Cordesman/Wilner, Iran & The Gulf Military Balance Rev 3
AHC 2/29/12
79
The IRGC Naval Forces The IRGC’s naval branch is reported to have some 20,000 men, including marine units of some 5,000 men. It is scarcely the largest element of Iran’s IRGC or its asymmetric forces, but it plays such a critical role in Iran’s military competition with the US and the Southern Gulf states that it merits special attention. The key aspects of the IRGC Naval Branch are summarized in Figures III.18 to III.21 •
Figure III.18 describes the special role of the naval branch of the IRGC and the critical role it can play in asymmetric warfare in the Gulf.
•
Figure III.19 shows Iran’s strength in naval asymmetric warfare capabilities relative to that of other Gulf navies. It should be noted, however, that few Iranian Navy ships have had modern refits, and efforts to upgrade them have had mixed success – particularly in creating integrated command centers and sensor suites.
•
Figure III.20 shows Iran’s strength in mine warfare capabilities relative to that of other Gulf navies. These totals disguise the fact that almost any ship can lay or drop mines, but mine hunting and sweeping is far more difficult than in the past, and other Gulf navies have very little mine sweeping capability.
•
Figure III.21 shows Iran’s robust amphibious warfare capabilities relative to other Gulf navies.
The IRGC Naval Branch undergoes extensive exercises and demonstrates capabilities that show it could deliver conventional weapons, bombs, mines, and CBRN weapons into ports and oil and desalination facilities. It is operational in the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, and could operate elsewhere if given suitable sealift or facilities. As of 2011, Iran’s navy has sent warships into the Mediterranean and claimed intentions of sending ships into the Atlantic, but such a capability is doubtful.4950 The IRGC’s naval branch has bases in the Gulf, many near key shipping channels and some near the Strait of Hormuz. These include a wide variety of facilities at Al-Farsiyah, Halul (an oil platform), Sirri, Abu Musa, Bandar-e Abbas, Khorramshahr, and Larak. It also controls Iran’s coastal defense forces, including naval guns and an HY-2 Seersucker land-based anti-ship missile unit deployed in five to seven sites along the Gulf coast. Its forces can carry out extensive raids against Gulf shipping, carry out regular amphibious exercises with the land branch of the IRGC against objectives like the islands in the Gulf, and could conduct raids against Saudi Arabia or other countries on the southern Gulf coast. They give Iran a major capability for asymmetric warfare. The Guards also seem to work closely with Iranian intelligence and appear to be represented unofficially in some embassies, Iranian businesses and purchasing offices, and other foreign fronts. The IRGC naval forces have at least 40 light patrol boats, 10 Houdong guided missile patrol boats armed with C-802 anti-ship missiles, a battery of HY-2 Seersucker land-based anti-ship missiles, and a number of submarines, mini submarines, and swimmer delivery vehicles (SDVs). Some of these systems could be modified to carry a small CBRN weapon, but are hardly optimal Londono, Ernesto and Erdbring, Thomas. “Iran Hails Warships’ Mission in Mediterranean.” Washington Post. February 22, 2011. 49
50
“Defense Minister Confirms Iran Plans to Deploy Vessels in Atlantic Ocean.” Tehran Times. October 17, 2011.
79