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==Operations and Deployment==
==Operations and Deployment==
According to news reports the submarines are normally based in the Mediterranean.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE5621XZ20090703 |title=Israeli sub sails Suez, signaling reach to Iran |date=Jul 3, 2009 |publisher=Reuters}}</ref> One Dolphin was sent to the [[Red Sea]] for exercises briefly docking in the naval base in [[Eilat]] in June 2009, which Israeli media interpreted as a warning to Iran.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10582762 |title=Israel sends sub as 'a warning' |date=Jul 06, 2009 |publisher=The New Zealand Herald}}</ref> In 2009 the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, quoting an Israeli defense official, reported that the small Eilat naval station is unsuited strategically to base the Dolphin class boats specifically noting the tight entrance of the [[Gulf of Aqaba]] at the [[Straits of Tiran]] as one held by potential adversaries including [[Saudi Arabia]] on the east and the demilitarized Egyptian Sinai to the west. Eilat is a 10&nbsp;km strip of coast between Egypt and Jordan, the only two Arab states which currently have peace treaties with Israel. According to The London Sunday Times the Israeli Navy decided in May 2010 to keep at least one submarine equipped with nuclear missiles there permanently as a deterrent in response to rumored ballistic missiles move from Syria to Lebanon.<ref name=times-20100530>{{cite news |title=Israel stations nuclear missile subs off Iran |author=Uzi Mahnaimi |newspaper=[[The Sunday Times]] |date=30 May 2010 |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article7140282.ece |location=London |accessdate=2011-02-19}}</ref>{{dubious|date=September 2011}} If the ships are based at the larger Haifa naval base, access to the Persian Gulf area either requires openly sailing on the surface through the Egyptian controlled [[Suez Canal]] as permitted in the [[Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty]] or a long voyage sailing around Africa. According to the [[Convention of Constantinople]] signed by the ruling great powers of the time including the UK, France, and the Ottoman Empire in March 2, 1888; "The Suez Maritime Canal shall always be free and open, in time of war as in time of peace, to every vessel of commerce or of war, without distinction of flag."<ref>http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constantinople_Convention_of_the_Suez_Canal</ref> Denied crossing at the Suez Canal and blockade of the Straits of Tiran occurred at various times in the Arab Israeli conflict.<ref name="Oren">{{cite book |first=Michael B. |last=Oren |title=Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East |location=Oxford |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2002 |isbn=0195151747 }}</ref> The [[Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty]] allows for the free passage of Israeli ships through the [[Suez Canal]], and recognizes the [[Straits of Tiran|Strait of Tiran]], the [[Gulf of Aqaba]] and the [[Taba, Egypt|Taba]]—[[Rafah]] straits as international waterways.
According to news reports the submarines are normally based in the Mediterranean.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE5621XZ20090703 |title=Israeli sub sails Suez, signaling reach to Iran |date=Jul 3, 2009 |publisher=Reuters}}</ref> One Dolphin was sent to the [[Red Sea]] for exercises briefly docking in the naval base in [[Eilat]] in June 2009, which Israeli media interpreted as a warning to Iran.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10582762 |title=Israel sends sub as 'a warning' |date=Jul 06, 2009 |publisher=The New Zealand Herald}}</ref> In 2009 the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, quoting an Israeli defense official, reported that the small Eilat naval station is unsuited strategically to base the Dolphin class boats specifically noting the tight entrance of the [[Gulf of Aqaba]] at the [[Straits of Tiran]] as one held by potential adversaries including [[Saudi Arabia]] on the east and the demilitarized Egyptian Sinai to the west. Eilat is a 10&nbsp;km strip of coast between Egypt and Jordan, the only two Arab states which currently have peace treaties with Israel. According to The London Sunday Times the Israeli Navy decided in May 2010 to keep at least one submarine equipped with nuclear missiles there permanently as a deterrent in response to rumored ballistic missiles move from Syria to Lebanon.<ref name=times-20100530>{{cite news |title=Israel stations nuclear missile subs off Iran |author=Uzi Mahnaimi |newspaper=[[The Sunday Times]] |date=30 May 2010 |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article7140282.ece |location=London |accessdate=2011-02-19}}</ref>{{dubious|date=September 2011}} If the ships are based at the larger Haifa naval base, access to the Persian Gulf area either requires openly sailing on the surface through the Egyptian controlled [[Suez Canal]] as permitted in the [[Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty]] or a long voyage sailing around Africa. According to the [[Convention of Constantinople]] signed by the ruling great powers of the time including the UK, France, and the Ottoman Empire in March 2, 1888; "The Suez Maritime Canal shall always be free and open, in time of war as in time of peace, to every vessel of commerce or of war, without distinction of flag."<ref>http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constantinople_Convention_of_the_Suez_Canal</ref> Denied crossing at the Suez Canal and blockade of the Straits of Tiran occurred at various times in the Arab Israeli conflict.<ref name="Oren">{{cite book |first=Michael B. |last=Oren |title=Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East |location=Oxford |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2002 |isbn=0195151747 }}</ref> The [[Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty]] allows for the free passage of Israeli ships through the [[Suez Canal]], and recognizes the [[Straits of Tiran|Strait of Tiran]], the [[Gulf of Aqaba]] and the [[Taba, Egypt|Taba]]—[[Rafah]] straits as international waterways. Even if a Red Sea or Indian Ocean base is unavailable other nations have used [[Submarine tender|submarine tenders]], ships that resupply and refuel submarines, when nearby friendly bases are unavailable.


