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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Israeli Submarine Status |
| 2006-08-09 |
| German engineers the past few weeks have been in Israel working to improve three advanced, nuclear capable attack submarines it provided the Jewish state last year, security sources tell the Galil Report. Many here have estimated the vessels can be used both as a strategic, second-strike nuclear deterrent or for conventional use during any large-scale confrontation. Military officials say the submarines are not needed for Israel's current campaign in Lebanon. The officials said Israel recently has discussed with foreign governments travel and refueling routes so the submarines can reach the Persian Gulf – within firing distance of Iran. The submarines usually patrol in the Indian Ocean. But the Galil Report has learned one is currently stationed in the Mediterranean off the coast of Haifa and another off the coast of Lebanon. Both submarines are being serviced. The Galil Report was not provided with the location of the third submarine. The submarines are being fitted by German engineers with larger fuel tanks, security sources said. They said the submarines also are being fixed to carry larger torpedo tubes. Israel already had the submarines redesigned once in the past. Four of the 10 torpedo tubes were made to carry a 650 mm tube size, surpassing the nearly universal 533 mm diameter. Security sources said the submarine enhancements were not related to any specific military agenda. But they said Israel has discussed travel routes with foreign governments for the submarines to reach the Persian Gulf, within firing distance of Iran. They said Egypt has denied Israel the ability to travel through the Suez Canal, but the Jewish state through diplomatic channels has secured the ability to travel to the Gulf via the Mediterranean. Coastal Eritrea had agreed to allow Israel to refuel at its port, which is still controlled by the Ethiopian army, sources told the Galil Report. Still, Israel is playing it safe by having the submarines' fuel capacity enlarged. Today's Galil Report details the upgrades being made to Israel's already enhanced SSK Dolphin-class submarines and outlines diplomatic negotiations to ensure the vessels can travel toward the direction of the Iranian coast. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #7 Refitting the 533mm tubes (NATO) to handle a 650mm torpedo(Russia) is interesting. It would be even more interesting if they were being refitted to 660mm or 762mm. Then they would be capable of firing cruise missiles. At this link you'll find Some common torpedo diameters (using the most common designation, metric or inch, and listed in increasing order of size): 12.75 inch (approximately 324mm) is the most common size for light torpedoes. 16 inch (406mm) was the size of the earliest specialised Soviet ASW torpedoes. 16 inch torpedo tubes were fitted to Soviet Hotel, Echo and early Delta class submarines, often in addition to 21 inch tubes. 17.7 inch (450mm) was the standard size for light torpedoes of the Imperial Japanese Navy. This size is sometimes referred to as 18 inches. 21 inch (533mm) is the most common size for heavy torpedoes, including: Allied torpedoes of the Second World War. Some torpedoes of the Imperial Japanese Navy. NATO torpedoes. Some Soviet and Russian torpedoes, including the current ASW models. 24 inch (610mm) torpedoes were used by the Imperial Japanese Navy, most famously the deck launched Type 93 torpedo, also some Kaitens. 650mm (approximately 25.6 inches) is the largest torpedo diameter used by the Russian navy, see Type 65 torpedo. Adaptors are used to fire 533mm (21 inch) munitions from 650mm tubes. Even larger sizes of torpedo tube, including 660mm (26 inches), 30 inch (about 762mm) and 36 inch (about 914mm), have been installed on some nuclear submarines. These tubes are designed to be capable of firing large diameter munitions such as cruise missiles, as well as the standard 21 inch heavy torpedo. |
| Posted by: GK 2006-08-09 22:23 |
| #6 why not stay hidden? As in: atomized, carbonized and dispersed over a 100 mile radius? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-08-09 22:06 |
| #5 heh heh. Put one in the Qom well that Imam is hiding in? humm..sounds like a plan Frank.. I take it you mean why not save the twelfth imammi all the effort of climbing up out of that well. |
| Posted by: RD 2006-08-09 22:01 |
| #4 heh heh. Put one in the Qom well that Imam is hiding in? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-08-09 21:42 |
| #3 www.defenseindustrydaily.com It is also rumored that Israel has tested a nuclear-capable verson of its medium-range "Popeye Turbo" cruise missile design for deployability from the two 650mm torpedo tubes in its Dolphin Class submarines. The 2002 Popeye Turbo launch test location off Sri Lanka suggested that the tests may have been performed in cooperation with India. |
| Posted by: john 2006-08-09 21:37 |
| #2 If Israel is using the Indian test range, it is probably using the IN submarine tenders and bases as well. |
| Posted by: john 2006-08-09 21:32 |
| #1 From a news report. According to London's Sunday Times quoting Haaretz, an Israeli Navy Dolphin submarine came up to Balasore on India's eastern seaboard to test fire an anti-missile missile. Israel's Dolphin submarines which are based in the port of Haifa, are believed to be armed with nuclear missiles. This is sometimes reported as "off the coast of Sri Lanka". Note that Balasore is the Indian missile test range. It has long range radar and optical tracking equipment and telemetry for missile tests. |
| Posted by: john 2006-08-09 21:30 |