A Persian Gulf Navy: Iran

Iran modern navy was born in 1923 by the hand of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi father (Reza Shah Pahlavi) but their existance was since the times of Achaemanide at Persian Impire 500 BC. In the Anglo - Soviet invasion in 1941 all the Iran Navy was lost (two gunboats sunk and four damaged like Brabr we see in the images). The need for the Iranian fields control and alied supply lines had result the ocupation in north by the Soviet army and in the south by the British forces for five long years (1941 to 1946 when they leave). 

The Iran Navy was rebuilt almoust with Uk an Us equipment, specialy several destroyers (Like Brabr Destroyer see in picture below), frigates and the moust part were hovercrafts and powerboats. In 1970s Iran planed to reach Indian Ocean with four Kidd class destroyers and eight modified Kortenear class but the contracts were canceled after islamic revolution.

Principal warships were the destroyers Babrs II (up picture) , Palang (above) an Artemiz (D-5 two images down). Supply ships like Char Bahar (R-13) and Landing Craft has Sohrab were important ships that no longer are in use by islamic navy.  The rest was small boats, minesweeper and a Oil Tanker but in a very organized and equilibrate navy (http://www.iinavy.org/).

There are several independent sorces that some of these ships are still in reserve at Bushehr city. It is possible that some sistems or the original sheld were used by another new units of actual Iran Navy. Other possibility is the full recuperation of this units but with more than 50 years old this is a litle beat difficuld.

In Pahlavi era the Imperial Navy was the most modern nad bigger of Persian Gulf. The White Revolutiníon give rights to women also in the navy were they had permition to do several taskes. The problem was that this reform hand give to opposition  and religious leaders the reasons to increse religious opposition. The SAVAK violent actions didn't help to, so in 1979 the Islamic Revolution of Khomeini end with 2508 years of Persian Dynasty. 

The final step of Iran-Iraq War was a tragedy for the Iran Navy, specially becouse of Us intervention (below we see Frigate Sahand hit by bombs and harpoon missiles from american navy). With need for spares, upgrade systems (in a result of the war and US embargo) and with only China and North Koreia support not only the fleet but also the helicopters and planes were in the minimal (http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd145/SteveG75/IranianNavy.jpg).

Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN) was re-boarn with Russian, Chinese and North Korean equipment in civilian and military ocidental ships. The reverse engineering made at least in theory the electronic upgrade to Alvand frigates and the surface-surface C-802 was the main armament to must part of ships.  But not everything is positive, most significant classes are at list with 30 years old and one important part of budget goes to the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps Naval. 

The main Ships are the Moudge and Alvand Class (first and second pictures above) with missiles C-802 (Noor) and main 76/114 mm and 35/20mm AA guns. There's ASW torpedos probably a copy of american or british models (http://canaryinthecoalmine.typepad.com/.a/6a013487f321e0970c0147e1e4e31a970b-pi) and the Damavand (one unite make in Caspian See) have a AA missile call Raad (it is possible that other ships will had them to in future ).  

There is a helicopter pad for a bell-214 ASW but no hangar. The Raad missile it is a copy of Sm-1 Standart (i think that is more probable a naval copy of Hawk missiles http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/iran-taunts-US-ships-war-games-straight-of-hormutz.jpg) and the guns are possible make in Iran or retired from older corvettes. Sayyad missiles are proposed for future ships but it seems big to a full instalation with paiol (http://rt.com/news/iran-production-sayyad-missile-485/).

Even the ex governement yath Hamze (Agg-802 see above) was equipped with c-802 missiles and guns (now is a corvette). Some surces said that is in Caspian Sea but others had seen him in Indian Ocean and in a Suddanese port ( the aincient name of the ship was Shahsavar). The need for all boat was big.

But is in the landing and support rolle that Iran Navy was more strong. Ships like S-511 Hengam (also 512 - Larak, 513 - Lavan and 514 - Tonb in the third image above) give to IRIS the possibillity of landing missions with military vehicles and helicopters like Sh-3 or Bell - 214, but also makes a mobil base for minisubmarines or special operations. Only the US Navy have the same possibility in all the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean (were the Indian presence are strong to).

Karg (above), Bandar(C-421and C-422 - Boohehr) and other supply ships (like Delvar and Kagan) are big enougth to support a fleet of several ships in even Mediterranean Sea like we see in Syrian Conflit. Even Israel (with one of the most modern navys of Meadle East) have limitations in those missions becouse they dont have that type of vessels (and probably they don't need).

Special forces operations were in Iraq-Iran conflit and still are important for Iran Navy. The Hangan Class (above) is old but can support that type of missions and with facilities for a helicopter vertical landing is possible. Since the Revolution Guard Navy have lots of litlle power boats these ships are very good to with hovercraft, give them the opportunity to make missions in all the Golf and even in Indian Ocean or even far away. 

