WW2 Fact-Check: Iranian Warship Reportedly First Torpedo Casualty in Decades

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has claimed another major milestone in the ongoing conflict between Iran and the U.S. and Israel. Speaking about the latest phase of 'Operation Epic Fury', he said a US submarine had sunk an Iranian warship with a torpedo, calling it the first such sinking since 'World War Two'. It is a dramatic assertion in a war already defined by spectacle and shock. But is it accurate to say this is the first successful submarine torpedo attack since the Second World War ended?

The First Successful Torpedo Attack Since WW2?

On 4 March, Pete Hegseth joined the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, at the Pentagon to share an update on 'Operation Epic Fury'. In his statement, Hegseth confirmed that the US was successful in the attack against an Iranian vessel, the Soleimani.

'An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters,' Hegseth said. 'Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo. Quiet death.'

'The first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War Two,' he added. 'Like in that war, back when we were still the War Department. We are fighting to win.'

Caine confirmed Hegseth's statement, revealing that the submarine made use of a single Mark 48 torpedo. He also noted that the US Navy were able to achieve an 'immediate effect, sending the warship to the bottom of the sea.'

It is certainly a powerful statement, given that torpedoes were among the most feared naval weapons of the Second World War. But is Hegseth's claim factual and consistent with the historical record? When was the last time that the US fired a torpedo that led to casualties for its opponents?

Torpedoes in WW2 History

During the Second World War, torpedoes were a weapon of choice for submarines and other naval platforms because of their effectiveness in neutralising warships and support vessels. An earlier family of torpedoes in the Mark series was favoured by the US Navy, but the technology was only refined and improved as the war progressed.

The US Mark 14 became the standard submarine torpedo, yet it suffered major problems early in the conflict. In many cases, it would fail to detonate or veer off course, sometimes missing the target by around 3 metres. However, following technical fixes and operational experience, it became significantly more effective after 1943.

So is it true that there has not been a successful US submarine torpedo attack since WW2? Before Wednesday's sinking of the Iranian warship, American torpedoes were last fired on 14 August 1945. They were launched by the USS Torsk, which sank two Japanese defence frigates just one day before Japan surrendered and ended the war.

On that basis, it has been almost 81 years since the US last fired a torpedo at an enemy vessel in wartime.

A Modern Strike In A Deadly New Conflict

Meanwhile, the current war has already killed more than 1,000 people in Iran, including the 180 people aboard the Iranian warship, the Soleimani. US officials have also confirmed that six American troops were killed during a drone strike in Kuwait.

Hegseth remains publicly optimistic about the trajectory of the conflict, claiming that the US and Israel will soon be able to achieve 'complete control' over Iranian airspace. He has argued that Iran's missile capabilities are now drastically diminished after just four days of fighting.