Posted by
Defend America on Sunday, May 30, 2010 11:24:00 PM
Israel stations nuclear missile subs off Iran
Uzi Mahnaimi in Tel Aviv
Three German-built Israeli submarines equipped with nuclear cruise
missiles are to be deployed in the Gulf near the Iranian coastline.
The first has been sent in response to Israeli fears that ballistic
missiles developed by Iran, Syria and Hezbollah, a political and
military organisation in Lebanon, could hit sites in Israel, including
air bases and missile launchers.
The submarines of Flotilla 7 — Dolphin, Tekuma and Leviathan — have
visited the Gulf before. But the decision has now been taken to ensure
a permanent presence of at least one of the vessels.
The flotilla’s commander, identified only as “Colonel O”, told an
Israeli newspaper: “We are an underwater assault force. We’re operating
deep and far, very far, from our borders.”
Each of the submarines has a crew of 35 to 50, commanded by a colonel capable of launching a nuclear cruise missile.
The vessels can remain at sea for about 50 days and stay submerged
up to 1,150ft below the surface for at least a week. Some of the cruise
missiles are equipped with the most advanced nuclear warheads in the
Israeli arsenal.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article7140282.ece