The Karg and Bandar class are the bigger ships in Iran Navy and they have hangar to helicopter. It is true that in the two Bandar ships it is not permanent but in Karg at least two Sh-3 Sea King are used in missions above. Some sources say that is is more than a support vessel with space, fuel and facilities for a limitied landing plantform but we never see landincrafts or amphibian tanks on the deck. 

With a huge coast Iran deppends of tankers, oilers and support ships to give fuel, munitions and food to the facilities. For example the main base (Bandar-e Abbas) is in the strait of Hormuz (http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/iran_pol01.jpg), but are several other instalations in Khark Island, Bandar-e Anzali and Bandar-e Khomeini. Since the 1970s that Bandar Beheshti is under construction and is the main Base in Gulf of Oman. So, ships like Bandar (up and above) Delvar, Kangan and Hendijan are important so that support aren't only made by land. 

Submarines of Iran navy are at least 31 units. The main ships are the 3 Kilo russian made submarines but Ghadir and Nahang are minisubmarines with small autonomy. Fateh and Besat submarines are more capable but we don´t now if will be a sucess and if Iran will built them in number (http://defence.pk/attachments/3-png.15480/). 

For now the Kilo class (with probably Fateh and Besat) will make missions in all Persian Golf and Indian Ocean (image above). Ghadir (second above) and Nahang area of operations are Hormuz and the Iran Coast. At least there is in Iran two midget submarines class with several pictures seen in parades and in deck Hangam class ships (http://www.islamicinvitationturkey.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Iran-submarine.jpg).  

Persian Gulf was a depth between 50 and 90 meters (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Gulf). It his an area for litle submarines like Baltic Sea but with only 251 000 Km2 what in teory gives to Iran advantage since no other country have them. But German today uses convencional submarines like the U-214 much more modern than the costal type used in Baltic for several decades.  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Gulf) Israel uses the same submarines with harpoon and probably some cruise missiles.  

Significant number of patroll boats, missile and fast attack crafts, specialy with C-802 missiles, are very dangerous in such a small area. Kaman, Houdong and Sina with stealth Bavar (four image down and http://img15.nnm.me/4/9/8/6/e/5f5cf258b4f25e39ada1c7bea59.jpg) class makes that even the US Navy give attention to Combat Littoral Ships and fast crafts was a meaning to deall with such problems. 

So, Iran have a powerfull navy at least in the papper, but is real? Well, the first major problem is in political organitazion of the armed forces of the contry. The Molars preference is for Navy of the Army of the Guardians of Islamic Revolution and the fast boats armed with rockets and heavy machine guns (http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_okE2fz_Pef8/THQG4Vp7RkI/AAAAAAAACu8/sbh7CsOCaNc/s1600/n00051105-r-b-011.jpg) that in case of war will operate was kamikase. Is is the only possibillity to make a mess in a American warship and at least gives to IRIN the best ships an hovercrafts (http://www.islamicinvitationturkey.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Iranian-Navy.jpg). 

The second problem is target aquisition. Only some P-3 and F-27 (first and second plane images) Patrol planes are in use by Iran. They don't have AEW so the small radar of fast boats had to be on also to give to C-802 missiles midle an final target corrections. We don't now if the means of IRIN have datta link so helicopters lik Mil-17 or Bell -214, or even fighters like F-14 can give that type of informations to ships an missiles.If so, the best way in a convencional war with US and allied ships will be with target aquisition made 200 or 300km inside Iran territory.

Iran propaganda like to show pictures of fast topedo and power boat at high speed (http://i.ytimg.com/vi/0ofmkikhAnA/0.jpg), but WWII experiênce give us reasons not to do so. It is an ambush type of ship that is more efective hide in cost or stoped in the water expected that the small vessel won't be detected and can fire missiles, torpedos or guns before enemy see them. I don't think that with so many C-802 in mobil trucks and images show us that Iran tactics are send everything to Golf and expected the islam fanactics with Ala help do the rest (http://www-tc.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/images/SnapshotIranMilitary.jpg).

Last major problem of Iran Navy is the lack of a AA missil. Several pictures of at some think theres a Sm-1 Standart copy in the country is probably fake. It is possible that Raad is a begginig but is to big for all capital ships and for now only Moudge class (http://i.alalam.ir/news/Image/original/2013/05/03/alalam_635031942145574463_25f_4x3.jpg). So without an efective anti-aircraft missile it is impossible to conduct war operations in Indian or Red Sea without air range. Missions like we see to Syria or the anti-piracy are only possible in peace time and with a no tecnologic enemy.

