Ghadir-class submarine

Ghadir (Persian: غدیر‎) is a class of midget submarines built by Iran specifically for cruising within the shallow waters of the Persian Gulf. It has a surface displacement estimated at about 115 long tons (117 t). The Ghadir class is probably better described as a coastal or littoral submarine, similar in concept to the Italian Sauro class, though significantly smaller.[2]

Ghadir-class submarine
Class overview
Name: Ghadir-class submarine
Builders: Marine Industries Organization
Operators: Islamic Republic of Iran Navy
Preceded by: Nahang Class
Succeeded by: Fateh class submarine
In service: 28 November 2007
Active: 14[1]
General characteristics
Type: Midget submarine
Tonnage: 120 tonnes
Displacement: 115 tons surfaced
Length: 29 m (95 ft)
Beam: ~3 m
Draught: ~2.5 m
Propulsion: Diesel-electric propulsion
Speed: 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph)
Complement: 18
Armament: 2 × 533mm torpedo tubes with Valfajr[1]

The Ghadir class is based on the North Korean Yono-class submarine. Photographs indicate a pair of bow torpedo tubes around 21 inches (530 mm) diameter, allowing them to fire typical heavyweight torpedoes. It could thus serve as a launch platform for the VA-111 Shkval rocket torpedo.

History

On 24 November 2007 Iranian rear-admiral Habibollah Sayyari announced: "A home-made destroyer called Jamaran and a home-made submarine of Ghadir class will launch operation on November 28."[2] He also said that the submarine was equipped with the latest military and technological equipment and that its capabilities are equal to that of foreign types. Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei was quoted saying to Iran's navy commanders on the day the submarine was launched: "Today, you have been able to design and build many of the military requirements. We have become self-sufficient from other countries."[3]

New Ghadir submarines were delivered to the Iranian navy on June 2009, August 2010,[4][5] August 2011,[6] November 2011,[7] February 2012[8], November 2012 and November 2018.[9][10]

While Ghadir resembles the North Korean Yono-class submarine, it is probably better described as a littoral submarine.[11] Head of the Marine Industries Organization of Iran General Amir Rastegari announced Dec 02, 2018 that subsurface-to-surface missiles have been mounted on the new home-made Qadir-class submarine, adding that many foreign states are willing to purchase the vessel. He also added that a home-made torpedo, Valfajr, mounted on the submarine enjoys a destruction power 6 times more than a cruise missile and can drown a 1,000-ton vessel into the sea in less than 10 seconds. He said that a unique periscope has also been mounted on Qadir submarine, noting that a number of industrial countries have demanded to purchase this periscope and optical system from Iran.[12]

See also

References
  1. The International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) (2020). "Middle East and North Africa". The Military Balance 2020. 120. Routledge. pp. 348–352. doi:10.1080/04597222.2020.1707968. ISBN 9780367466398.
  2. Fars News Agency Iran to Launch Home-Made Submarine, Destroyer Archived 2007-11-28 at the Wayback Machine 24 November 2007
  3. "Iran Says It Has Sonar-Evading Submarine". WTOP news. 28 November 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-10-11. Retrieved 2007-12-04.
  4. "Iran domestic submarines join naval fleet". PRESS TV. 1 June 2009. Archived from the original on 8 June 2009.
  5. "Pictures of the new submarines". Fars News Agency. 1 June 2009.
  6. "Details of the Newest Iranian Submarine, named Fateh". Fars News Agency. 5 October 2011.
  7. "Iranian Navy Receives 3 Ghadir-Class Submarines". Fars News Agency. 26 November 2011. Archived from the original on 27 November 2011.
  8. "Report: Iran adds 2 submarines to naval fleet amid tensions over Strait of Hormuz". Washington Post. 9 February 2012.
  9. 2 New Submarines Join Iran Navy’s Fleet tasnimnews.com
  10. "Two Ghadir-class submarines joins Iran Navy". IRNA. 28 November 2012. Archived from the original on 3 December 2012.
  11. "Yono Class / Ghadir Class Midget Submarine". Global Security.org. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  12. http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13970911000182 farsnews.com
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