The split second a US sub strikes Iran’s IRIS Dena. Photo: X

There is an old joke. Why does the Italian Navy have glass bottomed boats? Answer: So they can see the previous Italian Navy.

It is looking like the joke can be redirected, although it will be some time before Iran has glass bottomed boats.

Here a situation report:

IRIS Dana was sunk by a US submarine near Sri Lanka. A single Mark 48 torpedo (probably ADCAP version) destroyed the ship, confirmed by War Secretary Pete Hegseth. IRIS Dena 75 was a Moudge-class corvette in the Southern Fleet of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy, named after Mount Dena. The Sri Lanka navy went to pick up survivors. Number of casualties uncertain. Crew size was around 140.

Iranian navy Shahid Soleimani-class corvette Shahid Sayyad Shirazi was seen on fire near the port of Bandar Abbas after US strikes.

Other ships:

  • Shahid Sayyad Shirazi (FS313-03): This ship was widely reported and filmed on fire near the port of Bandar Abbas on March 4, 2026. Satellite imagery and social media footage confirmed the vessel was engulfed in smoke following US and allied strikes.
  • Shahid Soleimani (lead ship): While specific damage reports for the lead ship are less detailed than in the case of the Shirazi, Pete Hegseth mentioned destruction of this ship in his March 3, 2026, presspress conference.
  • Shahid Hassan Bagheri: Similar to the lead ship, this vessel is part of the fleet stationed at Bandar Abbas, which has seen extensive strikes.

During this same period, other major Iranian naval assets have been confirmed sunk or severely damaged:

  • Shahid Bagheri (drone carrier): Confirmed hit and severely damaged/sunk within the first hours of the operation.
  • Jamaran-class corvette: At least one vessel of this class was confirmed by the US Central Command to be “sinking to the bottom of the Gulf of Oman” at the Chahbahar pier on March 1, 2026.
  • IRINS Makran (forward base ship): Satellite imagery from March 2 shows the Makran (a massive converted tanker used as a mobile base) on fire at its berth in Bandar Abbas.

This is only a partial list.

Taregh (Persian: طارق) is a class of fast patrol boat used by naval forces of Iran.

The Pentagon says a total of 20 Iranian Navy and IRGC ships have been damaged or destroyed so far.

These numbers don’t count small craft armed with missiles and guns that are run by the IRGC.The CENTCOM commander, Admiral Brad Cooper stated, that “hundreds” of small-craft targets – the backbone of the IRGC’s asymmetric naval strategy – have been hit at their moorings in Bandar Abbas, Bushehr and Assaluyeh.

Iranian submarines

  • Admiral Cooper confirmed that Iran’s most capable submarine – identified by analysts as a Fateh-class coastal submarine – now “has a hole in its side” and is no longer operational. This vessel was reportedly struck near Bandar Abbas.
  • While an exact count was not provided, CENTCOM reported that “midget subs” (likely the Ghadir-class) were among the 17 naval vessels confirmed as destroyed or sunk during the initial 100 hours of Operation Epic Fury.
  • US officials confirmed that heavy strikes involving B-2 stealth bombers and Tomahawk missiles targeted the submarine pens at Bandar Abbas. While specific damage to the three Russian-built diesel-electric Kilo-class boats (Taregh, Nooh and Yunes) is still being assessed via satellite imagery, they are currently considered trapped or inoperable due to the destruction of their support infrastructure.

Stephen Bryen is a former US deputy under secretary of defense. This article first appeared on his Sustack newsletter Weapons and Strategy and is republished with permission.

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7 Comments

  1. why are you having a go at usa allies Mr. Byren. Italy. not very intelligent if you don’t know real history .

  2. Not sure Iran needs an navy given that the Straits of Hormuz can be closed off from the land easily. Navies are for invading other countries.

    And what happened to the mini-subs that can fire missiles from underwater and the fast boats to attack anything in the Hormuz. I take it they are still there.

  3. The Iranian frigate Iris Dena had been taking part in the 2026 MILAN multinational naval exercise alongside other countries (Russia, China).
    It had been returning from these exercises and sailing through the Indian Ocean past the coast of Sri Lanka and transiting through a major shipping route when it was attacked. The armed carrier was one of Iran’s most modern warships, carrying heavy guns, missiles, torpedoes and a helicopter.
    A second Iranian ship has entered Sri Lankan waters and asked for sanctuary !

  5. Well if it isn’t the usual voice of the empire at it again. Tell us which American bases are not burning? Iran took damage but the empire does not control the sea lanes nor can it protect its own bases in the region. It relies on Kurds – an age old British trick. The US is repeating the mistakes of the British. Netanyahu fled to…..Germany?

    1. So now the US has bases in GCC hotels and shopping centers ?
      Shrill and desperate. Your axis of resistance is crumbling.

    2. This author is a voice of US imperialism. They are in a delusional world of their own and the US military is led by ignoramuses, because of which the US imperialist have lost every illegal war they have waged since World War II. They are only good at killing civilians as a revenge for attack on their military forces. They are utterly criminal.