‘Iran stealth subs could lie in wait to hunt hostile aircraft carriers’

Tehran Times ^ | 18 January 2012

[sukhoi-30mki]

‘Iran stealth subs could lie in wait to hunt hostile aircraft carriers’

TEHRAN – The deputy commander of the Armed Forces has said that Iranian stealth submarines are able to lie in wait in the Persian Gulf to target hostile aircraft carriers that are moving near them.

“If an ordinary submarine submerges in the Persian Gulf, it could be the worst threat to the enemy. It is one of the Americans’ fears because our submarines are covered with coatings that do not allow sound to travel through them and do not reflect sound waves sent by (enemy vessels’) sonar systems,” Rear Admiral Farhad Amiri said in an interview with the Fars News Agency published on Wednesday.

“When the submarine lies on the sea bed, it can easily target an aircraft carrier that is passing nearby,” he said.

Amiri also said that the enemy is not able to track Iranian submarines.

“Our submarines have acquired the ability to position themselves at (the proper) depth to watch enemy ships and submarines in a way that could not be seen by them,” he explained.

Iran plans to launch new 500-ton submarine

Amiri also announced that the domestically manufactured 500-ton Fateh (Conqueror) submarine will be launched during the next Iranian calendar year, which starts on March 20.

He added that the medium-sized submarine is equipped with most advanced torpedoes and sonar systems.

[gandalftb]

Our subs know what the surface weather is because we can hear the sound of rain drops, wind and waves on the ocean surface.

The reason we generally keep our subs out of the Persian Gulf is that it is so shallow and we have trouble avoiding detection. Ordinary satellite photos are a problem.

The other problem with the very warm waters of the Persian Gulf is that bacteria grows rapidly on any sub hull and is very difficult to remove. A one year tour with no time in cooler water to kill the bacteria requires dry dock sand blasting and “passivation” of the seams.

The Iranian subs are there 24/7 and will quickly degrade.

[Oatka]

Sure, but sometimes it isn't all that effective either. [Russian intelligence buying models of U.S. equipment.]

Interesting story about the "F-19". I kinda suspected that the "Nautilus" story was just an Urban Legend, but evidently it did go on. I guess intelligence networks have to play all the angles.

What gave me a bit of a chill was that back in the '60s'70s, Russians were going to the Gedodetic Survey department with each week with $1,000 checks and buying up all their U.S. maps, starting with "A". I calmed down a bit when I saw a couple in my area were dated 1898.