The Iranian Navy today claimed that its “Fateh” class submarine forced a U.S. Navy’s nuclear-powered sub which was cruising stealthily in the Strait of Hormuz to surface and change track.
In addition, Iran announced the start of manufacture of the hulls of the second, third and fourth in the “Fateh” class of submarines.
Iranian Navy commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani said on Thursday that the homegrown submarine identified and warned away the USS Florida nuclear-powered submarine in the Strait of Hormuz.
The commander was quoted as saying by local media that the American submarine had submerged and was approaching the Strait of Hormuz in silence, but the Fateh submarine of the Iranian Navy detected it and performed maneuvers to force the U.S. watercraft to surface and cruise the strait above the sea.
The American submarine was given the necessary warnings as it had closed in on the Iranian territorial waters “to some extent”, the commander added, noting that the USS Florida changed its track and continued to sail under escort.
With all its modern equipment, the American submarine had made every effort to pass through the Hormuz Strait stealthily, but was detected by the Fateh submarine which was on patrol, he added.
The Iranian Navy chief stressed that the American forces should explain why they have violated the navigation regulations in a major maritime route. “The Iranian Navy’s recent warning to the U.S. is that they must observe all international rules from now on.”
The 527-ton Fateh submarine is a semi-heavy undersurface vessel whose weight at depth increases to 593 tons.
The submarine is equipped with an advanced sonic radar system for identifying enemy vessels and uses a missile defense system.