(Excerpt) Read more at haaretz.com ...
Yes, the Gulf is shallow, but remember, the Navy thought Pearl Harbor was too shallow for aerial torpedos, too.
I don’t think folks understand the difference here. The ballistic missiles are far worse than the usual fare of Hezbollah just lobbing missiles and letting them hit where they fall. These are much more dangerous.
I don't know what the average or maximum depth of the Gulf is. Why are you calling the numbers somebody posted crap? Do you know what the numbers really are? I am sincere in my request for information. I couldn't find the answer with Google.
oh, is this more PC than diaperheads?
I heard they were deploying 50 Submarines...//sarc// Do you really think that Israel is going to announce their battle plans (as compared to obama’s military?)
Have you read Haaretz? It’s like the Israeli’s NYT. Probably an Ahmadinnerjacket’s favorite.
My mother always told me you can drown in 2 inches of water, so why the f*ck can’t Israel float some subs in 50 meter water??
Max depth 90 m (300 ft)
I doubt it.
"Plenty of water in the Indian ocean. The Iranian coast is not just the Persian Gulf."
The Times story says: "Three German-built Israeli submarines equipped with nuclear cruise missiles are to be deployed in the Gulf near the Iranian coastline.".
Israel might be getting ready to glass Iran from the Indian Ocean (or may be getting ready to do something about Hizbollah's Scud missiles in Syria) but subs operating on the surface or at minimal depth in the Persian Gulf defeats the purpose of using submarines. The US Navy would know where they were at all times to the nearest foot if not inch and the Iranians would probably have a good idea where they were, too. Israel only has a few subs and it would probably lose them. There would be repercussions, and in the post-glassed-Iran era with an Islamic world even unhappier with Israel than it is now, the subs would probably be useful for Israel's survival. IMO it's unlikely that the news story is accurate. Could be saber rattling, or they may have something else planned. Or maybe they just want to amuse themselves watching the Iranian Navy dragging grappling hooks through the Persian Gulf. If they planned a surprise attack, leaking it to the Times is hardly the way to do it.
What makes you think they're in the Gulf?
Subs operate in the Arabian Sea...and it would be EXTRAORDINARILY RARE for any sub to be there that is not in simple transit.
Ever hear of the Arabian Sea?
Gee, do you think a sub could be off the coast of Iran, and be in the Arabian sea too?
I have read they can lauch Harpoons out of their torpedo tubes. What else have they done to tweak such "birds" to destroy Iran/Russian air defence systems.
Anyway, even if it is psych-ops Iran may have to deploy forces to look for them eating up resources. Kind of an Ali-Rope-Adope when they come in from the air from "other routes" and have their 707 refuelers ready for the ride home....
While they may have tube launched Harpoon missiles(not nukes)...they also have home-grown cruise missiles which are tube launched.
Each boat is capable of APPROXIMATELY 12 single-warhead missiles of moderate weight...25-50KT. The actual numbers are held very, very close.
Less is known about the Israeli arsenal than any other in the world.
I don’t know how much of your information is correct.
As far as I know and from some research I’ve done with Google the deal is as follows:
Some sources say the Israeli SLCM may be called the “Popeye Turbo”. Some say it is an enlarged version of the Israeli “Gabriel 4LR”. Yet others say it is an entirely different type of cruise missile of completely unique design.
Maximum range of the SLCM is estimated to be as much as 2,400km, putting it in the Tomahawk range (2,500km).
The SLCM is fired from one of four large 25.5 inch tubes.
Nuclear warhead size on each SLCM is estimated to be between 300-400 Kilotons which is close to a single W88 (475Kt) warhead on our Trident II.
As far as how many SLCMs each sub can carry, it is unknown. Where did you get the 12 missiles number from?
All that being said, all I’ve posted above may be mere conjecture, precisely because, as you said, very little ACTUAL data is known about the Israeli nuke program and their subs.
Israel has nuclear weapons? Who knew?
(:-O
I see Israel not using for taking out ships, but for land based Iranian assets, specifically air defense related.
Again who know what "Tweaks" Israel has "value-added" to systems they have purchased from the US.
I read once their value added was $1.40 for every $1.00 of US aid or military expense offsets, what every you want to call what we sent them.
I’m in agreement with you. However, there’s an awful large ocean just offshore from most of Iran, and I would think that would be enough to hide the submarines until they are needed.
The Iranians just don’t get the phrase “never again.” It doesn’t mean that there won’t be additional genocidal attempts against the Jews. It just means that the next stupid bastards who try to kill off the Jewish people will get exactly what they do in return. The Jews will never again walk peacefully into the trains and go sheepishly to their deaths.
I would also imagine that there’s a nuke each for Mecca and Medina, too. Afterwards... well, the Moslems can become Baha’is and enter the modern world.
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