US Navy Submarine Sinks Iranian Frigate with Historic Torpedo

Historic Attack in the Indian Ocean

On Wednesday, a US Navy submarine deployed a Mark-48 torpedo, a weapon not utilized in combat since World War II, to sink the Iranian frigate Iris Dena in the Indian Ocean. The torpedo detonated beneath the ship's stern, creating a massive water column as the vessel's hull began to disintegrate above the waterline, as shown in footage released by the US Defense Department. The attack occurred off the coast of Sri Lanka, although the Pentagon has yet to disclose the submarine's identity. During a briefing, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the incident as a "quiet death." Meanwhile, Sri Lankan officials reported the rescue of 32 Iranian sailors from the sinking ship, which had a crew of approximately 180 at the time of the incident.

Torpedo's Historical Context

Torpedo Last Used In Second World War

As per the US Navy's History and Heritage Command, the last combat use of a torpedo by the US occurred during World War II. On August 14, 1945, the USS Torsk sank a Japanese patrol escort vessel near Maizuru. The 750-ton vessel, CD-13, had detected the submarine via sonar, prompting the Torsk to launch two torpedoes, one from a depth of 400 feet. Both struck the target, resulting in the deaths of 28 crew members.

DeptofWar

2029193757162139762

Post-World War II, US submarines primarily focused on intelligence gathering and strategic deterrence, particularly during the Cold War. Although these submarines carried torpedoes, they seldom used them against ships, instead targeting land-based objectives. The USS Louisville, a Los Angeles-class attack submarine, was the first to launch a Tomahawk cruise missile in combat, striking Iraqi positions during Operation Desert Storm. Subsequently, US submarines have launched cruise missiles in various military operations, including Iraq in 1996 and 1998, Afghanistan, and during the 2003 Iraq invasion. They were also involved in operations against targets in Somalia in 2008, during NATO's air campaign in Libya in 2011, against Houthi forces in Yemen in 2024, and in a strike on an Iranian nuclear facility in Isfahan last year.

Understanding the Mark-48 Torpedo

About Mark-48 Torpedo: How It Works

The Mark-48 torpedo serves as the primary submarine-launched weapon for the US Navy, designed to target both ships and submarines. Introduced in 1972 and developed at a Navy facility in Yorktown, Virginia, this torpedo has seen multiple upgrades over the years. The latest iteration weighs nearly 3,800 pounds and employs sonar technology to track its targets before diving beneath them.

DOWResponse

2029193589079613857

Upon reaching its target, the warhead detonates with an explosive force equivalent to approximately 500 pounds of TNT beneath the hull. This explosion generates a gas bubble that snaps the vessel's keel, effectively breaking the ship's spine and often leading to rapid sinking. Images released by the Defense Department captured the bow of the Iris Dena sharply rising out of the water just moments before the warship vanished beneath the surface.