Operation Epic Fury Achieves Military Feat Not Seen Since WWII
A dramatic moment unfolded in the Indian Ocean this week as a United States Navy submarine sank an Iranian warship with a single torpedo, marking the first time since World War II that an American submarine has destroyed an enemy combatant vessel in combat using that method.
The strike was confirmed Wednesday during a Pentagon briefing by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine as part of the broader military campaign known as Operation Epic Fury.
“Yesterday, in the Indian Ocean, an American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters,” Hegseth announced. “Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo. Quiet death. The first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II.”
The U.S. Navy has not publicly identified the submarine involved, a standard practice designed to protect operational security surrounding the movements and capabilities of America’s fast-attack submarine fleet.
According to reports from Reuters, the engagement occurred off the southern coast of Sri Lanka, placing the operation within the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s area of responsibility. The Iranian vessel targeted in the attack was the IRIS Dena, a Moudge-class frigate belonging to the Southern Fleet of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy.
The warship had reportedly been operating in the region following a naval exercise conducted in the Bay of Bengal. At the time of the strike, approximately 180 personnel were believed to be aboard the vessel.
Sri Lankan officials confirmed that their navy quickly launched a rescue operation in the aftermath of the sinking. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath stated that 32 survivors had been recovered from the water, while naval teams continued searching the surrounding area for additional survivors and victims.
Commander Buddhika Sampath, a spokesperson for the Sri Lankan navy, said rescue crews were also recovering bodies from the scene as part of the ongoing effort.
Gen. Caine emphasized the historical significance of the strike, noting that submarine warfare had rarely resulted in confirmed combat sinkings by the United States since the end of World War II.
“For the first time since 1945, a United States Navy fast attack submarine has sunk an enemy combatant ship using a single Mk-48 torpedo to achieve immediate effect, sending the warship to the bottom of the sea,” Caine said.
The Mk-48 torpedo used in the strike is one of the most advanced heavyweight torpedoes in the world, designed to hunt and destroy both surface ships and submarines. Fired from stealth platforms like U.S. attack submarines, the weapon is capable of striking targets with devastating precision.
Military officials say the attack is part of a broader campaign aimed at dismantling Iran’s naval capabilities. According to Caine, U.S. forces have struck more than 2,000 targets across Iran and destroyed over 20 Iranian naval vessels since operations began.
“The campaign has effectively neutralized, at this point in time, Iran’s major naval presence in theater,” he said.
U.S. forces positioned across the region—including carrier strike groups, long-range bombers, and submarines—are expected to continue targeting Iranian military infrastructure and naval assets over the coming days.
“We’ll continue to assess our progress against the military objectives,” Caine added, noting that additional strikes could occur within the next 24 to 48 hours.