The Southern Fleet, which is under command of the Southern Forward Naval Headquarters[2] (SNFHQ; Persian: قرارگاه مقدم ناوگان جنوب), compromises the 1st, the 2nd and the 3rd naval regions of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy. The SNFHQ is based in Bandar Abbas, and is responsible for coordination across its three southern districts as a forward operating base, as well as presence of units in international missions off Iranian territorial waters.[2]
| Southern Forward Naval Headquarters | |
|---|---|
  Bandar Abbas Jask Konarak  Bushehr Kharg Pasabandar Khorramshahr Location of current southern fleet bases[1] | |
| Country | Iran |
| Part of | Islamic Republic of Iran Navy |
| Garrison/HQ | Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan Province |
| Engagements |
|
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Vice Commodore Afshin Tashak |
History
edit18th century
edit20th century
editStructure
editThe jurisdiction and responsibilities of the navy was redefined in 2007, as a result, the southern fleet was reorganized.[3]
Before 2007
editPrior to these changes, the organization of the southern fleet was as follows:[4]
| Region | Headquarters | Area of responsibility |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Naval Region | Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan | Strait of Hormuz |
| 2nd Naval Region | Bushehr, Bushehr | central Persian Gulf |
| 3rd Naval Region | Mahshahr, Khuzestan | northern Persian Gulf |
| Chabahar Naval Base (independent) | Chabahar, Sistan and Baluchestan | Gulf of Oman |
Since 2007
editThe forces under command of the southern fleet currently operate under these districts:[1]
| Region | Namesake | Headquarters | Area of responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Naval Region | Emamat | Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan | Strait of Hormuz |
| 2nd Naval Region | Velayat | Jask, Hormozgan | western Gulf of Oman |
| 3rd Naval Region | Nabovat | Konarak, Sistan and Baluchestan | eastern Gulf of Oman |
Commanders
edit- Commodore Abbas Ramzi Ataie
- Rear Admiral Kamal Habibollahi (October 1972–January 1976)
- Captain Mohammad-Hossein Malekzadegan (1983–1985)[5]
- Commodore Ebrahim Ashkan (?–2017)[6]
- Vice Commodore Afshin Tashak (2017–present)[7]
Order of battle
editSubmarines
edit- Kilo-class submarine
- Fateh-class submarine
- Ghadir-class submarines (about 20 were believed to be operational as of 2020)[9]
- Nahang (rarely seen on operation)[10]
Surface combatants
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Nadimi, Farzin (April 2020), "Iran's Evolving Approach to Asymmetric Naval Warfare: Strategy and Capabilities in the Persian Gulf" (PDF), The Washington Institute for Near East Policy (Policy Focus), no. 164, Map 3. Persian Gulf: Grand Strategic Scheme, p. 75, retrieved 15 July 2020
- ^ a b Iranian Naval Forces: A Tale of Two Navies (PDF), Office of Naval Intelligence, February 2017, p. 15, ISBN 978-0160939686
- ^ Connell, Michael (31 January 2012), "The Artesh Navy: Iran's Strategic Force", Middle East Institute, retrieved 1 August 2020
- ^ Vego, Milan (2015), "On Littoral Warfare", Naval War College Review, 68 (2): 19
- ^ Nikola B. Schahgaldian, Gina Barkhordarian (March 1987), The Iranian Military Under the Islamic Republic (PDF), RAND, p. 114, ISBN 0-8330-0777-7, retrieved 15 January 2017
- ^ "Iranian Navy's 40th flotilla to set off for high seas", Islamic Republic News Agency, 2 April 2016, 82019287, retrieved 1 August 2020
- ^ "Iranian Navy sends 64th fleet of warships to int'l waters", Tehran Times, 29 October 2019, retrieved 1 August 2020
- ^ a b c d Sutton, H. I. (31 January 2021), "Iran's Best Submarines Have Been Out of the Water for a Month", USNI News, retrieved 30 September 2021
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Nadimi, Farzin (April 2020), "Iran's Evolving Approach to Asymmetric Naval Warfare: Strategy and Capabilities in the Persian Gulf" (PDF), The Washington Institute for Near East Policy (Policy Focus), no. 164, Appendix B: Iran's Major Operational Naval Vessels, pp. 55–57, archived (PDF) from the original on 4 May 2020, retrieved 15 July 2020
- ^ Biggers, Chris (27 April 2017), "Shahid Nazeri Deploys Near the Strait", Bellingcat, retrieved 15 July 2020