In response to rumors that Israeli submarines might be allowed to secretly base in [[Bahrain]] an Island kingdom in the [[Persian Gulf]] near to [[Iran]], the commander in chief of Bahrain's defense forces, Sheikh bin Ahmad Al-Khalifa stated to the Iranian ambassador Hossein Amir Abdollahian "We view the Zionist regime as our enemy and the enemy of all Muslim world. Bahrain in no way allows Tel Aviv (Israeli military forces) to be present in its territorial waters." <ref>http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8903191388</ref>
In response to rumors that Israeli submarines might be allowed to secretly base in [[Bahrain]] an Island kingdom in the [[Persian Gulf]] near to [[Iran]], the commander in chief of Bahrain's defense forces, Sheikh bin Ahmad Al-Khalifa stated to the Iranian ambassador Hossein Amir Abdollahian "We view the Zionist regime as our enemy and the enemy of all Muslim world. Bahrain in no way allows Tel Aviv (Israeli military forces) to be present in its territorial waters." <ref>http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8903191388</ref>

Revision as of 17:08, 15 March 2012

For other uses, see Dolphin class.
INS Dolphin (2010)
Class overview
BuildersHowaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW)
Operators Israeli Navy
Completedlist error: <br /> list (help)
Dolphin
Leviathan (trans. "Whale")
Tekumah (trans. "Revival")
Active3 (another 3 on order[1][2])
General characteristics
TypeDiesel-electric submarine
Displacement
  • 1,640 tons surfaced, 1,900 tons submerged
  • 2,300 tons for AIP-capable model[3]
Length
  • 57 m (187 ft)
  • 68 m (223 ft) for AIP-capable model[3]
Beam6.8 m (22 ft)
Draught6.2 m (20 ft)
PropulsionDiesel-electric, 3 diesels, 1 shaft, 4,243 shp
Speed20 knots (37 km/h)
Test depthAt least 200 metres (660 ft)
Complement35 + 10 additional
Sensors and
processing systems		STN Atlas ISUS 90-55 combat system
Armamentlist error: <br /> list (help)
6 × 533 mm (21 inch) torpedo tubes,
4 x 650 mm (25.5 inch) diameter torpedo tubes
NotesCharacteristics listed are those of the original 1990s non-AIP-capable model

The Type 800 Dolphin class is a diesel-electric submarine developed and constructed by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG (HDW), Germany for the Israeli Navy. It is based on the export-only German 209 class submarines, but modified and reduced and is thus not designated as a member of the 209 family. The Dolphin boats are the most expensive single vehicle in the Israel Defense Forces and are considered among the most sophisticated and capable conventionally powered submarines in the world. The Dolphins replaced the aging Gal class submarines, which had served in the Israeli navy since the late 1970s. Each Dolphin submarine is capable of carrying a combined total of up to 16 torpedoes and SLCMs.[4] The cruise missiles are believed to have a range of 1500km[5] and may be equipped with conventional warheads or, some believe, a 200kg nuclear warhead.[6][7] The latter, if true, would provide Israel with an offshore second strike capability.[8][9][10][11]

