Israel to receive fourth Dolphin-class submarine from Germany within days
"As we speak, [the submarine] has left port in Germany and is on its way to Israel," said the Navy commander, Vice Admiral Ram Rothberg.
By JPOST.COM STAFFA Dolphin-class submarine enters Haifa port.(photo credit: REUTERS)
Israel’s fourth Dolphin-class submarine is heading to Israel after leaving a German shipyard this week.The INS Tanin is set to arrive at a specialized dock built by the navy at its Haifa base soon.This year, the navy is expecting to receive its fifth submarine, the INS Rahav, as well. A sixth submarine is under construction in Germany.Navy sources said the new dock allows for the advanced submarines to be kept separately, secretly, and in a convenient manner. The dock allows for flexibility, and enables the submarines to be on call 24 hours a day.The new submarines will bring with them many unique capabilities, such as lengthy intelligence gathering.On Tuesday night, the Israel Navy held a ceremony to mark the completion of its naval-officer cadet training cycle.“At this very moment, after leaving Germany, the INS Tanin, the fourth submarine of the navy, is making its way to Israel.This submarine can dive deeper, go further, and for longer, and can operate with greater powers than we have known until now,” Navy chief Adm. Ram Rothberg said at the ceremony.Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon also spoke at the ceremony, and said, “If our enemies make another mistake and seek to force war on us, the State of Israel will go back to operating through all means, in near and far circles, to cut off their hands. We will not tolerate attempts to harm our civilians or soldiers, and we will use our force to that end.”
