{"id":1349,"date":"2026-08-11T20:06:29","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T20:06:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sterlingcooper.info\/blog\/?p=1349"},"modified":"2026-08-11T20:06:29","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T20:06:29","slug":"iran-bought-kilo-class-submarines-from-russia-u-s-sunk-one-already","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sterlingcooper.info\/blog\/iran-bought-kilo-class-submarines-from-russia-u-s-sunk-one-already\/","title":{"rendered":"IRAN BOUGHT KILO CLASS SUBMARINES FROM RUSSIA..U.S. SUNK ONE ALREADY"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"article-image-slot image-slot-placeholder\" data-is-first=\"true\" data-doc-id=\"cms\/api\/amp\/image\/AA29NBhf\">\n<div class=\"article-image-slot\">\n<div class=\"article-image-container polished\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;OpenModal&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;b&quot;:8,&quot;c.i&quot;:&quot;AA29OlYv&quot;,&quot;c.l&quot;:false,&quot;c.t&quot;:13,&quot;c.v&quot;:&quot;news&quot;,&quot;c.c&quot;:&quot;general&quot;,&quot;c.b&quot;:&quot;19FortyFive&quot;,&quot;c.bi&quot;:&quot;AA22cQxk&quot;,&quot;c.tv&quot;:&quot;news&quot;,&quot;c.tc&quot;:&quot;general&quot;,&quot;c.hl&quot;:&quot;Iran bought 3 Kilo-class 'Black Hole' submarines from Russia and the US military hunted and destroyed at least one&quot;}\" data-test-id=\"AA29NBhf\"><button class=\"article-image-height-wrapper expandable article-image-height-wrapper-new\" data-customhandled=\"true\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;OpenModalButton&quot;,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:8,&quot;c.i&quot;:&quot;AA29OlYv&quot;,&quot;c.l&quot;:false,&quot;c.t&quot;:13,&quot;c.v&quot;:&quot;news&quot;,&quot;c.c&quot;:&quot;general&quot;,&quot;c.b&quot;:&quot;19FortyFive&quot;,&quot;c.bi&quot;:&quot;AA22cQxk&quot;,&quot;c.tv&quot;:&quot;news&quot;,&quot;c.tc&quot;:&quot;general&quot;,&quot;c.hl&quot;:&quot;Iran bought 3 Kilo-class 'Black Hole' submarines from Russia and the US military hunted and destroyed at least one&quot;}\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"article-image article-image-ux-impr article-image-new expandable\" title=\"Kilo-Class Submarines All Together\" src=\"https:\/\/img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net\/tenant\/amp\/entityid\/AA29NBhf.img?w=534&amp;h=300&amp;m=6\" alt=\"Kilo-Class Submarines All Together\" \/><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"image-caption-container image-caption-container-ux-impr articlewc-image-caption-container\"><span class=\"image-caption\">Kilo-Class Submarines All Together<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:76}\">Iran\u2019s quest for the Kilo-class \u2018black hole\u2019 submarines was clearly a long-time coming, even before the mighty USSR fell. Tehran signed the contract in 1988, while the Soviet Union still existed, and then received three Project 877EKM boats from post-Soviet Russia between 1992 and 1996.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalsecurity.org\/military\/world\/iran\/kilo.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;destination&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:1,&quot;c.t&quot;:7}\">\u00a0IRIS Taregh entered service on November 21, 1992<\/a>, IRIS Nooh followed on June 6, 1993; and IRIS Yunes was commissioned on November 25, 1996. The three boats gave Iran its first modern, ocean-going submarine force.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"article-sub-heading\"><strong>The Kilo-Class Was a Big Deal for Iran\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div class=\"article-image-slot image-slot-placeholder\" data-doc-id=\"cms\/api\/amp\/image\/AA27PgJy\">\n<div class=\"article-image-slot\">\n<div class=\"article-image-container polished\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;OpenModal&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;b&quot;:8,&quot;c.i&quot;:&quot;AA29OlYv&quot;,&quot;c.l&quot;:false,&quot;c.t&quot;:13,&quot;c.v&quot;:&quot;news&quot;,&quot;c.c&quot;:&quot;general&quot;,&quot;c.b&quot;:&quot;19FortyFive&quot;,&quot;c.bi&quot;:&quot;AA22cQxk&quot;,&quot;c.tv&quot;:&quot;news&quot;,&quot;c.tc&quot;:&quot;general&quot;,&quot;c.hl&quot;:&quot;Iran bought 3 Kilo-class 'Black Hole' submarines from Russia and the US military hunted and destroyed at least one&quot;}\" data-test-id=\"AA27PgJy\">\n<div><\/div>\n<p><button class=\"article-image-height-wrapper expandable article-image-height-wrapper-new\" data-customhandled=\"true\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;OpenModalButton&quot;,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:8,&quot;c.i&quot;:&quot;AA29OlYv&quot;,&quot;c.l&quot;:false,&quot;c.t&quot;:13,&quot;c.v&quot;:&quot;news&quot;,&quot;c.c&quot;:&quot;general&quot;,&quot;c.b&quot;:&quot;19FortyFive&quot;,&quot;c.bi&quot;:&quot;AA22cQxk&quot;,&quot;c.tv&quot;:&quot;news&quot;,&quot;c.tc&quot;:&quot;general&quot;,&quot;c.hl&quot;:&quot;Iran bought 3 Kilo-class 'Black Hole' submarines