Boats

  • Dolphin – delivered May 1998 – commissioned 1999
  • Leviathan (trans. "Leviathan" or "whale") – delivered 1999 – commissioned 2000
  • Tekumah (trans. "Revival") – delivered 2000 – commissioned 2000
  • Tannin (trans. "Tannin" or "Crocodile") – delivery expected in 2012[12][13][14]
  • Rahav (trans. "Rahab") – delivery expected in 2013[14][15]
  • Name not given yet. On order.[14][16]

The first two (Dolphin and Leviathan) were donated by Germany, the third (Tekumah) was purchased by Israel. The first two were delivered in 1997 and the third in 1999. During the first Gulf War, German firms were accused of helping Iraq with its chemical weapons program, which led to protests in both Germany and Israel. To calm Israeli concerns, compensate Israel for economic losses[17] and keep German shipyards occupied,[18] then Chancellor of Germany Helmut Kohl approved an assistance package including the construction of two Dolphin submarines.[19][20] The names Dolphin and Leviathan hail from the retired Israeli WW-II era submarines of the British T class the third boat Tekuma (translation: Revival) refers in memory of Dakar the third Israeli boat of the T class which was lost with all Israeli crew in the Mediterranean Sea during delivery. The forthcoming boats Tannin and Rahav are names taken from submarines of the retired Gal class, which were themselves named after even older Israeli S class boats.[15]

Additional procurement

In 2006 Israel signed a contract with ThyssenKrupp to purchase two additional submarines from its HDW subsidiary.[19] The two new boats are an upgraded version of the older Dolphins, featuring an Air-independent propulsion system, similar to the one used on German Type 212 submarines.[19] On July 6, 2006, the Government of Germany decided to pay an advance to start the construction, about 170 million euros, planned for delivery in 2012.[21] The two submarines cost, overall, around 1.3 billion euro, of up to one-third was paid by Germany.[17] In 2010, both Israel and Germany denied having talks regarding the potential purchase of a sixth submarine.[22] Yet in 2011, Israel ordered a sixth Dolphin submarine, for which it was reported to pay the full cost of $1 billion.[23] However, in July 2011, during a meeting between German Defense Minister Thomas de Maizière and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense minister Ehud Barak, an agreement was reached to subsidize 135 million euros of the 500-700 million USD cost of the sixth submarine.[24][25]

Der Spiegel reports that Germany has threatened to pull out of the deal over new Israeli settlement expansion.[26] However, Amos Gilad of the Israeli Ministry of Defense has denied the rumors and stated that the contract is continuing.[2] German sources are reported as saying that the submarine deal was continued only on condition that Israel unfreeze funds to the Palestinian Authority.[27]

Armament and Systems

Standing on a Dolphin class submarine

Each submarine is armed with 6 x 533mm torpedo tubes, and 4 x 650mm torpedo tubes.[28] The very large 650mm tubes are only commonly seen on some Russian submarines; they can be used for mines, larger cruise missiles, or swimmer delivery vehicles; with liners the tubes could be used for standard torpedoes and submarine launched missiles. According to the German Defense Ministry the 650mm tubes are to have a liner installed for firing 533mm wide Sub-Harpoon missiles although the Dolphin class already has six tubes of the 533mm size.[29] Six tubes are standard 533mm for torpedoes or Harpoon missiles. The boats will be armed with Atlas Elektronik DM2A3 torpedoes using wire-guided active homing to deliver a 260 kg warhead at a maximum speed of 35 knots to a target over 13 km away, in passive homing mode a speed of 22 knots and a range up to 28 km is possible. A wet and dry compartment is installed for deploying underwater special operations teams.[12]

Jane's Defence Weekly reports that the Dolphin class submarines are believed to be nuclear armed, offering Israel a second strike capability.[10][11] In adherence to Missile Technology Control Regime rules[29] The US Clinton administration refused an Israeli request in 2000 to purchase Tomahawk long range SLCMs. The US Navy has deployed nuclear armed and conventional Tomahawk missiles for its submarine fleet which are launched from standard heavy 533mm torpedo tubes.[30] The Federation of American Scientists and GlobalSecurity.org report that the four larger torpedo tubes are capable of launching Israeli built nuclear-armed Popeye Turbo cruise missiles (a variant of the Popeye standoff missile), the US Navy recorded an Israeli submarine launched cruise missile test in the Indian Ocean lasting 1,500 kilometres (930 mi).[28][31][32]

