Iran has a navy?

Question

What? Do they have submarines, an air force, marines, merchant marines, coast guard, etc... Any info about the Iran military?

So Iran may not be strong. But they are a big force in the Middle East.

Answer 1

Rear Admiral Sajjad Kouchaki Badlani is in charge of Iran's navy. The Iranian Navy has traditionally been the smallest branch of Iran's armed forces.

Iranian naval operations are organzied into five major zones, three on the Persian Gulf (Bandar Abbas, Bushehr and Khark), one on the Caspian Sea (Bandar Anzali), and one on the Indian Ocean (Chah Bahar). Bandar Abbas is the main Iranian naval base, providing a home for the main components of Iran's navy (its frigates and destroyers), as well as functioning as the navy's main ship repair yard. Bandar Anzali has become increasingly important, having minesweeping and full coastal water defence capabilities. Nou Shahr, also on the Caspian, is increasingly important, housing the Iranian naval academy.

The Iranian Navy is putting in place a multi-layered framework comprised of conventional and asymmetrical subsurface, surface, and airborne systems which can impact open access to Arabian Gulf shipping lanes.

Iran's ambitious plans for escort and patrol capabilities in the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean may not be realized until the Bandar Beheshti naval facility is completed. The country's interest in navigation through the Strait of Hormuz has not diminished, as the contemplated deployment of Chinese-made Silkworm HY-2 surface-to-surface missiles on Larak Island in 1987 clearly indicated. This development underscored Iran's interest in Gulf waters and the navy's role, along with that of Pasdaran units, in protecting them or in denying them to others.

Iran's naval vessels include:
Submarines
Kilo class (3)
SSI (3)

Destroyers
Damavand Battle [UK] 1
Babr&pallang Allen M. Sumner [USA] 2
no active

Frigates
IS Sabalan at sea.Alvand (Saam) class (Vosper Mk5 type) light patrol frigates
Displacement: 1,540 tons full load
Dimensions: 94.5 x 11.07 x 3.25 meters (310 x 36 x 10.5 feet)
Propulsion: 2 shafts; 2 cruise diesels, 3,800 bhp, 17 knots; 2 TM-3A
boost gas turbines, 46,000 shp, 39 knots
Crew: 135
Radar: AWS-1 air search
Sonar: Type 174 hull
Fire Control: 2 RTN-10X
EW: RDL-2AC intercept
Armament: 5-cell Sea Killer SSM, 1 114mm DP, 1 dual 35 mm AA, 4 20 mm, 2 12.7 mm MG, 1 Limbo ASW mortar
UK-built. One additional ship lost to US forces. Sabalan may not be fully repaired after damage in US attacks.
Number Name Year Notes
71 Alvand 1971 Ex-Saam
72 Alborz 1971 Ex-Zaal
73 Sabalan 1972 Ex-Rastam

Corvettes
Bayandor class (PF 103 type) large patrol corvettes
Displacement: 1,135 tons full load
Dimensions: 83.82 x 10.06 x 3.05 meters (275 x 33 x 10 feet)
Propulsion: 4 diesels, 2 shafts, 5,300 bhp, 20 knots
Crew: 133
Radar: SPS-6 2-D air search
Armament: 2 3/50 DP, 1 dual 40 mm, 1 dual 20 mm, 2 12.7 mm MG
US-built for transfer. Two sisters lost.
Number Name Year
81 Bayandor 1964
82 Naghdi 1964

Missile Craft
Houdong class (10)
Kaman class (Combattante II type) missile boats
Displacement: 275 tons full load
Dimensions: 47 x 7.1 x 1.9 meters (154 x 23 x 6 feet)
Propulsion: 4 diesels, 4 shafts, 14,400 bhp, 36 knots
Crew: 31
Armament: C802 SSM, 1 76 mm OTO DP, 1 40 mm AA
French-built. US-supplied Harpoon missiles have been expended.
Number Name Year
P21 Kaman 1977
P22 Xoubin 1977
P23 Khadang 1978
P26 Falakhon 1978
P27 Shamshir 1978
P28 Gorz 1978
P29 Gardouneh 1978
P30 Khanjar 1981
P31 Neyzeh 1981
P32 Tabarzin 1981

Patrol: Coastal
Parvin class (3)

Patrol: Inshore
Zafar class (3)
China Cat (3)
PFI (35)
Hovercraft (14)
miscallenous small craft (200+)

Mine Layers
Hejaz LST (2)

Mine Countermeasures
Shahrokh MSC (1)
292 MSC (2)
Riazi (2)

Amphibious
Hengam LST (4)
Iran Hormuz 24 LSM (3)
Fouque LSL (3)
LCT (3)
ACV *BH.7 Mk 4 - Logistic Support Hovercraft(6)
SRN-6 Hovercraft

Support
Kharg AO (1)
Bandar Abbas AO (2)
Delvar class (5)
Hendijan class (12)
AT (1)
Training Craft (2)

Answer 2

Iran has an Air Force, using older F-14's (purchased under the Shah), and newer MIG's (Captured from Iraq, during the last two conflicts they had with the US).

