US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asserted on Wednesday that the recent sinking of an Iranian warship by an American submarine marked the first instance of an enemy vessel being destroyed by a torpedo since the conclusion of the Second World War. This claim, however, does not withstand scrutiny when examined against the historical record of naval conflicts over the past eight decades.
Historical Context of Torpedo Attacks Since 1945
The Press Association has meticulously documented at least three separate incidents where torpedoes were employed to sink ships in the post-World War II era. These cases directly contradict Secretary Hegseth's sweeping statement and highlight a pattern of naval engagements that have utilized this traditional underwater weapon.
The 2010 Sinking of ROKS Cheonan
In March 2010, the South Korean naval corvette ROKS Cheonan catastrophically split apart and sank in the Yellow Sea, resulting in the tragic loss of 46 sailors. An extensive multinational investigation conducted by a team of experts from South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Sweden concluded that the vessel was destroyed by the detonation of a homing torpedo.
The investigative report stated unequivocally that the torpedo was manufactured in North Korea, and the evidence overwhelmingly indicated it was launched from a North Korean submarine. Pyongyang has consistently and vehemently denied any responsibility for the attack, creating ongoing diplomatic tensions, but the forensic findings remain widely accepted by the international community.
The 1982 Falklands War Engagement
During the intense naval battles of the 1982 Falklands War, the Royal Navy submarine HMS Conqueror fired multiple torpedoes at the Argentine cruiser ARA General Belgrano. The attack, which occurred on May 2, 1982, resulted in the sinking of the vessel with the loss of 323 Argentine sailors.
This engagement represents one of the most significant submarine actions in modern naval history and stands as a clear, documented case of a torpedo sinking an enemy warship in a declared conflict long after World War II had ended.
The 1971 Indo-Pakistani Naval Conflict
Further back in history, during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, the Pakistan Navy submarine PNS Hangor successfully targeted the Indian frigate INS Khukri. Several torpedoes struck the Indian vessel, leading to its rapid sinking on December 9, 1971. This incident marked the first submarine kill since World War II and remains a pivotal moment in South Asian naval warfare.
Analysis of the Recent US-Iran Incident
Secretary Hegseth's comments came during a briefing on the escalating tensions between the United States and Iran. He described the sinking of the Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean as "a quiet death" delivered by torpedo from an American submarine. While this may indeed represent the first time the United States has sunk an enemy ship with a torpedo since 1945, his broader claim about it being a global first since World War II is demonstrably inaccurate.
The historical record clearly shows that torpedoes have remained a viable and deployed weapon in naval conflicts involving multiple nations, including the United Kingdom, Pakistan, and North Korea. These documented cases underscore the importance of precise language when discussing military history and current events.
As naval technology continues to evolve with advanced missiles and electronic warfare systems, the recent use of a torpedo by American forces serves as a reminder that traditional weapons still play a role in modern maritime strategy. However, any claims about historical precedence must be carefully measured against the established facts of post-World War II naval engagements.
