Iranian Frigate “Sahand” (F-74) Sinks: Technical Failure or Sabotage?

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — Recognized as one of the most modern warships in the Iranian Navy, the Moudge-class frigate named “Sahand” (F-74) has reportedly sunk at Bandar Abbas Port today.

Local media reports claim that the Iranian Navy warship, operating under the command of the Navy’s Southern Fleet, nearly sank following an unspecified incident.

There are also reports suggesting that the “Sahand” went down due to a technical failure while undergoing maintenance work at the port in Bandar Abbas, the capital of Hormozgan Province.

This technical failure allowed water to enter several sections of the warship, destabilizing it and causing parts of the vessel to submerge.

However, some sources speculate that the Moudge-class frigate “Sahand” might have fallen victim to sabotage.

 

The Iranian Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces have yet to release any statements regarding the cause of the incident that led to the sinking of “Sahand,” one of Iran’s most advanced warships.

Local media reports also indicate that some crew members were injured during the incident at Bandar Abbas Port and have been taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Commissioned into the Iranian Navy in 2012, the “Sahand” was just 12 years old.

It was named after another Iranian Navy warship of the same name, which sank after being hit by U.S. Navy forces during Operation Praying Mantis in the Iran-Iraq War in 1988.

It is particularly unfortunate that both Iranian Navy ships named “Sahand” have met the same fate.

Despite its relatively young age, the frigate “Sahand” underwent several upgrades, including the installation of new equipment such as the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar.

 

The upgrade program also equipped the now-sunken warship with medium-range air defense systems “Mehrab” and anti-ship missile systems “Qader.”

 Additionally, it was armed with 76mm and 40mm cannons and torpedo tubes for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) missions.

Observers suggest that the upgrades and installation of various modern weapon systems may have altered the “Sahand’s” center of gravity, contributing to its sinking.

In recent months, Iran has deployed its warships, including the “Sahand,” to the Red Sea for patrol missions.

Besides patrolling, these warships are believed to have been gathering technical information on the positions of U.S. and allied warships, as well as commercial vessels navigating the area.

 

The Iranian warships are thought to serve as “eyes and ears” for Tehran-supported Houthi armed groups, providing information on commercial ship positions in the Red Sea to ensure accurate targeting by Houthi-launched missiles.

Houthi fighters are also accused of using Iranian-supplied missiles to attack commercial ships passing through the Red Sea.

Built by Nedaja Factories, the “Sahand” weighed between 2,000 and 2,500 tons and could reach speeds of up to 30 knots at sea. – DSA