The U.S. conducted a series of strikes against iranian naval forces during Operation Epic Fury against iran. As of now, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the destruction of all 11 iranian ships operating in the Gulf of Oman.
At the same time, strikes were also delivered against ships located in the Persian Gulf, including the main naval base of iran's Navy and IRGC Navy at Bandar Abbas. iranian command did not withdraw ships from the bay ahead of U.S. and Israeli strikes. Satellite imagery taken on February 27 provides evidence of this.
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Specifically, as specialist H I Sutton wrote before the strikes, key iranian vessels were stationed at this base, including helicopter carriers or expeditionary ships IRIS Shahid Mahdavi and IRIN Makran, as well as the unique drone carrier IRIS Shahid Bagheri. All three ships were converted from civilian vessels over recent years, specifically IRIN Makran was converted in 2020, IRIS Shahid Mahdavi in 2023, IRIS Shahid Bagheri in 2025.
In addition, iranian submarines of Project 877EKM class were stationed there, transferred by russia to iran in the early 1990s, small-sized IR-120 Ghadir submarines, several frigates, a reconnaissance ship and landing craft, as well as Shahid Soleimani-class stealth catamaran. Explanation for why ships were not put to sea will likely emerge later, but as of March 2, iranian naval base Bandar Abbas looked as follows:
CENTCOM has already announced the destruction of drone carrier IRIS Shahid Bagheri, Naval News reports. Defense Express recalls this is the former container ship Perarin (or Sarvin), which received a flight deck approximately 170 meters long and approximately 18 meters wide, as well as a ski-jump ramp.
iran first put this aircraft carrier to sea in February 2025, deploying drones and helicopters on it, as well as large-scale radio-controlled models resembling iranian stealth aircraft development Qaher F-313.
Satellite imagery also clearly shows damage to INS Makran, which was converted from a tanker into an expeditionary ship or helicopter carrier.
Additionally, the distinctive feature of these ships is that they could quite possibly become missile weapon carriers, which could potentially be positioned on the same platform.
It should also be fully expected that another expeditionary ship-helicopter carrier IRIS Shahid Mahdavi, which was converted from a container ship, came under a U.S. strike.
The actual combat value of these ships was considered quite questionable by specialists. After all, iran could not ensure its protection from attacks by any adversary in the region. What role these ships were genuinely meant to fulfill according to iranian military design will remain in history.
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