from Russia and the US military hunted and destroyed at least one&quot;}\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"article-image article-image-ux-impr article-image-new expandable\" title=\"Kilo-Class Submarine\" src=\"https:\/\/img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net\/tenant\/amp\/entityid\/AA27PgJy.img?w=534&amp;h=300&amp;m=6\" alt=\"Kilo-Class Submarine\" \/><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"image-caption-container image-caption-container-ux-impr articlewc-image-caption-container\"><span class=\"image-caption\">Kilo-Class Submarine<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-image-slot image-slot-placeholder\" data-doc-id=\"cms\/api\/amp\/image\/AA29NQW5\">\n<div class=\"article-image-slot\">\n<div class=\"article-image-container polished\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;OpenModal&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;b&quot;:8,&quot;c.i&quot;:&quot;AA29OlYv&quot;,&quot;c.l&quot;:false,&quot;c.t&quot;:13,&quot;c.v&quot;:&quot;news&quot;,&quot;c.c&quot;:&quot;general&quot;,&quot;c.b&quot;:&quot;19FortyFive&quot;,&quot;c.bi&quot;:&quot;AA22cQxk&quot;,&quot;c.tv&quot;:&quot;news&quot;,&quot;c.tc&quot;:&quot;general&quot;,&quot;c.hl&quot;:&quot;Iran bought 3 Kilo-class 'Black Hole' submarines from Russia and the US military hunted and destroyed at least one&quot;}\" data-test-id=\"AA29NQW5\">\n<div><\/div>\n<p><button class=\"article-image-height-wrapper expandable article-image-height-wrapper-new\" data-customhandled=\"true\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;OpenModalButton&quot;,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:8,&quot;c.i&quot;:&quot;AA29OlYv&quot;,&quot;c.l&quot;:false,&quot;c.t&quot;:13,&quot;c.v&quot;:&quot;news&quot;,&quot;c.c&quot;:&quot;general&quot;,&quot;c.b&quot;:&quot;19FortyFive&quot;,&quot;c.bi&quot;:&quot;AA22cQxk&quot;,&quot;c.tv&quot;:&quot;news&quot;,&quot;c.tc&quot;:&quot;general&quot;,&quot;c.hl&quot;:&quot;Iran bought 3 Kilo-class 'Black Hole' submarines from Russia and the US military hunted and destroyed at least one&quot;}\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"article-image article-image-ux-impr article-image-new expandable\" title=\"Polish Navy submarine, Kilo-Class.\" src=\"https:\/\/img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net\/tenant\/amp\/entityid\/AA29NQW5.img?w=534&amp;h=300&amp;m=6\" alt=\"Polish Navy submarine, Kilo-Class.\" \/><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"image-caption-container image-caption-container-ux-impr articlewc-image-caption-container\"><span class=\"image-caption\">Polish Navy submarine, Kilo-Class.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"continue-read-break\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:76}\">The timing mattered for Tehran, for sure. Iran could not match the United States ship for ship, but a quiet diesel-electric submarine offered a different form of power.<\/p>\n<p data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:76}\">The possibility of one hidden boat near the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.19fortyfive.com\/2026\/08\/iran-has-six-demands-for-donald-trump-before-it-will-reopen-the-strait-of-hormuz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;destination&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:1,&quot;c.t&quot;:7}\">Strait of Hormuz<\/a>\u00a0required an opponent to plan around patrol aircraft, helicopters, sonar-equipped warships, and attack submarines. Tehran bought only three Kilos, yet their presence created a much larger anti-submarine warfare problem.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:76}\">The arrival of the third boat showed Washington\u2019s concern. A<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvidshub.net\/image\/9207631\/russian-built-submarine-purchased-iran-towed-mediterranean-sea\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;destination&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:1,&quot;c.t&quot;:7}\">\u00a0Defense Department photograph and caption<\/a>\u00a0recorded the submarine being towed across the Mediterranean in late December 1995 before transiting the Suez Canal. Ships and aircraft from the U.S. Sixth Fleet tracked it on the surface before it reached Iran.And, in fact, the very first article I ever wrote, way back in 1995, when I was in High School, was about that very event.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"article-sub-heading\"><strong>The Black Hole?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:76}\">\u201cBlack Hole\u201d became the class\u2019s famous nickname, though Iran received the older Project 877EKM export design, not the later Project 636.3 Improved Kilo. The<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ckb-rubin.ru\/en\/projects\/naval_engineering\/conventional_submarines\/project_877\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;destination&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:1,&quot;c.t&quot;:7}\">\u00a0Rubin Design Bureau highlights<\/a>\u00a0the single-shaft propulsion system, low-noise machinery, and anechoic hull coating.