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Sun, Feb 06, 2011 | Fars News Agency

Army exercised transferring and deploying marine commandoes and rapid reaction task forces in Iran's territorial waters, May 11, 2010. (Photo: Hossein Zohrevand/Fars News Agency)

Key Role of Speedboats in Iran’s Naval Doctrine

Fars News Agency:

Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi underlined that use of speedboats is at the heart of the Iranian Navy’s operational doctrine since high-speed vessels have already proved highly efficient in fighting back US heavyweight warships.

Addressing a conference at Amir Kabir University of Technology here in Tehran today, Vahidi recalled the history of using speedboats for confronting US aircraft carriers, heavy warships and submarines, and noted, “Speedboats proved so successful that they led to the formation of the IRGC (the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps) naval force.”

“The accomplishment also led to major changes in doctrines in different fields,” he added.

“This significant event has abundant lessons and implications in strategic, operational, tactical and industrial areas and also in research and innovation,” he continued.

“The issue of high-speed vessels has now turned into a crucially important topic in the world, while it is a very efficient, effective and low-cost operational doctrine for us,” Vahidi noted.

He further announced that Iran is now capable of manufacturing speedboats which can traverse at 60 to 70 knots per hour, yet the country is still seeking to increase the speed of these vessels to 80, 90 and even 100 knots per hour.

In August, the IRGC launched tens of its missile-launching speedboats in the Persian Gulf.

The speedboats in Zolfaqar, Tareq, Ashoura and Zoljanah classes were launched in a ceremony attended by Admiral Fadavi and a number of other high-ranking officials.

Read full article here.

Iran’s Battleships Arrive in Saudi Arabia on Route to Gulf of Aden

Meanwhile, the 12th flotilla of warships dispatched by Iran to the Gulf of Aden on an anti-piracy mission arrived in the Saudi port city of Jeddah today, Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari announced on Sunday.

Addressing the Navy personnel on the occasion of the anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution, Sayyari said the flotilla, which has been sent to the Gulf of Aden to protect Iranian cargo ships against Somali raiders, docked in the Saudi port in order to renew Iran’s message of peace and friendship to the regional states.

Also, the Iranian Navy dispatched a fleet of warships to the Red Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and the Gulf of Aden on a training and operational mission in late January.

During the mission, the Iranian Navy cadets are due to be trained and made prepared for defending the country’s cargo ships and oil tankers against the continued threat of attack by Somali pirates in future missions.

In addition to its training program, the fleet is also due to gain good intelligence and information on the regions it is due to visit during the mission.

Read full article here.