In the end, IRIAN is a powerfull navy in a peace Golf and with no US Navy units in the area. The lack of technology and the age of ships, systems and reverse engineered to do some modern weapons it is a problem that Iran staff don't understand and that any good military analisis detected. Russian and China supported with surface missiles and some other equipment but the Islamic Revolution with ONU embargo left the Armed Forces limited in a war time. To do so, Iran budget go to to Islamic Revolution Guard and strange weapons like the flying boat ( http://blogs.militarytimes.com/scoopdeck/files/2010/09/iran-flying-boat-detail.jpg) with the islamic ideology are espected to do the same that modern tecnology, but i don't think so. 

http://www.uskowioniran.com/2012/05/iran-naval-forces-pennant-list.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Revolutionary_Guard_Corps_Navy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_ships_of_the_Islamic_Republic_of_Iran_Navy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pahlavi_era

http://chinadefense.blogspot.pt/2012/12/iranian-navy-unveiled-bunch-of-new.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaran_(frigate)

http://defence.pk/threads/history-of-iranian-missiles-and-rockets.227673/page-3

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Republic_of_Iran_Navy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Soviet_invasion_of_Iran

Russia Back to the Artic. A military perspective

The end of Soviet Union was a desaster for their armed forces. Nuclear battle cruiser Kirov see were in very bad conditions was just one manny example how the colapse of USSR reduce the military budget  (that was one third of total anual country ) to minimal and without funds the most part of the ships, aircrafts and tanks were abandon.  Lots of bases were also closed.

Curiosity was that a few Russian programes like for example space, nuclear and conventional Ice Braikers survive, especially  thanks to several ocidental contries. The need to support polar stations, artic navegation and expeditions keep the fleet in good conditions and several ships were also build in last XX decade and the begginin of XXI century.

Remote Islands like  New Siberian were forgoten by the military and for decades only ice and several expeditions were made. Animal and vegetal live were subject for the "men of ciênce" and  mineral prospection. Not many had permanent residents and most of them only in later spring and summer.  All human lives returned to main land in fall.

One of the main atraction of this artic islands is the huge quantuty of ivory. Yes, it's true even without elephants the thousends of mammoths that died in this iced tundra give to the hunters the preserved material over the centurys, and so make from a inhospitable place a very reach (and dangerous) one.

The main problem in this latitude is the weather. Most of the time -40º or 50º degree, 1 or 2 feet of snow and artic night makes impossible to reach this islands. Only by plane and helicopter when there is no storm on the wind is low, like an North or South Pole base, so it is not easy tho someone lives in this conditions.

Most of the instalations were military  in this part of the world and were active in cold war. With the end of Soviet Union only some of the important radar station were active in the years that folow. Even the aircraft base were substitute by Tu-95 "Bears" with fuel probes that fly from the main land and after the mission returned. 

One or another radio stration was still active when artic started to be important again. The return of Russia most powerfull fleet at same time that cience try to understend what was happening to ice in north pole was an important reason to re-activeted some of the older structures. The support to the artic missions deppend on that.    

For many people Artic is a region of only could ice, animal live and nothing more. The crazy ones that explore this lands are fools or cientists,  specially in south pole becouse of the internacional agree that stop the intenctions by several contrys to mining the natural resorces and shere the proficts.

North is diferente, The Greenland and Northwest Territories are just two examples of someone property (Denmark and Canada), and the distance from civilization it is less than in the Antartic. Besides, the exploration is made since the last century.  

So when the oil price was high and Russia had more money ( is one of the most important producers) start to show one fresh interest by the Artic exploration (that was stoped in the 90s). Civil and Military organization bigin in 2000 to have regular presence in the area and the nowhow achived in years with the ocident expeditions give to Moscow one priceless advantaged.

It is true that the resorces, territorial questions and military strategy, are all reasons to Russia fight for Artic land but for me, the main reason to re-activate Tent base and New Siberian Island is the north passage. Like Suez or Panama Canal, the country have a very important  passage from Atlantic to Pacific Ocean, that for several centurys was impossible to use becouse of the ice.  Today with the climatic change the navegation it is possible in the end of Spring, in Summer and bigining of fall, with the support of an Ice Breaker. 

But the North Route is dangerous. First, the Russian Navy had to clear the minefield from WWII, than make the planifications to stop points in the navigation. Of course, New Siberian that is in the midle was the natural chose for an advanced base in this epic work. The problem was how to make it, and get there with staff, machinery and supplies. 

