The Nahang (Whale) is an Iranian built diesel-electric submarine. Unveiled for the first time in 2006, its design and construction were said to have involved 220 researchers, and 1.2 million hours of scientific and industrial work.
Nahang is a midget submarine with mockups showing it carrying its armament (primarily mines) externally. Iranian authorities also described the Nahang as having an anti-ship missile capability. Another possibility is that these submarines are not armed but instead operated as a mother submarine for at least two swimmer delivery vehicles such as the e Ghavasi class Chariot which are carried in two pods below the waterline.
Reportedly this submarine is deployed in the Caspian Sea but transport to the Gulf region overland is feasible. Its exact mission is unknown but the most common suggested is mine laying or insertion of special forces.
While most open sources indicate one unit was ever built, some sources report that 2 submarines of this class have actually been built.
Apparently larger than the Ghadir class, this submarine is more conventional in design aside from the weapons mounting external to the hull in drop collars. Control surfaces on the stern consist of cruciform fins while a pair of dive planes are mounted on the sail.
Weapons
Mines
Toperdoes such as the "Hoot" (Speculated)
Anti-ship missiles (according to Iranian authorities)
Swimmer Delivery Vehicle (e Ghavasi class) to deploy special forces (Speculated)
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