<\/p>\n<p data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:76}\">Running on batteries, a Kilo was difficult to hear. It was never invisible, and without air-independent propulsion, it eventually had to snorkel and run diesel engines to recharge.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-video-slot\" data-doc-id=\"AA29NQW6\" data-content-embed-type=\"partner\">\n<div class=\"article-video-slot\">\n<div class=\"video-wrapper   \" tabindex=\"0\">\n<div class=\"videocard3PP  \" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;VideoCardWC&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:61,&quot;c.i&quot;:&quot;AA29NQW6&quot;,&quot;c.l&quot;:false,&quot;c.t&quot;:61,&quot;c.v&quot;:&quot;video&quot;,&quot;c.c&quot;:&quot;peopleandplaces&quot;,&quot;c.b&quot;:&quot;19FortyFive&quot;,&quot;c.bi&quot;:&quot;AA22cQxk&quot;,&quot;ext&quot;:{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;AA29NQW6&quot;,&quot;videoCs&quot;:&quot;AA22cQxk&quot;,&quot;eventType&quot;:61,&quot;timeElasped&quot;:0,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Kilo Class Submarine: What You Need To Know&quot;,&quot;videoDuration&quot;:518,&quot;fr&quot;:&quot;en-us_news&quot;,&quot;playType&quot;:&quot;embed&quot;,&quot;playerTech&quot;:&quot;3PP_YouTube&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;611x343&quot;,&quot;isContinuous&quot;:false,&quot;isMuted&quot;:true,&quot;playDuration&quot;:0,&quot;inline&quot;:true,&quot;vCard&quot;:0,&quot;videoPlayerType&quot;:&quot;PartnerEmbed&quot;,&quot;videoUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.19fortyfive.com\/2026\/08\/iran-bought-3-kilo-class-black-hole-submarines-from-russia-and-the-us-military-hunted-and-destroyed-at-least-one\/&quot;,&quot;perf&quot;:{},&quot;isVideoPreview&quot;:false},&quot;c.hl&quot;:&quot;Kilo Class Submarine: What You Need To Know&quot;}\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"widget2\" class=\"video-embed-common\" title=\"Kilo Class Submarine: What You Need To Know\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KJ11S5pste8?autoplay=0&amp;mute=1&amp;enablejsapi=1\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"article-sub-heading\"><strong>Iran\u2019s Kilo Submarines Carried 18 Torpedoes but Faced Persian Gulf Geography<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:76}\">Each Iranian Kilo displaced about 3,000 tons submerged, measured roughly 74 meters long, and reached about 17 knots underwater.<\/p>\n<p data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:76}\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.naval-technology.com\/projects\/kilo877\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;destination&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:1,&quot;c.t&quot;:7}\">Six 533-millimeter bow tubes supported 18 torpedoes or 24 mines<\/a>, while published design figures placed total endurance near 45 days. Those numbers made<a href=\"https:\/\/www.19fortyfive.com\/2026\/02\/irans-black-hole-kilo-class-attack-submarine-has-been-upgraded-just-in-time-to-fight-the-u-s-navy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;destination&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:1,&quot;c.t&quot;:7}\">\u00a0Iran\u2019s upgraded Kilo fleet<\/a>\u00a0its heaviest conventional undersea force.<\/p>\n<div class=\"intra-article-module\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;intraArticle&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13}\">\n<div class=\"articlePageIntraArticleFullWidth ad-slot-placeholder left-image-intra-ad full-bleed-image-intra-ad intra-ad-rm-bg intra-ad-rm-h\" data-ad-index=\"1\">\n<div class=\"left-image-intra-ad full-bleed-image-intra-ad\">\n<div class=\"responsive-views-ad-container\">\n<div class=\"root\">\n<div class=\"content-card-container\">\n<div class=\"card-actions-button-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"popover-feed-card-slot\" class=\"popover-slot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:76}\">They did not mean the boat remained submerged for 45 days; battery endurance was far shorter.<\/p>\n<p data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:76}\">Geography reduced the advantage for sure. The<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nti.org\/analysis\/articles\/iran-submarine-capabilities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;destination&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:1,&quot;c.t&quot;:7}\">\u00a0Nuclear Threat Initiative estimates<\/a>\u00a0the boats needed at least 164 feet of water and therefore had access to only about one-third of the Persian Gulf. Strong currents, salinity, and shallow water complicated operations.<\/p>\n<p data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:76}\">The deeper Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea suited them better, while Iran\u2019s smaller Ghadir boats were intended for confined coastal waters.