Recently some people have posted doubts about Iran’s ability to defend itself and to the quality of it’s Navy and military. To those who wish to question me I suggest they read the sereis of articles I’ve written in the “Dumb vs. Dumber” series. If you have not read them I will include parts of the here.
In terms of Naval capability Iran has the following warships. One Jamaran class Guided Missile Frigate(FFG) with another rapidly under construction. 3 Alvand class FFG’s, with the Sahand since raised as a demonstration of Iran’s means to salvage sunken warships, 2 Bayandor class Frigates, 3 Tariq class Attack Submarines(SSK) purchased from Russia and 6 more recently ordered, 3 Ghadir class SSK’s, which use stealth technology and are the only submarines which can fire rocket propelled torpedoes and missiles simultaneously, 1 Nahang class SSK, 4 Yugo class SSK’s, 3 Sina class Corvettes, 1 Hamzeh class Corvette, 4 Hengam class Amphibious Landing Ships(LST), 6 Charak class LST’s, 2 Iran class LST’s,3 Logistical Support Ships, the Kharg, Bandar Abbas, and Bushehr which are constructed to be rapidly converted into LST’s in time of war, 12 Houdong class Fast Attack Craft(PT) and some 60 PT Craft, including Bakhtaran, Tir, and Parvin class variants. The weaponry on these ships are all modern and all are well constructed and battleworthy.
Despite the hype about america’s navy and military american forces are already overstreched and short on critical supplies, which the people in Iraq and Afghanistan have forgotten in face of the surge, and american weaponry rapidly like the abrams tank and stealth fighter becoming obsolete. The aegis system is becoming obsolete also, as it is simply a computer/satellite guidance system for guided missiles, and Iranian military technicians have developed the technolgy to intercept american guided missiles. Furthermore, Irainan rocket propelled torpedoes and Shahab-3 missiles have the capability to put any of america’s 12 Aircraft Carriers and 11 Amphibious Carriers out of action. While the american navy has 22 Cruisers, 54 Destroyers, 30 FFG’s, and 30 Amphibiuos Assault ships, the hull construction of these ships is poor and these ships can be put out of action easily, as the incidents involving the Stark, Roberts, Cole, as well as the american warships hit by Iraqi fire during the first Gulf war demonstrated. People even forget that the USS Gettysburg, an aegis Cruiser, had trouble manuvering after colliding with the Frigate IS Bayandor on October 13, 1996. The 53 Nuclear powered attack submarines and 18 Ohio class Submarines america’s navy operates are noisy and easily detectable by Iranian sonars. Essentially, america’s navy is matched in terms of quality of ships, but not quantity, with iran’s and in a ship to ship engagement major Iranian and american warships are equals.
To round off this consideration one must consider in addition to Iran’s new Missile defense system capable of countering aegis that Iran is one of 3 countries that produces tactical stealth fighter planes and that Iran’s DIO has the means to mass produce modern tactical jet fighters and main battle tanks in addition to major warships. Any america invasion force which is headed up by an america Carrier Battle group would have to pass through the Srtrait of Hormuz where american warships could be picked off easily. If any battle does occur between americaand Iran the end result will be, win or loss, that america’s military will suffer heavy casualties that it will upset the balance of military power in the World and america will be extermely vulnerable to attack, be it from Russia, China, India, North Korea, or other countries that had issues with america in the past and chafe at america in the present like Germany, France, Spain, Venezuela, Libya may be emboldened against america.
Any military confronataion between Iran and america will be a loss for america, no matter the outcome. Iran is capable of defending itself and not to be pushed around and those that forget this will find out how wrong they are if they try to attack.
