The most nervous denizens of the Pentagon about a possible U.S. strike on Iran are the admirals, who fear placing their beloved carriers in harm's way in the constricted waters of the Persian Gulf. Now they have a new cause for concern; Iran has opened a torpedo production line in order to strengthen its maritime defense capability as the Bush administration escalated its threats against Iran. Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani said at the opening ceremony of the factory that the production marked completion of "the Islamic Republic's defensive cycle at sea. Iran's marine units have now achieved an effective weapon with a complicated and modern technology in confronting surface and undersea threats. Some of the important features of this weapon are the possibility to use it in shallow waters, without being spotted by radars, as well as its extraordinarily high speed, while being notably cost-effective." Shamkani added that the torpedoes could be mounted on helicopters, surface vessels and submarines. No details were given of the torpedo production, but Western analysts nervously note that Iran is known to have acquired a number of Russian VA-111 supercavitating Shkval torpedoes, specifically designed to destroy aircraft carriers, and are worried that the Iranians now might be producing their own indigenous version. The 27-foot Shkval is potentially one of Russia's most lucrative arms exports. Spewing a fine stream of air bubbles from its nose to reduce drag, the Shkval literally rockets along underwater at 230 miles per hour in a linear trajectory, with a maximum range of about six nautical miles. One Russian submarine designer bragged that a Skhval attack would be like "the lightning stab of a dagger." | The Chinese are reported to have purchased these as well. From what I've read, the torp has to slow down in order to find it's target at the end of the run. Only has a six mile range and is rumored to have been the cause of the Kursk sinking. Other than that, it's a superweapon. |
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