Posted on 05/03/2012 10:14:57 AM PDT by IsraelBeach
Israel Receives 4th Dolphin Submarine, Iran On Radar
By Joel Leyden
Israel News Agency
Jerusalem, Israel --- May 3, 2012 .... Part of the following was communicated by the Israel Government Press Office to the Israel News Agency.
At an official state ceremony held today Thursday, May 3, 2012 at the Kiel shipyard in Hamburg, Germany, the Israel Defense Ministry received a fourth Dolphin class submarine – "INS Tanin". It was officially transferred to the Israel Defense Ministry and the Israel Navy and is due to arrive in Israel in 2013.
Israel Defense Ministry Director-General Udi Shani, GOC Navy Maj.-Gen. Ram Rothberg, the head of the Ministry's Procurement Administration, Brig.-Gen. Shmuel Tzucker, along with other senior Israeli officials and their German counterparts launched the fourth Dolphin Class submarine, marking its transfer to the Defense Ministry and the Israel Navy. This ceremony signaled the end of a lengthy process led by the Procurement Administration.
The high point of the event in the Kiel shipyard in Hamburg was the ceremonial breaking of the champagne bottle against the submarine by both Israel and German officials.
"INS Tanin" will arrive in Israel during the course of 2013, once all the relevant checks are complete. It is considered to be among the most advanced and sophisticated submarines in the world, and will be Israel's and the IDF's most expensive piece of military equipment. The Dolphin submarine is extremely versatile with a range of capabilities enabling it to adapt to a multitude of missions.
Israel Defense Minister Ehud Barak congratulated the Israeli Navy and the IDF on the occasion of the submarine's launching and noted: "The submarine will be another force multiplier in terms of the capabilities and strength of the IDF and the State of Israel in the face of the growing regional challenges. The Navy has been undergoing a number of strategic changes in recent years; changes that place it as the long arm of the IDF, at the very forefront of the campaign to secure the State of Israel. This deal is an expression of the depth of the relationship with Germany, reflecting the ongoing commitment of the Government of Germany to Israel's security."
Barak is very much focused on Iran's nuclear program, saying Israel will not be duped by negotiations, and warning that an attack is not out of the question.
"Today sanctions are stronger than ever," said Barak. "They forced the Iranians to take note, to sit down and to talk. The P-5+1 engagement of Iran, however, does not fill me with confidence. I may sound pessimistic, but the State of Israel cannot afford to be duped."
Barak also accused the Iranian government of seeking to buy time to make its alleged nuclear weapons program immune from military attacks. Barak has been one of the strongest supporters of Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hardline position against Iran's nuclear weapon activities.
Israel Defense Ministry Director-General Shani noted at the event: "My greatest appreciation and thanks go to the officials at the Israel Ministry of Defense and the Defense Establishment for the negotiation process, development, construction and integration of the Dolphin class submarine and the advanced combat systems with which the submarine is equipped. The ceremony, more than anything, symbolizes the strong and unique bond between Germany and Israel. With the current developments and growing regional challenges, the cooperation between Germany and Israel has grown even stronger."
Director-General Shani thanked his German counterpart and noted: "On behalf of the State of Israel and the Defense Establishment, I thank you for taking up this unique project. Without your dedication and professionalism, this mission would never have been completed."
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz, also highlighted the importance of this acquisition and the strategic importance of Israel's growing submarine fleet: "The Navy and its fleet of submarines, along with other arms of the IDF, make up an arm of deterrence – a defensive and 'fighting' arm – on a strategic level both for the IDF and the State of Israel."
GOC Navy Maj. Gen. Ram Rothberg added: "At a time when threats are becoming global in their nature, the relationship between Israel and Germany is more crucial than ever."
Last month, Israel Defense Minister Barak was in Germany to sign an additional agreement for the construction and delivery of a new and improved submarine. This will be Israel's sixth submarine and it is expected to arrive in 2017, joining the fourth and fifth submarines (which will arrive in Israel in 2013 and 2014 respectively).
The cost of each submarine is approximately $0.5 billion. One-third of this sum is funded by the Government of Germany.
Addressing present international efforts to halt Iran's nuclear program and if these efforts should fail, any military action against Tehran should be led not by Israel, but by the United States, said former Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
"The last resort is a military action," Olmert told CNN in an recent interview. "And I prefer that it would be an American action - supported by the international community - if all the other efforts would fail."
Often described as Israel's second-strike doomsday weapon - according to foreign reports - able to launch cruise missiles tipped with nuclear warheads, Israel's ten submarines can dive deep, stay under longer and maintain democracy in the Middle East. The Dolphin's two periscopes - integrated with night-vision and thermal imaging - were specially designed for the navy and allow anything the captain sees to be relayed to a screen in the CIC. This includes any Iranian activity in the Red Sea and beyond.
In the event of a war with Iran, Israel could use the submarines 4,500 nautical mile range to listen and take required, accurate action.
"The Red Sea is an area that has significance for us and could turn into an important front for Israel," a senior IDF naval officer recently said.
Is that large for a sub?
Not large. Small, quiet and lethal as heck.
It makes for a larger “target”. I would feel more secure in a fast, small, lethal operative vessel.
is that the White Ensign flying from the after flagstaff?
Didn’t know the RN also operated these..
Thanks. It looked huge to me, and then I realized I have no idea how big subs are. USAF didn’t have too many. :)
Yeah, it’s the White Ensign...
The image is a new British Astute-class nuclear attack boat (which is indeed huge), not the Israeli sub.
The Astute class boats are about 5 times bigger than the Dolphin (7,000 tonnes vs approx 1,500 tonnes), I think.
My dumb butt posted a pic of the wrong sub.
They will need every one of them to defend the Leviathan and Tamar fields.
This is it....
Rumors of Cruise Missiles out the Torpedo tubes and one "biggie" up vertically that has an interesting warhead.
On top of the Dolphin's Google....
* "Project Salad" ( Israel's aerial refuelers..)
* Conformal Fuel tanks on F-16's and the one down the center spine like a vertical fin...
* Rumors of Israel having an EMP...
With that said, I am not worried when they have to go after wackmadinajob...
Oops... “Project Green Salad”...
Much Dolphin info here:
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/germany-may-sell-2-more-dolphin-subs-to-israel-for-117b-01528/
Thanks for that post taildragger.
Yes, but they have to surface often to get air.
BTW, does you tagline refer to Alan Mulally?
It has 6 standard 533 mm tubes and 4 decidedly non-standard 650 mm tubes. The Popeye SLCM can be lanched from the standard 533 mm tubes. It isn’t said what comes out of the 650 mm tubes.
How did they manage to move the city of Kiel 60 miles inland to Hamburg? (Answer: they didn't. It's the HDW shipyard in Kiel they are referring to.)
“—what comes out of the 650 mm tubes? “——just remember the words of Sgt R. Lee Ermey-——a really big can of whupass!
i honestly think that in theory, there should be no reason for the US to have to get involved. God is looking out for the people of Israel, i feel in theory that should be more than enough.
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.