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Saba, Iranian Navy Mine Sweeper SES
Updated artist's impression of the Saba operating in surface-effect mode. The hovercraft-like skirt between the hulls is retractable

Update On Iranian Navy Surface-Effect Ship (SES)

Iran will become one of relatively few navies fielding Surface Effect Ships (SES). These combine a catamaran hull with air cushions like a hovercraft. Other SES are used extensively by North Korea, and also by Russia and Norway.

H I Sutton 08 Jan 2021

Since Naval News revealed that a suspected Surface-Effect-Ship (SES) has been built in Iran, information has come to light which provides a provisional identification. The vessel is very likely to be the Saba, a mine warfare vessel for the Iranian Navy.

Saba is Iran’s first mine countermeasures ship and will bring new capabilities to the Iranian Navy. This is despite both the Iranian Navy and IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps) making extensive use of sea mines.

The adoption of an SES for mine warfare isn’t unique. The Royal Norwegian Navy’s Oksøy and related Alta classes use this technology. They are larger however and use plastic hulls, unlike the Saba which appears to be constructed out of steel.

The vessel may not be a missile craft, as was speculated, but if successful SES technology may find its way into future Iranian warships.

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H I Sutton writes about the secretive and under-reported submarines, seeking out unusual and interesting vessels and technologies involved in fighting beneath the waves. Submarines, capabilities, naval special forces underwater vehicles and the changing world of underwater warfare and seabed warfare. To do this he combines the latest Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) with the traditional art and science of defense analysis. He occasionally writes non-fiction books on these topics and draws analysis-based illustrations to bring the subject to life. In addition, H I Sutton is a naval history buff and data geek. His personal website about these topics is Covert Shores (www.hisutton.com)
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