Key Highlights:
· IRIS Dena, an Iranian frigate, was sunk in the early morning hours of 4th March 2026 after being torpedoed by a US Navy submarine.
· The warship was carrying approximately 180 crew members and was returning from the MILAN Naval Exercise organised by the Indian Navy in Visakhapatnam.
· The ship sent a distress call at 5:08 AM local time reporting an explosion—but sank before rescue forces could reach it.
· The vessel sank 20 nautical miles south of Galle, Sri Lanka.
· At least 80 people were killed, 32 were rescued, and over 100 remain missing.
· This marks the first enemy warship sunk by a US torpedo since World War II—called a “Quiet Death” by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
· India Connection:
The Iranian frigate had participated in the 2026 International Fleet Review in Visakhapatnam, India, and was on its way back to Iran when it was struck.
· What is a Mark 48 torpedo?
Modern heavyweight torpedoes like the Mark 48 are designed to cause maximum damage by striking the target ship well below the waterline — powerful enough to lift a warship and cause its hull to buckle or break entirely.
· It doesn’t just hit the ship.
· It goes underneath and breaks the ship from below!
· The ship literally lifts up and splits apart!
· Bigger Picture:
Under Operation Epic Fury, US forces have targeted Iran’s naval strength significantly, with the US stating that the Iranian Navy is effectively decimated.
· Story developing | Source & Credit: Digital Waves News | Based on reports from national and international news agencies
Story developing | Source & Credit: Digital Waves News | Based on reports from national and international news agencies