<\/p>\n<p data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:76}\">The public record before 2026 shows exercises and patrols, not combat. Iran sent Kilos into the Gulf of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean and used them to test torpedoes and rehearse mine warfare. No verified account credits Taregh, Nooh, or Yunes with sinking a ship, firing a cruise missile in wartime, or launching a combat torpedo.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"article-sub-heading\"><strong>Age and Sanctions Turned Iran\u2019s Stealth Submarines Into Maintenance Projects<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:76}\">Keeping the boats operational became harder than buying them. That much seems clear<\/p>\n<p data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:76}\">Iran relaunched Taregh in 2012 after an overhaul that reportedly replaced<a href=\"https:\/\/www.marinelink.com\/news\/russianbuilt-service-iran345079\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;destination&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:1,&quot;c.t&quot;:7}\">\u00a0about 18,000 components<\/a>, including propellers and radar equipment. By January 2021,<a href=\"https:\/\/news.usni.org\/2021\/01\/31\/irans-best-submarines-have-been-out-of-the-water-for-a-month\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;destination&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:1,&quot;c.t&quot;:7}\">\u00a0satellite imagery showed all three Kilos out of the water<\/a>, with one having remained in dry dock since 2019. The long repair periods pointed to shortages of parts, facilities and experienced labor.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-image-slot image-slot-placeholder\" data-doc-id=\"cms\/api\/amp\/image\/AA27PMXc\">\n<div class=\"article-image-slot\">\n<div class=\"article-image-container polished\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;OpenModal&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;b&quot;:8,&quot;c.i&quot;:&quot;AA29OlYv&quot;,&quot;c.l&quot;:false,&quot;c.t&quot;:13,&quot;c.v&quot;:&quot;news&quot;,&quot;c.c&quot;:&quot;general&quot;,&quot;c.b&quot;:&quot;19FortyFive&quot;,&quot;c.bi&quot;:&quot;AA22cQxk&quot;,&quot;c.tv&quot;:&quot;news&quot;,&quot;c.tc&quot;:&quot;general&quot;,&quot;c.hl&quot;:&quot;Iran bought 3 Kilo-class 'Black Hole' submarines from Russia and the US military hunted and destroyed at least one&quot;}\" data-test-id=\"AA27PMXc\">\n<div><\/div>\n<p><button class=\"article-image-height-wrapper expandable article-image-height-wrapper-new\" data-customhandled=\"true\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;OpenModalButton&quot;,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:8,&quot;c.i&quot;:&quot;AA29OlYv&quot;,&quot;c.l&quot;:false,&quot;c.t&quot;:13,&quot;c.v&quot;:&quot;news&quot;,&quot;c.c&quot;:&quot;general&quot;,&quot;c.b&quot;:&quot;19FortyFive&quot;,&quot;c.bi&quot;:&quot;AA22cQxk&quot;,&quot;c.tv&quot;:&quot;news&quot;,&quot;c.tc&quot;:&quot;general&quot;,&quot;c.hl&quot;:&quot;Iran bought 3 Kilo-class 'Black Hole' submarines from Russia and the US military hunted and destroyed at least one&quot;}\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"article-image article-image-ux-impr article-image-new expandable\" title=\"Kilo-class Submarine. Image Credit: Creative Commons.\" src=\"https:\/\/img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net\/tenant\/amp\/entityid\/AA27PMXc.img?w=534&amp;h=300&amp;m=6\" alt=\"Kilo-class Submarine. Image Credit: Creative Commons.\" \/><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"image-caption-container image-caption-container-ux-impr articlewc-image-caption-container\"><span class=\"image-caption\">Kilo-class Submarine. Image Credit: Creative Commons.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:76}\">The fleet\u2019s condition was worse on the eve of war than its \u201cBlack Hole\u201d reputation suggested. Commercial imagery from February 26, 2026, showed<a href=\"https:\/\/www.criticalthreats.org\/analysis\/iran-update-evening-special-report-march-1-2026\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;destination&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:1,&quot;c.t&quot;:7}\">\u00a0two Kilos undergoing repairs and one apparently idle<\/a>\u00a0at Bandar Abbas.<\/p>\n<p data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:76}\">A submarine in a dock is a fixed target, which helps explain why the boats were described as<a href=\"https:\/\/www.19fortyfive.com\/2026\/03\/irans-black-hole-kilo-class-submarines-are-out-of-action-against-the-u-s-navy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;destination&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:1,&quot;c.t&quot;:7}\">\u00a0out of action during the opening strikes<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"article-sub-heading\"><strong>The United States Sunk at Least One Iranian Kilo at Bandar Abbas<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:76}\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.centcom.mil\/OPERATIONS-AND-EXERCISES\/EPIC-FURY\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;destination&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:1,&quot;c.t&quot;:7}\">Operation Epic Fury began on February 28, 2026<\/a>. CENTCOM confirmed strikes on Iranian submarines on March 1 without identifying their classes. The strongest public evidence came from commercial satellite imagery.