Nahang-class submarine

The Nahang class (Persian: نهنگ‎‎) is an Iranian-made class of small submarines.

History

Being one of Iran's largest defense expenditures, the Nahang submarine is Iran's second attempt at designing and manufacturing submarines. According to Iranian news footage from the IRINN, the Nahang 1 has at least been in service since March 2006 in the Persian Gulf.^[2] The Nahang class submarine provides the navy with varied options for its use. Its design and construction involved 220 researchers and 1.2 million hours of scientific and industrial work.^[3]

In addition, the Nahang was observed on satellite imagery at Bandar-e-Abbas on 28 June 2009 docked at the north east wharf near 27.144071 N, 56.215818 E.^[4] As there has been much discussion as to the size of the Nahang versus the Ghadir, satellite imagery clearly show the Nahang as being much shorter than the 29m Ghadir.

After the Ghadir, the Nahang is Iran's second domestically produced submarine, superseded eventually by the reportedly 1000 ton, Qaeem.

Description

The Nahang 1 has a surface search radar and communications masts, which make it unsuitable for harbor infiltration, but good for reasonably clandestine mine-laying. It is said to be a sonar-evading stealth submarine. Iranian officials claim the Nahang is equipped with state-of-the-art electronic equipment and can fire missiles and torpedoes simultaneously, but no information was given on the range of these weapons.^[5] Nahang means "whale" in Persian.^[6]

See also

• Islamic Republic of Iran Navy
• Current Iranian Navy vessels
• The war against invisibility

Notes

1. ↑ Information Dissemination: Observing Iranian Submarines
2. ↑ "Iran's Whale (Nahange 1) Submarine". 18 April 2006. 
3. ↑ http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/nahang.htm
4. ↑ "FIRST LOOK: Nahang Submarine Imagery Signature at Bandar-e-Abbas". 16 October 2011. 
5. ↑ WTOP news Iran Says It Has Sonar-Evading Submarine 28 November 2007
6. ↑

References

• IRIBNews (Archive.org)
• SPACE WAR
• The Peninsula
• MEMRI
• Persian Gulf Online
• NewsMax.com
• DefenseNews.com
• Xignite
• Irainian navy submarine

External links

• Photo of a Nahang-class submarine

Ship classes of the Iranian Navy
Submarines	Conventional attack Kilo class Nahang class Ghadir class Besat class Fateh class Yugo class Yono class
Principal surface combatants	Destroyers Artemiz Babr Frigates Moudge class Alvand class Corvettes Bayandor class Hamzeh class
Coastal warfare vessels	Missile boats Kaman class Sina class C 14 class Houdong class Peykaap class Torpedo boats Peykaap (IPS-16) class Tir (IPS-18) class Bavar class Gunboats Parvin class Kaivan class Bavar class Submarine chasers Kajami class (Taedong-B) Gahjea class (Taedong-C)
Amphibious warfare vessels	landing crafts Iran Ajr Hengam LST Iran Hormuz 24 LST Iran Hormuz 21 LST Fouque LSL Landing Craft, Tank hovercrafts BH.7 hovercraft SR.N6 hovercraft
Minesweepers, Minelayers	Shahrokh MSC 292 MSC Riazi class (Cape class)
* = Under construction or procurement + = Retired Ships of the Iranian Navy Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran