Sacred Defense Parades 2015 - Provinces

Iran media imagery of the Sacred Defense Parades held at provincial locations on 22SEP15, commemorating the onset of the Iran-Iraq War that took place 35 years ago.

ISFAHAN, ISFAHAN PROVINCE

IRGC-GF formation equipped with accessorized Norinco CQ / DIO S-5.56 assault rifles

 

Detail of accessorized Norinco CQ / DIO S-5.56 assault rifle, including rail system, collapsible stock, forward grip and camo wrap.

Clerical members of A Basij Rapid Reaction Force

IRGC-GF BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle

NEZAJA BM-21 multiple rocket launcher (MRL) vehicle

NEZAJA 152 mm towed gun-howitzer M1955 (D-20)

IRGC-GF DIO HM 41 155 mm howitzers

Safir ("Ambassador") tactical vehicles equipped with M40 recoilless rifles, of a type provided in number to Iraqi military forces in the war against ISIL.

Iran military artillery rocket transport vehicle with loading crane

KERMAN, KERMAN PROVINCE

DIO Ra'ad-2 ("Thunder-2") 155 mm self-propelled howitzer

NEZAJA BTR-60 armored personnel carrier (APC)

DIO Rakhsh 4x4 armored personnel carrier (APC) variant

IRGC Fajr-3 ("Dawn-3") multiple rocket launcher vehicle

Safir ("Ambassador") tactical vehicles equipped with BGM-71 TOW type anti-tank guided missile launchers

Skyguard all-weather fire control radar unit for Oerlikon GDF-002 35 mm twin cannons

SHIRAZ, FARS PROVINCE

Formation of 55th Airborne Brigade equipped with G3-A4 battle rifles

BANDAR ABBAS, HORMOZGAN PROVINCE

First lieutenants of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Defense (IRIADF)

Captains and lieutenants of IRGC Imam Sajjad Corps

Chief petty officers of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN), equipped with G3-A3 battle rifles

QESHM

IRGC-N catamaran craft fitted with anti-aircraft guns


URMIA, WEST AZARBAIJAN PROVINCE

Kurdish-Iranian Tribal Basij members equipped with AKM type assault rifles


MARGHEH, EAST AZARBAIJAN PROVINCE

NEZAJA M577 command post vehicle

Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency, Syed Ali Hashemi and Amirhosein Khorgooi at Islamic Students' News Agency

Indian Navy guided missile frigates dock at Bandar Abbas

Indian Navy frigates INS Betwa (F39) and INS Beas (F37) have arrived and docked at Bandar Abbas, Iran, headquarters for Iran Navy 1st Naval Region. During the four-day visit,  Indian naval personnel "are scheduled to hold joint exercises with Iran’s Navy, hold talks with Iranian Navy commanders and local officials and visit historical and cultural sites of Hormozgan." [source: Iran Daily]

INS Beas (F37) Brahmaputra class guided missile frigate, built at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkatta.

During May–July 2009, INS Beas was a part of the Indian Navy task force on deployment to Europe. During this deployment, the task force participated in joint-exercises with the Royal Navy and the French Navy. Exercise Konkan-09 with the Royal Navy, was conducted off the coast of the United Kingdom. Exercise Varuna 2009 with the French Navy was off the coast of France. [source: Wikipedia]

INS Beas (F37) guided missile frigate assisted by Sohrab tug [IMO: 9413391] at Bandar Abbas

Starboard side of INS Beas (F37) guided missile frigate named for the River Beas

INS Betwa (F39) Brahmaputra class guided missile frigate, also built at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkatta. Note namesake for this ship: "the tenacious torrent", named after the River Betwa.

INS Betwa notable actions include Operation Cactus, where the Indian Navy was called in to rescue the Maldivian hostages taken by Sri Lankan mercenaries off the coast of Sri Lanka. INS Godavari (F20) and INS Betwa captured the freighter, rescued the hostages and arrested the mercenaries near the Sri Lankan coast.

INS Betwa was also part of Task Force 54, returning from the Mediterranean during which time the 2006 Lebanon War broke out. As a part of Operation Sukoon, INS Betwa participated in the evacuation of Indian citizens from Lebanon to Cyprus.

Armament detail of INS Betwa: Quadruple KT-184 launchers provided for the firing of Kh-35 (NATO: SS-N-25 Switchblade) AShMs.

Indian Navy Captain KM Ramakrishnan, commanding officer of INS Betwa

Captain KM Ramakrishnan received by officers of Iran Navy 1st Naval Region at Bandar Abbas

 

Crossed flags of the Republic of India and Islamic Republic of Iran, and behind them Naval Ensign of the Indian Navy, seen at the stern of INS Betwa.

Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency

Indian military delegation at Iran Navy HQ in Bandar Abbas

Iran Navy Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari shakes hands with members of military delegation from India’s University of Strategic Sciences, on AUG26 at the Iran Navy headquarters in Bandar Abbas.

According to Tasnim News Agency:

Sayyari expressed the hope that Iran and India would promote their relations in a way to end trans-regional countries’ presence for safeguarding security in the northern part of Indian Ocean.He then said northern part of Indian Ocean is one of the strategic trade areas of the world due to the existence of energy routes.

Elsewhere, Sayyari announced that the country will host navies from 45 world countries since it has received the official membership of a conference of navy commanders of Indian Ocean littoral countries in 2018, IRNA reported.

It is being reported on 28AUG15 that Indian Navy ships INS Betwa (F39) and INS Beas (F37) have docked at Bandar Abbas on a scheduled exchange visit to IRIN 1st Naval Region Headquarters. UOI will post photos with captions as they are made available.

Group photo of members of military delegation from India’s University of Strategic Sciences and Iranian military hosts at Iran Navy HQ in Bandar Abbas.

Ranking officer of the Indian military 16-member delegation, Indian Army Lt. Gen. Navkaran Singh accepting gift from Iran Navy Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari.

Commodore of the Indian Navy; behind him a captain of the Iranian Navy

Hall at the Iran Navy Headquarters in Bandar Abbas

Detail of Iran Navy themed woodcarving behind IRIN Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, Commander of Islamic Republic of Iran Navy.

Photos: Seyed Majid Tavakoli at Fars News Agency

Container Ships Make Return to Iran

The first international container ships began arriving in Iran this week in the aftermath of the nuclear deal between Tehran and World powers. Since 2012, Iran had to rely on its own commercial fleet for much of its import as new sanctions led to an exodus of Western shipping firms, leading to supply disruption. In one of the first signs of change, the world’s third largest shipping group, France’s CMA CGM, said on Monday it would restart services to Iran in early August, Reuters reported.

On Thursday, the UK-flagged CMA CGN Andromeda container ship arrived in Bandar Abbas. (Reuters, 7 August)

Taiwanese container line Evergreen, the world’s fifth biggest player, has also resumed calls to Bandar Abbas and its first vessel also arrived on Thursday.

File photo: CMA CGN Andromeda(cma-cg.com)

Iran Navy ‘35th Fleet’ dispatched to Gulf of Aden

According to Press TV on 22JUN15:

The 35th flotilla of the Iranian Navy has set off for high seas to safeguard naval routes for the country’s vessels operating in the region.

The flotilla, consisting of Bandar Abbas auxiliary ship and Alvand destroyer, left the country on Monday after the 34th fleet completed its mission and returned home.

The 34th flotilla, which comprises the Bushehr logistic vessel and Alborz destroyer, had left Iran's southern port city of Bandar Abbas for the Gulf of Aden and the Bab al-Mandab Strait on April 8.

COMMENTARY: The Iran Navy 35th Fleet consists of the following two vessels:

- IRINS Alvand (ex-Saam) (71) Alvand class (Vosper Mk5 type) frigate (FFG)

- IRINS Bandar Abbas (421) Bandar Abbas class light replenishment ship (AORLH)

The 35th Fleet-- like the 34th Fleet it replaces-- consist of naval vessels of the Alvand and Bandar Abbas class.

File imagery of IRINS Alvand (71) frigate

File imagery of IRINS Bandar Abbas (421) light replenishment ship

Iran Navy aviation and hovercraft refurbishments

Above: Pair of claimed refurbished IRIN-A Agusta SH-3D Sea Kings, left helicopter possible serial 8-2320

According to Tasnim News Agency:

Iran’s Army on Monday unveiled a new hovercraft and a series of helicopters that are used for naval operations.

Iranian Army Commander Major General Ataollah Salehi unveiled the new products in the country’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas. The equipment included the SRN6 hovercraft, an AB212 anti-surface helicopter, two SH3D anti-submarine helicopters, and a fixed-wing F-27 plane for patrol and reconnaissance. An RH minesweeping naval helicopter was also put on display during the top officer’s visit to the port.

Speaking on the sidelines of a ceremony to unveil the products, Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said the two anti-submarine helicopters have been overhauled by the local experts and have been also equipped with torpedo-launcher systems.

The AB212 anti-surface helicopter has been also armed with air-to-surface missiles, added Sayyari.

COMMENTARY: It's assumed the Tasnim News article is claiming recent refurbishment of the following:

x2 IRIN-A Agusta SH-3D Sea King (AS-61) ASW/SAR/utility helicopters for ASW Squadron at Bandar Abbas/Havadarya (OIKP).

x1 IRIN-A Agusta AB-212ASW helicopter for Helicopter Transport & SAR Squadron at Bandar Abbas/Havadarya (OIKP).

x1 IRIN-A Fokker F-27 Troopship for Transport & Navy Patrol Squadron at Bandar Abbas/Havadarya (OIKP).

x1 IRIN Saunders-Roe SR.N6 Winchester class hovercraft for IRIN 1st Naval Region base at Bandar Abbas.

Photo of claimed refurbished IRIN SR.N6 hovercraft, appearing similar in markings to SRNX "Tondar" hovercraft unveiled 28NOV12.

IRIN-A Sikorsky RH-53D (S-65C-4) Sea Stallion, serial 6-2702 (cn 65-413) of Helicopter Transport & SAR Squadron at Bandar Abbas/Havadarya (OIKP).

Photos: Majd Jamshidi at Fars News Agency

Nizami Ganjavi 4 catamaran landing craft (L-CAT)

Bow view of Iran's newly constructed Nizami Ganjavi 4 catamaran landing craft (L-CAT), as built at  Farasahel Ship Building complex under the supervision of Bahr Gostaresh Hormuz, near Bandar Abbas. [source: Mehr News Agency, dated 27OCT14]

Nizami Ganjavi 4 on slipway for launch

Nizami Ganjavi 4 claimed "capable of carrying 90 automobiles, 20 containers and 20 trucks," according to Mehran Broushan, director of the project. [Source: Mehr News Agency]

Stern view of catamaran-type hull of Nizami Ganjavi 4 landing craft. Previously constructed Nizami Ganjavi landing crafts employ conventional, single-hull type design.

For comparative sizing of Nizami Ganjavi 4 landing craft, see below:

Above is Iranian-built Nizami Ganjavi 3 landing craft. Built in 2007, vessel gross tonnage is 487, deadweight 1000 t, with length x breadth of 49.5m x 15m. Nizami Ganjavi series of landing crafts typically shuttle machinery, cargo containers and vehicles between ports in Iran and UAE.

Photos: Ahmad Jafari at Mehr News Agency, and "reshadsol"

PLAN 17th naval task force visits Bandar Abbas

Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Ships

One of two PLAN naval ships from 17th naval task force of the East Sea Fleet, docked at Bandar Abbas: Changchun (150) Type 052C class destroyer  Second ship is Changzhou (549) Type 054A class frigate. PLAN vessels are on return voyage from mission at the Gulf of Aden.

Stern of PLAN Changchun (150) Type 052C destroyer

Crew members of the PLAN destroyer Changchun

Visible on Changchun helicopter deck: PLANAF Harbin Z-9C ASW helicopter

Z-9C ASW helicopter crew, background right

Rear Admiral Huang Xinjian, commander of the 17th Chinese escort naval fleet with IRIN captain

Bandari welcome for Rear Admiral Huang Xinjian

Meeting of IRIN and PLAN officers at First Naval Zone HQ, Bandar Abbas. As of this writing, it's being reported IRIN and PLAN vessels currently conducting joint naval drill in Persian Gulf.

Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency