US Submarine Sinks Iranian Warship in First Torpedo Kill Since WWII
A U.S. Navy submarine has sunk the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean south of Sri Lanka, marking the first time since World War II that a U.S. torpedo has destroyed an enemy warship in combat, the Pentagon has confirmed. U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth described the attack as a 'quiet death' for the Iranian vessel, which he stated 'thought it was safe in international waters.' Sri Lankan authorities reported recovering dozens of bodies from the water, with seriously injured survivors being treated in a hospital in the port city of Galle. The incident has drawn significant international attention, with video footage of the thermal targeting imagery capturing the moment of impact. The weapon used in the strike was a Mark-48 heavyweight torpedo, the primary offensive armament of the U.S. submarine fleet. First introduced in 1972, the wire-guided torpedo has been continuously upgraded, with modern Advanced Capability (ADCAP) variants featuring improved propulsion and digital guidance systems designed to destroy both enemy submarines and surface warships. The Mk-48 is credited with achieving 'immediate effect' on the Iranian frigate. The IRIS Dena had recently participated in multilateral naval drills, having been photographed in the Bay of Bengal for an International Fleet Review in India just days prior to the incident. The sinking occurs against a backdrop of heightened tensions, though the specific circumstances leading to the engagement have not been fully detailed by official sources. The event underscores the lethal capability of the U.S. Navy's exclusively nuclear-powered submarine force, which has not recorded a torpedo kill of an enemy surface ship in conflict for nearly eight decades.
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Us Submarine: Mark-48 torpedo: The lethal US submarine weapon that sent Iranian warship to the bottom of the Indian Ocean; how it works - The Times of India
The Mark-48 heavyweight torpedo has long been the backbone of the US Navy’s submarine warfare capability. Designed to destroy both enemy warships and submarines, it remains the primary offensive weapon carried by American attack submarines. Introduced in 1972, the torpedo has undergone several upgrades over the decades. Modern variants, including the Mk...
U.S. Submarine Torpedoes Iranian Frigate in Indian Ocean in First Wartime Strike of its Kind Since World War II
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe. Sign Up Sign In ... Thermal targeting imagery captures the moment a U.S. Navy submarine-launched Mk-48 torpedo detonates alongside the Iranian Navy frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean south of Sri Lanka ...
'Quiet Death': US Sub Sinks Iranian Frigate, First Torpedo Kill Since WWII | Military.com
The strike on the IRIS Dena is ... kill achieved with a guided torpedo. The U.S. Navy has operated an exclusively nuclear-powered submarine fleet since 1990, when USS Blueback, the last diesel-electric attack boat, was decommissioned. The Mk 48 is a heavyweight wire-guided ...
IRIS Dena ship sinking: What is the Mark 48 torpedo used by the US Navy to sink the Iranian Navy ship? - The Economic Times
The Mark 48 is a heavyweight, wire-guided torpedo introduced in 1972 and continuously upgraded since then. Modern versions, such as the Mk-48 ADCAP (Advanced Capability), feature improved propulsion, guidance systems, and digital electronics.
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe. Sign Up Sign In ... Thermal targeting imagery captures the moment a U.S. Navy submarine-launched Mk-48 torpedo detonates alongside the Iranian Navy frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean south of Sri Lanka ...
Mark-48 Torpedo: The deadly US weapon that sank Iranian ship in Indian Ocean – Firstpost
As per Moneycontrol, the Mark-48 is the primary strike weapon of the US Navy’s submarines. The heavyweight torpedo can take out both warships and submarines. First introduced in 1972, it has witnessed multiple upgrades. Its modern versions include the Mk-48 ADCAP (Advanced Capability) variant, ...
Iranian warship IRIS Dena is seen in the Bay of Bengal during International Fleet Review held at Visakhapatnam, India, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo) "An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters," Hegseth said. "Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo. Quiet death. The first sinking ...
A Sri Lankan navy spokesman said ... the Iris Dena, based on the ship's documentation. The survivors were "seriously injured" and had been taken to a hospital in the southern port of Galle, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said. Hegseth told a news conference on Wednesday that a US submarine had sunk an Iranian warship "that thought it was safe in international waters". He also claimed it was "the first sinking of an enemy ...
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! The sinking of the Iranian warship IRIS Dena by a single Mk 48 torpedo has put renewed focus on the U.S. Navy’s primary undersea weapon, a heavyweight torpedo that first entered operational service in 1972 and has been steadily upgraded for modern naval warfare. The strike on the IRIS Dena marked the first time since World ...
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