The Revolutionary Guard is an elite team of soldiers who train other military and paramilitary organizations throughout the region. They operate the fledgeling Iranian Navy, which has Frigates, Patrol Craft, a few Cruisers, and recently, Submarines.

*looks at the entry above*

My numbers may be off, but, I give their Islamic Revolutionary Guard the respect they are due.

Answer 3

Yes, folks here have given you plenty of links to data.

In 1996 I was there when they first began deploying the C-802 (Chinese Exocet) and they took delivery of their 3rd Kilo class Russian diesel submarine.

I watched their P-3 Orions overfly the carrier battle group each afternoon.

Since then, they've purchased more missile-boats from China.

Just FYI, the action today was by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Navy... NOT the real Iranian Navy. These are the same idiots who ran around in 1985-1987 shooting at Kuwaiti oil tankers in the Gulf

Answer 4

Yes, Iran has a Navy. You should really keep up with world news. Back in the70's when the U.S. and Iran had diplomatic relations, we built 4 ships for them; the AYATOLLAH CLASS, DDG's. Before Iran could get them we had broken relations. The U.S. Navy kept them: USS KIDD DDG-993, USS SCOTT DDG-995, USS CALLAGHAN DDG-994 , USS CHANDLER DDG-996. They were all decommissioned in 1998-1999. An aside: the Taiwan navy just purchased all three ships and had them refurbished in Charleston, SC at Detyens' shipyard.
In 1979 when I was on the Flag Ship for the Middle East Forces, USS LaSalle AGF-3, we 'drifted' into Iranian waters and were chased by 3 of their coastal patrol boats, which carried, I believe, EXOCET missile (I may be wrong in the name, but it skims the surface and when it reaches the ship it goes straight up and straight down the stack). We made a hasty retreat of Iranian waters to the international waters of the Arabian (aka Persian) Gulf. What can an Exocet missile do? Well, on May 17, 1987, the pilot of an Iraqi Mirage F-1 allegedly mistook the U.S. Navy Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate USS Stark FFG-31 for an Iranian tanker and fired two Exocets at the warship. Both hit, but only one exploded. The first penetrated the port-side hull; it failed to detonate, but spewed flaming rocket fuel in its path. The second entered at almost the same point, and left a 9x12 foot gash then exploded in crew quarters. Thirty-seven sailors were killed and twenty-one were injured. Stark was heavily damaged but saved by the crew and sent back for repairs.
Sorry for the rabbit trail. :-)
(USN, retired since '85)

Answer 5

Iran's Navy....not much better than a large fishing fleet

Naval forces: 43 000 people (including 25 000 in naval forces of "Islamic revolution guard"). Navy: 3 submarines pr.877 EKM, 3 small submarines, 3 frigates with guided missiles Alvand, 2 corvettes Bayandor, 20 missile boats (10 Combatant-3, 10 Hudong), more than 40 patrol boats, 13 storm-boats (including 6 tank landing ships), 6 air cushion boats, 3 minesweepers, 38 support vessels (including 3 tankers, 7 transports). Naval aircraft: about 2 000 people, planes - 9 (5 Do-228, 4 F-27), helicopters - 33 (10 AB-212, 14 ASH-3D, 9 RH-53D).

Answer 6

They have all of the above...subs, air force, marines and missiles. They tested a torpedo last summer that does 250 knots (outrun that with your Aircraft carrier). They have a military that has not been decimated in a war and ten years of sanctions like pre-2003 Iraq...in fact their economy and military have greatly benefited from higher oil prices since 2001. They are NOT a pushover!

That is why the US/Israel/Briton cabal will use their nukes when, not if, when they attack.

Answer 7

Yes they have a navy with submarines and torpedos .They have alot of things. They even have American made F-14 jets. Now they have trouble getting parts for them, but Russia will sell them anything they want.

Answer 8

Yes Iran has a navy , not a swimming team , make no mistakes about it.

Answer 9

Yes they do, it is just under 15.000 service-members.

Check the below site for more information.

Answer 10

Yes and they just took some British sailors as hostages!