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.twz.com\/land\/iranian-submarine-sunk-by-atacms-short-range-ballistic-missile\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;destination&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:1,&quot;c.t&quot;:7}\">\u00a0A review of Planet Labs images<\/a>\u00a0showed one of Iran\u2019s three Kilos apparently intact on March 2 and sunk at its berth by March 4. On March 13, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine said Army ATACMS missiles had sunk multiple ships, including a submarine. He did not name it.<\/p>\n<p data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:76}\">Adm. Brad Cooper separately said Iran\u2019s \u201cmost operational\u201d submarine had a hole in its side. The wording fits the Kilo visible at Bandar Abbas, though the United States never publicly identified the hull as Taregh, Nooh, or Yunes. Reports that<a href=\"https:\/\/www.19fortyfive.com\/2026\/04\/irans-black-hole-kilo-class-stealth-submarines-have-gone-missing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;destination&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:1,&quot;c.t&quot;:7}\">\u00a0the remaining Kilos had gone missing<\/a>\u00a0captured the unresolved point: one wreck was visible, while the other two boats lacked a public, name-by-name damage assessment.<\/p>\n<div class=\"intra-article-module\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;intraArticle&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13}\"><\/div>\n<p data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:76}\">The White House later claimed<a href=\"https:\/\/transcripts.cnn.com\/show\/cnc\/date\/2026-04-08\/segment\/07\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;destination&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:1,&quot;c.t&quot;:7}\">\u00a0Iran had \u201czero submarine vessels\u201d left<\/a>, covering a fleet that also included Fateh and Ghadir boats. Public reporting on<a href=\"https:\/\/www.19fortyfive.com\/2026\/04\/iran-had-25-subs-the-pentagon-says-zero-10-mini-subs-are-unaccounted-for\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;destination&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:1,&quot;c.t&quot;:7}\">\u00a0the gap between the aggregate claim and identified losses<\/a>\u00a0did not produce separate wreck locations for Nooh and Yunes. On July 12,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.centcom.mil\/MEDIA\/VIDEO-AND-IMAGERY\/VIDEOS\/videoid\/1014441\/dvpmoduleid\/37619\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t=\"{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;destination&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;a&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;b&quot;:1,&quot;c.t&quot;:7}\">\u00a0CENTCOM used three Corsair unmanned surface vessels<\/a>\u00a0to strike a submarine and a ship-maintenance facility at Bandar Abbas. The released video showed the sea drones hitting the facility where Iran had spent years trying to keep its submarine force operational.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kilo-Class Submarines All Together Iran\u2019s quest for the Kilo-class \u2018black hole\u2019 submarines was clearly a long-time coming, even before the mighty USSR fell. Tehran signed the contract in 1988, while the Soviet Union still existed, and then received three Project 877EKM boats from post-Soviet Russia between 1992 and 1996.\u00a0IRIS Taregh entered service on November 21, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1349","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-military"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sterlingcooper.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1349","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sterlingcooper.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sterlingcooper.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sterlingcooper.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sterlingcooper.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1349"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.sterlingcooper.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1349\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1350,"href":"https:\/\/www.sterlingcooper.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1349\/revisions\/1350"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sterlingcooper.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1349"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sterlingcooper.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1349"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sterlingcooper.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1349"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}