Strana 29
a large number of them and actively used
them against ships stranded around the Strait
of Hormuz. These boats can carry cannons,
anti-ship missiles, or naval mines. The U.S. Air
Force deployed A-10 attack aircraft against the
Iranian boats. The United States had repeatedly
planned to retire this legendary aircraft, even
recently announcing that the last class of
A-10 pilots had completed training. However,
the resilient aircraft remains in service.
It is ideal for combating small boats thanks
to its characteristics: it is subsonic, highly
maneuverable, has long endurance, and is
highly resistant to damage—not to mention
its powerful armament. This includes
AGM-65 Maverick missiles, APKWS II rockets,
and especially the highly effective 30 mm
GAU-8/A Avenger rotary cannon.
Most of Iran’s ships were lost in airstrikes in
ports or in waters near its coastline. However,
one vessel stands out—it was sunk far from home
by a U.S. submarine.
This occurred early in the morning on March
4 in international waters of the Indian Ocean,
19 nautical miles (35 km) south of Sri Lanka. The
Los Angeles-class submarine USS Charlotte
(SSN-766) fired two Mark 48 torpedoes at the
Iranian frigate IRIS Dena. One torpedo hit and
sank it. This was the first time since the end of
World War II in 1945 that a U.S. submarine sank
an enemy vessel.
The Mark 48 torpedo is capable of attacking
fast surface targets as well as submarines at
great depths. It is guided, has a caliber of 530
mm, and weighs more than 1.5 tons, including
a 293 kg warhead. Its exact performance is
classified, but it is reported to have a range of
over 20 km at a speed of 120 km/h, with greater
range at lower speeds.
The Mark 48 does not strike a surface ship
directly; instead, it detonates beneath it, breaking
its keel. According to released footage, this is
what happened to the IRIS Dena. Although Iran
classified it as a destroyer, in terms of size
and armament it was closer to a small frigate.
It was 95 meters long with a displacement of
1,500 tons. Its armament included a 76 mm gun,
one 40 mm gun, two 20 mm guns, four Noor anti-
ship missiles, six 324 mm torpedo tubes, and
Sayad-2 air defense missiles.
At the time it was sunk, however, it likely
carried no ammunition. IRIS Dena had
previously participated in an international
naval parade in India and, in accordance with
participation requirements, was not armed.
After being hit, it sent a distress signal, and
rescue units from the Sri Lankan navy and
air force were dispatched. However, the
frigate sank before they arrived. They found
32 survivors and 87 bodies. Additional casualties
likely remained inside the ship, as the crew is
estimated to have numbered between 140 and 180.
Overall, since World War II, only three ships
have been sunk by submarines in combat
operations. The first case occurred on December
9, 1971, during the Indo-Pakistani War, when
the Pakistani submarine PNS Hangor struck
the Indian frigate INS Khukri with a guided
torpedo. The second case occurred on May 2,
1982, during the Falklands War, when the British
nuclear submarine HMS Conqueror fired three
torpedoes at the Argentine cruiser ARA General
Belgrano, two of which hit and sank it. The third
case occurred now during the war with Iran.
For completeness, it is also worth mentioning
the sinking of the South Korean corvette ROKS
Cheonan. It broke apart after an explosion
on March 26, 2010. South Korea and its allies
concluded that the ship was hit by a North Korean
CHT-02D torpedo, remnants of which were found
on the seabed. The corvette was likely sunk
by a North Korean midget submarine capable
of operating only near the coast. North Korea
denies responsibility. This incident is usually not
classified among submarine attacks on the open
sea during wartime.
Ceasefire
As already mentioned, a ceasefire came into
effect on April 8, mediated by Pakistan. It was
originally supposed to last two weeks, but Donald
Trump later extended it. Despite this, by the end
of April there had been no progress in further
negotiations.
The U.S. Navy has even begun blocking the
Strait of Hormuz as well, stopping ships heading
to or from Iranian ports or those that have paid
the fee Iran started demanding. Iran, in turn, is
blocking the Strait of Hormuz for all other vessels.
It is unclear how long this situation will last or
what the next developments will be. However, the
longer it continues, the greater the damage to the
global economy will be.
Sinking of the frigate IRIS Dena.
Photo from open sources
The frigate IRIS Dena.
Photo: Iranian MoD
OPERATION EPIC FURY
INFO Eduard
29
May 2026