The Dolphin class uses the ISUS 90-1 TCS weapon control system is supplied by STN Atlas Elektronik, for automatic sensor management, fire control, navigation, and operations. The installed radar warning receiver is a 4CH(V)2 Timnex electronic support measures system, scanning from 2 GHz to 18 GHz frequency bands and able to pinpoint radar sites with accuracy between 1.4 to 5 degrees of angle(depending on frequency),[33] it is developed by Elbit in Haifa. Active surface search radar is an Elta unit operating on I band. The sonar suite includes the Atlas Elektronik CSU 90 hull-mounted passive and active search and attack sonar. The PRS-3 passive ranging sonar is also supplied by Atlas Elektronik, the flank array is a FAS-3 passive search sonar. The submarine has two Kollmorgen periscopes.[12]

The Dolphins are equipped with three V-16 396 SE 84 diesel engines built by Motoren- und Turbinen-Union München GmbH in Munich, developing 3.12MW sustained power. The submarine is equipped with three Siemens 750 kW alternators, and a Siemens 2.85MW sustained power motor driving a single shaft. The propulsion system provides a speed of 20kt dived and a snorkeling speed of 11kt. The hull is rated for dives up to 350m deep. The maximum unrefuelled range is 8,000 nautical miles traveling on the surface at 8 knots and over 400 nautical miles at 8 knots fully submerged, they are designed to remain unsupplied for up to 30 days on station.[12]

Operations and Deployment

According to news reports the submarines are normally based in the Mediterranean.[34] One Dolphin was sent to the Red Sea for exercises briefly docking in the naval base in Eilat in June 2009, which Israeli media interpreted as a warning to Iran.[35] In 2009 the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, quoting an Israeli defense official, reported that the small Eilat naval station is unsuited strategically to base the Dolphin class boats specifically noting the tight entrance of the Gulf of Aqaba at the Straits of Tiran as one held by potential adversaries including Saudi Arabia on the east and the demilitarized Egyptian Sinai to the west. Eilat is a 10 km strip of coast between Egypt and Jordan, the only two Arab states which currently have peace treaties with Israel. According to The London Sunday Times the Israeli Navy decided in May 2010 to keep at least one submarine equipped with nuclear missiles there permanently as a deterrent in response to rumored ballistic missiles move from Syria to Lebanon.[11][dubious – discuss] If the ships are based at the larger Haifa naval base, access to the Persian Gulf area either requires openly sailing on the surface through the Egyptian controlled Suez Canal as permitted in the Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty or a long voyage sailing around Africa. According to the Convention of Constantinople signed by the ruling great powers of the time including the UK, France, and the Ottoman Empire in March 2, 1888; "The Suez Maritime Canal shall always be free and open, in time of war as in time of peace, to every vessel of commerce or of war, without distinction of flag."[36] Denied crossing at the Suez Canal and blockade of the Straits of Tiran occurred at various times in the Arab Israeli conflict.[37] The Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty allows for the free passage of Israeli ships through the Suez Canal, and recognizes the Strait of Tiran, the Gulf of Aqaba and the Taba—Rafah straits as international waterways. Even if a Red Sea or Indian Ocean base is unavailable other nations have used submarine tenders, ships that resupply and refuel submarines, when nearby friendly bases are unavailable.

In response to rumors that Israeli submarines might be allowed to secretly base in Bahrain an Island kingdom in the Persian Gulf near to Iran, the commander in chief of Bahrain's defense forces, Sheikh bin Ahmad Al-Khalifa stated to the Iranian ambassador Hossein Amir Abdollahian "We view the Zionist regime as our enemy and the enemy of all Muslim world. Bahrain in no way allows Tel Aviv (Israeli military forces) to be present in its territorial waters." [38]

On December 25th 2011 coordinated Israeli fighter jets, Apache attack helicopters, and by some reports sea attacks were carried out against Gaza bound weapon smugglers in Sudan one near the Egyptian border. Israeli Dolphin submarines were reported to have been involved by some media reports either firing missiles or possibly landing commandos.[39][40] The Somali government claims no strikes took place.

