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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Iranian Submarine Launched Missiles |
| 2006-08-30 |
| August 30, 2006: Iran test fired what appeared to be a Russian Klub-S (3M54) submarine launched anti-ship missile. Weighing two tons, and fired from a 533mm (21 inch) torpedo tube on a Kilo class sub, it has a 440 pound warhead. The anti-ship version speeds up to 3,000 kilometers an hour during its last minute or so of its flight, and has a range of 220 kilometers. There is also a land attack version, with a 300 kilometers range and an 880 pound warhead. Iran has three Kilo class subs, bought from Russia in the 1990s. China has a dozen on order. China already has some of its Kilos, and has received 3M54 missiles as well. So Iran could have gotten the 3M54s from Russia or China. It???s unlikely Iran built their new missiles themselves. Even China, with far more resources, has not gotten far in this area. Much easier to make a deal to get them from Russia or China. Or even India, which also has the 3M54, although is not likely to sell them to Iran. It's also possible that Iran has an earlier Russian cruise missile launched from a torpedo tube (the "Granit"). This was a 1980s development, made obsolete by the recently developed 3M54 (nicknamed "Klub"). The Granit is not designed to hit ships at sea, but fixed targets on land. The problem with the 3M54 is that it would make it easer for Iran to shut down oil exports from the Persian Gulf, at least for a while. China and India have economies heavily dependent on that oil, and would suffer if the oil supplies were interrupted. But Russia, as a major oil exporter, would benefit enormously if Iran shut off Persian Gulf oil for a while, and oil prices spiked. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #18 Radical Iran would have to either attack first or launch first before their new subs + everything else gets blown to camel-reenies. Its SOP in the USN - any and all air, land, and undersea, now add space, current threats or potential = LR threats is eliminated-contained, preferably eliminated, before a CVBG andor MAG gets even close. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2006-08-30 23:02 |
| #17 I think Jimmy must be on the on the Imam's payroll. He should finally choose sides for once.... and quick. |
| Posted by: WITT 2006-08-30 23:00 |
| #16 I thought the USS Jimmy Carter was the Brunwick garbage tug. |
| Posted by: SR-71 2006-08-30 21:46 |
| #15 Jimmy is bringing the last Iranian Prez into the US to speak with him. Can Jimmy please leave our country for good? What's his problem? Didn't he fuck up the USA enough as Prez? |
| Posted by: 3dc 2006-08-30 21:32 |
| #14 one would unfortunately assume the USS Jimmy Carter to be unarmed, leaderless, with the crew wearing cardigans to save fuel and stopping in to negotiate at NK, Iran, Syria, et al, against orders from the C-in-C. I am told this is not the case |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-08-30 21:21 |
| #13 I predict that the Jimmy Carter will be attacked by a nuclear rabbit |
| Posted by: Captain America 2006-08-30 21:07 |
| #12 could that missile carry a nuke? Not one the Iranians could build. Warhead miniaturization is a ridiculously advanced science that is light years beyond Iran's abilities. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-08-30 19:46 |
| #11 could that missile carry a nuke? |
| Posted by: Kalle 2006-08-30 19:33 |
| #10 I know about that NS. I was just implying that the Mullahs might want to honor their best friend - who helped so much - Jimmy Carter. I hope we are keeping a close eye on these subs. Having one of them surface in one of our ports wiht a nuke on board would allow the Iranians to take a major city hostage. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2006-08-30 19:08 |
| #9 Uh, we named a boat after JC. The spy sub that does underwater black bag jobs. The one least likely to get mentioned in a press release. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-08-30 18:51 |
| #8 I pray to the God of Irony that JIMMY CARTER was one of the boats involved. I'm sure that, inspite of all that Carter did for them the Iranian probably named their boats after some mullah or iman or something.... |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2006-08-30 17:58 |
| #7 One sub missile flys to Pakistan One to Saudi We could warn both |
| Posted by: 3dc 2006-08-30 17:47 |
| #6 I pray to the God of Irony that JIMMY CARTER was one of the boats involved. I don't think Carter even deserves that shred of ostensible redemption. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-08-30 17:22 |
| #5 #4 I would bet that they don't go anywhere without a tail. A guy I work with just confirmed that. Navy P3 guy as a sub hunter (And that is ALL he will say!) To quote him, when we were discussing them firing missles from subs, "well, all I will say, is for each of their little bitty subs, there is one big one trailing along behind," and walked off. |
| Posted by: Sherry 2006-08-30 17:13 |
| #4 Iran can shut, or at lesat threaten, the gulf with land based missiles. These subs would probably be targeting the U.S. Navy. I would bet that they don't go anywhere without a tail. |
| Posted by: DoDo 2006-08-30 16:41 |
| #3 That's assuming the subs even make it out of their pens. No doubt the recent Iranian exercise gave our fast-attack boys a chance to listen in up close. I pray to the God of Irony that JIMMY CARTER was one of the boats involved. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2006-08-30 16:40 |
| #2 The problem with the 3M54 is that it would make it easer for Iran to shut down oil exports from the Persian Gulf, at least for a while. That's assuming the subs even make it out of their pens. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-08-30 16:29 |
| #1 There are different versions of the Klub. Most are anti-ship. One is Land Attack. |
| Posted by: john 2006-08-30 16:28 |