US Submarine Sinks Iranian Warship in Indian Ocean, Marking First Torpedo Use Since WWII
A U.S. Navy submarine has sunk the Iranian warship IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean, marking the first use of a torpedo by the U.S. since World War II. The incident resulted in significant casualties and highlights escalating tensions in the region.
A U.S. Navy fast-attack submarine has sunk the Iranian warship IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean, approximately 20 nautical miles south of Galle, Sri Lanka. This marks the first use of a torpedo by the U.S. military since World War II.
The IRIS Dena, a Moudge-class frigate, was returning from the 2026 International Fleet Review in Visakhapatnam, India, when it was struck by a single Mark 48 torpedo. The vessel had approximately 180 crew members on board. Sri Lankan authorities reported recovering 87 bodies and rescuing 32 survivors; the remaining crew members are presumed missing.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the strike during a Pentagon briefing, stating,
"Yesterday, in the Indian Ocean... an American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo. Quiet death. The first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II."
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine added that U.S. forces have destroyed more than 20 Iranian naval vessels as part of Operation Epic Fury, effectively neutralizing Iran's major naval presence in the region.
The sinking of the IRIS Dena underscores the escalating military tensions between the U.S., Israel, and Iran, with significant implications for regional stability and global maritime security.