Submarine Torpedo SINKS Iranian Warship

U.S. Navy submarine delivers devastating torpedo strike on Iranian frigate IRIS Dena, marking America’s first such attack since World War II and showcasing unmatched naval dominance under President Trump.

Story Highlights

U.S. submarine sinks sanctioned Iranian warship off Sri Lanka in Operation Epic Fury, first torpedo sinking by America since WWII.
Pentagon releases periscope video confirming Mk 48 torpedo impact, highlighting Iran’s surface fleet vulnerability.
Sri Lankan navy rescues 32-79 survivors, recovers 87 bodies from ~180 crew, amid ~80 deaths.
Strike follows U.S.-Israel actions destroying over 20 Iranian vessels; Iran retaliates by closing Strait of Hormuz.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hails the “quiet death,” as CENTCOM continues operations.

Strike Details and Timeline

Late on March 3, 2026, a U.S. Navy fast-attack submarine, likely Los Angeles-class, fired torpedo(s) at the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena 44 nautical miles off Galle, Sri Lanka, in international waters within Sri Lanka’s exclusive economic zone. The Mk 48 torpedo struck near the midsection and stern, causing hull buckling and rapid sinking. Pentagon-released infrared periscope video captures the stern detonation. This action under Operation Epic Fury neutralizes a key Iranian asset equipped with missiles and torpedoes.

Rescue Efforts by Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka received a distress call at 5:08 a.m. on March 4 reporting an explosion. Navy and Coast Guard vessels dispatched around 6:00 a.m. rescued between 32 and 79 crew members, with accounts varying. They recovered 87 bodies from the 101-180 total aboard, estimating around 80 killed. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath detailed the call, while Navy spokesman Commander Buddhika Sampath oversaw operations. Oil slicks and debris confirmed the full sinking in the Indian Ocean.

U.S. Leadership Confirms Precision Strike

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the sinking, calling it a “quiet death” from a torpedo—the first U.S. submarine attack on an enemy warship since WWII. Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine specified the Mk 48 torpedo with its 650-lb warhead. U.S. Central Command executed the strike as part of day-five operations, having already destroyed over 20 Iranian vessels alongside Israel. Iran claims deliberate targeting after defensive systems sabotage, but remains publicly silent.

IRIS Dena, a modern Moudge-class frigate sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in 2023 for arming Russia in Ukraine, had just left India’s 2026 MILAN naval exercise. This vulnerability exposes surface ships as “sitting ducks” against stealth submarines, validating U.S. technological superiority and commitment to countering Iranian threats.

Broader Impacts and Escalation

The strike escalates U.S.-Iran conflict to the Indian Ocean, following Iranian retaliation with missile strikes and Strait of Hormuz closure, disrupting global oil shipments. Short-term risks include wider naval clashes and Iranian asymmetric responses via proxies or mines. Long-term, it revives submarine warfare precedents, boosts U.S. defense morale, and asserts dominance under President Trump’s administration against regimes supporting terrorism and nuclear ambitions.

Under Trump’s leadership, America projects strength, protecting allies like Israel and securing vital sea lanes from aggressors. This action counters years of Iranian provocations, prioritizing national security over globalist appeasement, while Sri Lanka upholds neutral rescue duties without entanglement.