A U.S. Navy torpedo worth millions of dollars exploded under an Iranian vessel during a nighttime submarine attack near the southern coast of Sri Lanka. In a Wednesday briefing at the Pentagon, War Secretary Pete Hegseth described this as the first such assault since World War II.
According to a former U.S. submarine commander, the weapon, a Mark 48 Advanced Capability (ADCAP) torpedo, highlighted the level of force employed and communicated to Tehran that “the gloves really are off.”
“The Mark 48 ranks among the most deadly anti-ship weapons available to the U.S. military,” an adjunct senior fellow at a think tank, identified as Shugart, stated in an interview with Digital.
Shugart explained that the torpedo is equipped with a 650-pound warhead and is engineered to explode underneath a ship rather than hitting it directly. This creates a massive vapor bubble that fractures the vessel’s hull, breaking it in two.
He added, “The torpedo blew up beneath the stern of the Iranian ship, lifting it clear of the water, which caused it to sink within minutes.”
Each torpedo has an approximate cost of $4.2 million, Shugart noted, comparing the attack to infrequent submarine engagements in recent naval history.
Beyond World War II, he cited the 1982 Falklands War as another instance where a submarine-fired torpedo destroyed a significant surface warship.
“This is only the second time a nuclear-powered submarine has torpedoed and sunk a ship,” Shugart said.
“The sole other occurrence was when the British submarine HMS Conqueror sank the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano during the Falklands War in 1982,” he continued.
He indicated that the submarine mission would have required enhanced surveillance, forward-deployed naval assets, and precise operations aimed at showcasing U.S. naval superiority.
“It certainly appears to be a signal that the gloves really are off,” Shugart further commented.
At the Wednesday briefing, Hegseth told reporters the strike targeted “an Iranian ship that believed it was secure in international waters.”
Hegseth characterized the attack as “a quiet death,” noting it was the first time an enemy ship had been sunk by a torpedo since World War II.
“U.S. Navy submarines possess exceptional mobility and stealth, and their crews are superbly trained,” Shugart elaborated. “Firing a torpedo was not a difficult operation for a U.S. submarine.”
“Tracking and destroying an Iranian ship of that nature is not a demanding mission for a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine,” he stated.
The warship that was hit, identified as Iran’s newest frigate, was armed with surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, torpedo launchers, and various other heavy armaments.
Sri Lanka’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Vijitha Herath, reported that the nation’s coast guard received a distress call from the Iranian ship at 5:08 a.m. local time on Wednesday, reporting an explosion.
“I am uncertain if Iran maintains any operational submarines, but if they do, their largest vessels would be at least 20 to 30 years old,” Shugart said.
“They would be former Russian diesel-electric submarines, lacking the nuclear power, satellite communications, and unlimited range of the U.S. fleet.”
“U.S. submarines can sustain high speeds indefinitely, limited only by their food supplies. They are outfitted with the most sophisticated weapons and sensor systems.”
He concluded, “This attack delivered a clear message that any remaining Iranian warships or government vessels can expect no mercy.”