In the first attempt in 2012 the helicopter crashed with no casualties. It was a prove that this was not the right way to do it and probably the solution is by the sea. But the North Fleet in the winter is in Mediterranean sea and with the civil war in Syria and the need for a reinforcement of Black Sea fleet  make only a few ships in Severomorsk. Caribe cruisers to Venezuela and Cuba and the need to sea presence to americans see make several delayed in Putin plans to back to Artic.

Last days of summer it is a risk and Putin nows it. The Russian are not the American and to organize a rescue mission in the Artic if anything goes rong it´s only possible with the help of international community. The Kursk tragedy was probably the most significant demonstration of Russia decadence and if another acident like that heapens it will be a set back to Kremlin expetactions not only in the reigion but in the World to.

So the plans are carefully study and it is important that no mistakes were made. After all is the prestige of Russia that is on stage. The  basic lines of this important mission is to carry men and equipment in a fleet of war and civilian ships from Severomorsk (the North Fleet Base) to the Kotelny Island. First priority is recover the aerodrome, next is to make one security place for ships to stop (a improvised port). The objective ins that in the bigining of October that planes can land there.

When it's supose that the ships arrived at 29th of September the time is very short. It´s a long journey for man and equipment in rush conditions with no garanties of good weather. The history of Murmansk is rise again, but this time the voyage is much more at north and the Russians are alone. Theres no allies and the Warsaw Pact is finish so help is not possible. 

Peter the Great his leading a fleet that gives to Russia the domination of the North Route and after they reach New Seberian Island is time to recover the Temp base.  It is September and ice is present, so it is a ice Breaker that just in precaution makes the way more soft. Propaganda or not the world first impression is that Artic power is possible for a few nations, but only Russians have the land bases for doing it. 

No suprises with the weather and fleet advanced.  The objective is again getting there in day 29 to start working in the instalations for the first planes land there in the biggining of October. With an air bridge it's more easy to bring man and soft equipment before the real cold came. Thats the plan and the Navy repeat over and over again, in Tv, Radio and in the ships.

Siberian Islands are a tundra place with not a one single tree in the midle of the Artic (Laptev and East Sibeream sea). Only in summer theres no ice but theres is cold temperature all year. Strategic place for the Artic conquest the conditions that we see in the pictures is not a problem for the Kremlin. Besides the russian trops are equiped to rush conditions and the equipment like in the past is capable of utilization in low temperatures. 

But theres a few problems: The main is the erosion not only by the ice mellting but also by the sea. Several pictures in 2 or 3 years revell that the islands are srinking, not only a litlle bit but a lot. It is possible that the army engineers try to do something about that but the impact is big and the cause is that the clime is changing. 

The second problem are earthquakes. In a group of islands farway from civilization, with a few structures and in artic conditions it could be mortal for the man. Siberia is not in the corner and it is dificuld to organize a rescue mission bad weather. Support bases have poor conditions and to have a helicopter or a plane it is ver difficuld. Prevention in this case is the best. 

I think that the Russians now all the risk but the true is that the ships were at Siberia Islands in the last days of September. Man and heavy equipment were landing in short time. Structures were prepared and the works started at time.  The impossible is now possible. 

The troops could see what one decade done to equipment and other stuff left behind. But the work must be done for when the fist snow came the planes and helicopter land.  Man are now protected by the construction that they have done, with all the basic needs and comunication. Probably in the future they will try to recover some of the older houses, but for now the basic is done. 

Old Bear is in the artic again. Propaganda is good for the regime but the main reason is the North Passage, a natural way for ships between Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. With less ice probably not only Siberia coast but also several islands in this route will be important enterpresis and thats why at lest one more base will be recover in short time.     

 For now are no military reasons, besides propaganda tho Putin and the Russian Regime.  In the future we don't now. With USA, Japan, China in the pacific, India, Nato, Omã and Iran in Indic and British and Americans in the Atlantic to the Russians the most chance of sucess is the Artic, military and economic. So, only future will tell if one comercial enterprise it will be transform in another east/west confrontation. 

http://topwar.ru/36887-arkticheskiy-temp-na-ostrove-kotelnyy-snova-v-stroyu.html/

http://newsworldrussia.wordpress.com/2013/09/17/aerodrome-temp-to-be-ready-to-receive-helicopters-and-planes-by-october/

http://www.explorapoles.org/pictures_videos

http://www.naval.com.br/blog/2014/01/17/a-bordo-dos-exploradores-do-polo-norte/

http://old.rgo.ru/2011/09/rekognoscirovka-provedena/

https://02varvara.wordpress.com/tag/new-siberian-islands/

http://www.trunews.com/cold-war-putin-reactivates-russian-airfield-orders-strong-military-presence-arctic-canada-plots-north-pole-claim/

http://barentsobserver.com/en/security/2013/12/putin-orders-new-airports-strengthens-arctic-control-11-12