Iran Navy (IRIN): News

Iran’s deploys 71st naval fleet to international waters
News Desk by News Desk
2020-12-19

BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:45 P.M.) – The 71st flotilla of the Iranian Navy set off for high seas to safeguard maritime routes used by Iranian vessels in international waters, specially in the Gulf of Aden.

The new fleet which left Iran’s southern waters on Saturday consists of the home-made Alborz destroyer and helicopter-carrier warship named Khark.

Meanwhile, the 70th fleet of warships of the Iranian Navy returned to Bandar Abbas in southern Iran after completing its mission in free waters.

Iranian Navy’s 70th flotilla of warships, comprising of Sablan destroyer and Lavan logistic-combat warship, was welcomed by Commander of the Navy’s first zone Admiral Jafar Tazakkor in a ceremony in Bandar Abbas.

The 70th flotilla of the Navy returned to the country after days of sailing and fulfilling missions and establishment of security for the Iranian cargo ships in the Gulf of Aden and Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Addressing the ceremony, Admiral Tazakkor said that monitoring and identification of foreign vessels in the international waters along with safeguarding Iran’s interests are among the important responsibilities of the Iranian fleets of warships.

“We will not compromise our interests and are not joking with any foreign country and force in the region and outside the region. The security of our interests is our redline,” he underlined.

In recent years, Iran’s naval forces have increased their presence in high seas to secure naval routes and protect merchant vessels and oil tankers against pirates.

In line with international efforts to combat piracy, the Iranian Navy has also been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden to safeguard the vessels involved in maritime trade, specially the ships and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran.

Isos wrote:IRGC navy missiles in an underground base. At least 200 of them but they are Nasr-1 with only 35 km range.

GarryB wrote:Are there any British Navy ships available to provide escort?

hisutton.com wrote:
The vessel is named in honor of Nader Mahdavi. He was one of 7 IRGC personnel killed in an engagement against the U.S. Navy in October 1987.

According to defense analyst Aurora Intel, the ship is Savin (IMO 9209348). This Iranian flagged container ship was previously Dandle. She was built in 2000 and is 240.2 meters overall, and 32.2 meters across. Based on imagery analysis it appears that she had been outside the naval base at Bandar Abbas, in the civilian anchorage, since mid-2019. It had been in its final spot since March 2021. Based on analysis of satellite imagery, the ship was brought to the shipyard in late January 2022. Work likely commenced soon after.

The refit is being done at the same yard where the regular Iranian Navy's own forward base ship, I.R.I.N.S. Makran (441), was converted. At 240 meters long the new IRGC ship appears to be similar lenght but slightly smaller overall than the Makran, which was a tanker. But it will be by far the largest ship in IRGC service.

The IRGC already has three forward base ships. The I.R.I.S. Shahid-Roudaki is the smallest at 150m length. The other two are more covert, the Saviz and Behshad, and are used as base ships in the Red Sea. Behshad replaced Saviz there after the latter was mined in 2021.
http://www.hisutton.com/Iran-IRGC-Shahid-Mahdavi.html