US Submarine Sinks Iranian Warship with Torpedo: First Such Kill Since WWII

WASHINGTON – A U.S. Navy submarine sank an Iranian frigate with a single Mk-48 torpedo in the Indian Ocean on March 3, marking the first torpedo sinking of an enemy vessel by U.S. forces since World War II, the Pentagon confirmed Wednesday. The Department of War released a video showing the Soleimani exploding after the strike.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the strike, targeting Iran's "prize ship," the Soleimani—named after former Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, killed in a 2020 U.S. drone strike. "Looks like POTUS got him twice," Hegseth remarked during a briefing. Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Caine detailed the operation, noting the fast-attack submarine achieved "immediate effect," sending the warship to the seabed.

The Mk-48 torpedo, a heavyweight weapon developed in the 1970s and upgraded for modern threats, weighs over 3,500 pounds and can strike targets up to 50 kilometers away at speeds exceeding 50 knots. This deployment reverses tactics Iran has used against shipping, demonstrating U.S. undersea dominance to deter further naval aggression.

The last U.S. torpedo sinking occurred in 1945 during WWII, when submarines like USS Torsk sank Japanese vessels in the Pacific. No such confirmed actions happened in Korea, Vietnam, or post-Cold War conflicts, making this a historic milestone in the current operation.

The strike aligns with U.S. goals to cripple Iran's navy and secure maritime routes, amid threats to the Strait of Hormuz. To date, the military action—entering its seventh day—has involved over 2,000 strikes achieving air superiority, degrading nuclear and missile sites, and eliminating key regime leaders, prompting Iranian retaliations including drone hits on the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh and missile attacks on Gulf allies, with six American service members killed. Reinforcements continue, with President Trump projecting four to five weeks of targeted efforts to protect U.S. and allied interests.