America Destroyed Iran’s Shahid Soleimani Warship—Just Like Its Namesake
America Destroyed Iran’s Shahid Soleimani Warship—Just Like Its Namesake
Of the IRGC’s four Shahid Soleimani-class corvettes, it is unclear how many remain intact—with at least one lost to an American airstrike.
The United States sank one of Iran’s most capable and advanced warships in the opening hours of Operation Epic Fury, the ongoing US air campaign against the Islamic Republic that began on February 28. Another is reported to be damaged.
“US forces have struck or sunk to the bottom of the ocean more than 20 ships from the Iranian regime. Last night, CENTCOM added a Soleimani-class warship to the list,” United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Wednesday in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
There are conflicting reports as to which of the two Shahid Soleimani-class missile corvettes in service with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was targeted. However, it is believed that the IRIS Shahid Sayyad Shirazi, which was commissioned only in February 2024, may have been sunk, while the lead vessel, the Shahid Soleimani, may have only been damaged.
Photos and videos of one of the missile corvettes burning off Bandar Abbas, near one of Iran’s key naval bases near the Strait of Hormuz, following US airstrikes, have also circulated widely on social media.
The Shahid Soleimani’s Specifications
- Year Introduced: 2022
- Number Built: 4
- Length: 65.0 m (213 ft 3 in)
- Beam: 14.5 m (47 ft 7 in)
- Displacement: ~600 tonnes
- Propulsion: Four indigenous diesel engines
- Speed: ~32 knots (59.2 km/h, 36.8 mph)
- Range: Up to 5,000 nautical miles (9,260 km, 5,754 mi)
- Armaments:
- Vertical Launch System (VLS): 16 small cells for surface-to-air missiles (e.g., Navvab, Sayyad-3) and 6 larger cells for cruise missiles
- Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles: 4-6 box launchers for Noor, Ghadir, or Qader missiles
- Guns: One 30mm autocannon (forward), four 20mm or 23mm Gatling guns
- Air/sea wing: Helipad for a 5-ton helicopter, stern launch for 3 fast-attack boats
- Crew: Unknown
Revolutionary Designs for the IRGC
The class of corvettes is named for Qasem Soleimani, the deceased commander of the IRCG Quds Force. Soleimani was assassinated in January 2020 near Baghdad, Iraq, during the first Trump administration.
The development of the corvettes highlighted the Islamic Republic’s growing capabilities to manufacture more advanced warships.
“The Shahid Soleimani-class represents Iran’s push toward faster, stealthier surface combatants. Built on a catamaran composite hull designed for reduced radar signature, the class can reach speeds of up to 45 knots and carries both Nawab and Sayad cruise missile systems,” Naval News reported.
As previously reported by The National Interest, there had been concern that the Shahid Soleimani-class corvettes could be employed to choke off the Strait of Hormuz.
The threat isn’t just from the helicopter and boats, as the Shahid Soleimani-class corvettes are well armed, and are the first Iranian warships to feature a vertical launching system (VLS), which can carry six large cells with surface-to-surface cruise missiles and 16 smaller cells for surface-to-air missiles, including the long-range Noor or Ghadir and short-range Nasir missiles.
Beyond their armament, the corvettes are outfitted with advanced electronic warfare (EW) and surveillance systems, enabling them to conduct intelligence-gathering operations.
Iran Is Working on an Even Larger Corvette
Last April, satellite images revealed that construction was underway on a vessel with an even more revolutionary design. Since it was identified as the corvette Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis—named for the Iraqi militia commander killed alongside Soleimani in the same strike—it was first spotted at an IRGC naval facility in Bandar Bahonar in southern Iran.
Constructed of aluminum, it is reported to be approximately 77 meters (252 feet) long and 25 meters (82 feet) wide, making it larger than Iran’s. The Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis was unique in that it features a catamaran design, which could provide greater speed and maneuverability than traditional single-hulled warships.
It is unclear if Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis has also been targeted in the ongoing strikes. Still, even with its speed and maneuverability, it may not be able to successfully evade US forces, which maintain control of the seas and the skies.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines, and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.
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