Shahid Mahdavi: New supply ship for the Iranian naval forces

A satellite photo taken by Associated Press (AP) published on 27 May 2022, shows the "Shahid Mahdavi" in the flooded dry dock of Shahid Darvishi Marine Industries, a shipbuilding company near Bandar Abbas on the Strait of Hormuz. The shipyard, which manufactures and services both military and civilian units, is considered one of the most modern and leading shipyards in the Persian Gulf. The military part is located in a complex for the construction and repair of surface ships and submarines around 40 kilometres west of the southern Iranian city.

According to experts, the "Shahid Mahdavi" is the conversion of the Iranian "Sarvin". She called at Bandar Abbas in July 2021 and evaded further observation. The container ship was built in 2000 by HYUNDAI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, Ulsan, South Korea. Originally christened the "Iran Isfahan", it served under three other names until it became the "Sarvin" on 1 September 2012. With a length of 240 metres, a width of 32 metres and a draught of just under 12 metres, the "Sarvin" has a displacement of almost 42,000 tonnes. The propulsion is from MAN B&W with a total output of 29,000 KW.

The current name "Shahid Mahdavi", meaning "Martyr Mahdavi", goes back to Nader Mahdavi, an Iranian sailor who was killed in action in 1987 in a clash with the US Navy.

IRNS "Makran" in the Great Belt, July 2021. photo: Michael Nitz

Possible arming options

According to the analyses that have now been carried out, the ship is said to be equipped with anti-aircraft weapons at the bow and stern. The rest of the armament is a mystery. A look at similar support units allows assumptions to be made about later equipment. Converting cargo ships into support units for the naval forces, both for the navy and for the maritime component of the Revolutionary Guards, is common practice in Iran. In July 2021, the converted oil tanker (111,530 tonnes displacement) IRINS "Makran" (hull number 441) presented itself in the Baltic Sea. The Islamic Republic of Iran Navy Ship "Makran" serves the Iranian naval forces as an operational platform for speedboats and combat boats. However, 'support for fast patrol boats' in Iran should not be equated with what is understood in this country as a fast patrol boat tender. During its guest appearance in the Baltic Sea, "Makran" transported eight speedboats as upper deck cargo. The small speedboats are equipped with 107 mm rocket launchers. The arsenal of the "Makran" also includes the cruise missiles 'Shahid' (or Shahid Abu-Mahdi al-Muhandis in the long form) with a range of 1,000 kilometres as well as the ship-to-ship guided missiles Ghadir (the navalised form of the land-to-ship guided missile Ghader used by trucks) with a range of over 330 kilometres. It can also accommodate several types of helicopter. Two AB 212, two ASH-3D 'Sea King' (sub-hunting and SAR) and one RH-53D 'Sea Stallion' can be deployed from its helicopter deck. In addition, unmanned drones can be deployed from the "Makran". IRINS "Makran" is the largest ship of the Iranian naval forces.

IRNS "Kharg", July 2021 Photo: state media

Iranian Navy - or Revolutionary Guard Sea?

While it is currently unclear what armament the "Shahid Mahdavi", ex "Sarvin", will carry, no statements can be made at present as to which organisation it will be assigned to. While "Makran" is a ship of the Iranian Navy, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Navy (IRGC) used the "Shahid Roudaki", which entered service in November 2020, as a support ship ('forward base ship'). The "Kharg", a 'fast fleet tanker' (a further development of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary 'fast fleet tankers' or Ol-class of the Royal Navy) launched in 1977 by the British Swan Hunter, which sailed for the Iranian Navy from 1980, sank in June 2021 as a result of a fire in the Gulf of Oman. In this respect, "Shahid Mahdavi" could be considered as a replacement. However, observers reported that a Revolutionary Guard flag could be seen on the bridge of the "Shahid Mahdavi". In April 2021, the case of the MV "Saviz" caused an international sensation when the Iranian ship, which had been anchored in the Red Sea under the Yemeni coast for years and was considered a base of the Revolutionary Guard, was attacked. In addition to its role as a reconnaissance unit, the "Saviz" was considered a mother ship for covert operations.

IRNS "Makran" in the Great Belt, July 2021. Photo: US DoD

Possibilities for 'grey area operations'

Be that as it may, the fact is that units such as "Makran" or "Shahid Mahdavi" can be stationed as mother ships in the open sea near key operational areas. They provide a platform for sustained maritime operations in and outside Iran's coastal areas. This includes humanitarian missions, maritime security missions and counter-piracy operations as well as asymmetric operations at sea or from sea to land. They open up unconventional possibilities. It is possible to deploy containerised or truck-mounted missile systems from their deck, so it is not necessarily necessary to assume that they are equipped with weapon systems. Other possibilities for covert warfare include the use of speedboats transported on the upper deck.

According to AP, the Iranian news agency FARS reacted to the initial Western speculation and described the ship as a 'mobile naval city': It was capable of ensuring the security of Iranian trade routes and the rights of Iranian sailors and fishermen on the high seas.