In February 2012 Ynet the online version of the Israeli newspaper Yediot Achronot(Late Edition) reported that for security reasons applicants for the submarine service with dual citizenship or citizenship in additional to Israeli, which is common in Israel with a relatively high percentage of olim or immigrant families, must officially renounce all other citizenships to be accepted into the training program.[41]

References

  1. ^ Eshel, Tamir (6 May 2011). "Israel to Receive a Third Enhanced Dolphin Submarine". Defense Update. Retrieved 25 July 2011. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ a b Sixth Submarine: “The Contract Continues”
  3. ^ a b http://www.kn-online.de/lokales/kiel/263180-Anschlussauftrag-fuer-HDW-aus-Israel.html
  4. ^ SSK Dolphin Class, Israelwww.naval-technology.com
  5. ^ The Naval Institute guide to world naval weapon systems, By Norman Friedman, (Naval Institute Press 2006), page 505
  6. ^ Popeye Turbo
  7. ^ "Israel Makes Nuclear Waves With Submarine Missile Test," By Uzi Mahnaimi and Matthew Campbell London Sunday Times June 18, 2000
  8. ^ Deadly arsenals: nuclear, biological, and chemical threats, Joseph Cirincione, Jon B. Wolfsthal, Miriam Rajkumar, Carnegie Endowment, 2005, page 263-4
  9. ^ Plushnick-Masti, Ramit (25 August 2006). "Israel Buys 2 Nuclear-Capable Submarines". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
  10. ^ a b Alon Ben-David (1 October 2009). "Israel seeks sixth Dolphin in light of Iranian 'threat'". Jane's Defence Weekly. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
  11. ^ a b c Uzi Mahnaimi (30 May 2010). "Israel stations nuclear missile subs off Iran". The Sunday Times. London. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  12. ^ a b c d http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/dolphin/
  13. ^ http://www.israeldefense.com/?CategoryID=483&ArticleID=848
  14. ^ a b c http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=259401
  15. ^ a b http://www.nrg.co.il/online/1/ART2/317/269.html?hp=1&cat=875
  16. ^ http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/germany-may-sell-2-more-dolphin-subs-to-israel-for-117b-01528/
  17. ^ a b Dan Williams (25 November 2009). "Israel seeks discount on two German warships". Reuters. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  18. ^ "Israel: Submarines". Weapons of mass Destruction. GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  19. ^ a b c "German-Israeli Dolphin AIP Sub Contract Signed". Defense Industry Daily. 22 August 2006. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  20. ^ Captain(Res.) I. Fogelson, Captain(Res.) M. Keisary, Commander(Res.) R. D. Koehler (11.12.1999). "The Dolphin Project". Zahal (Israel military store). Retrieved 19 February 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ Weinthal, Benjamin (18 January 2010). "First German-Israeli cabinet set to meet". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  22. ^ Yaakov, Katz (23 July 2010). "MOD: No talks with Germany over sub". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 23 July 2010.
  23. ^ Shiffer, Shimon (5 May 2011). "Israel buys Dolphin submarine". ynetnews.com. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  24. ^ Spiegel (July 17, 2011). "Deutschland subventioniert U-Boot für Israel" (in German). Retrieved July 17, 2011.
  25. ^ JPost.com Staff (18 July 2011). "'Germany to finalize sale of Dolphin submarine to Israel'". JPost. Retrieved 25 July 2011. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |newspaper= (help)
  26. ^ "Germany Threatens To Halt Submarine Sale to Israel." SPIEGEL, 31 October 2011.
  27. ^ "Report: Israel concession on Palestinian funds forced by German submarine deal." DPA, 4 December 2011.
  28. ^ a b "SSK Dolphin Class Attack Submarine, Israel". naval-technology.com. SPG Media. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  29. ^ a b http://www.nti.org/db/submarines/israel/
  30. ^ http://www.princeton.edu/sgs/publications/sgs/pdf/1_1-2Thomas.pdf
  31. ^ "Popeye Turbo". Federation of American Scientists. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  32. ^ "Popeye Turbo". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  33. ^ http://www.harpoonhq.com/waypoint/articles/Article_042.pdf
  34. ^ "Israeli sub sails Suez, signaling reach to Iran". Reuters. Jul 3, 2009.
  35. ^ "Israel sends sub as 'a warning'". The New Zealand Herald. Jul 06, 2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  36. ^ http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constantinople_Convention_of_the_Suez_Canal
  37. ^ Oren, Michael B. (2002). Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195151747.
  38. ^ http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8903191388
  39. ^ http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/reports-in-sudan-israel-struck-two-weapons-convoys-in-past-month-1.403521
  40. ^ http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=250872
  41. ^ http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4187233,00.html
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