Southern Fleet (Iran)
# Southern Fleet (Iran)

The Southern Fleet, which is under command of the Southern Forward Naval Headquarters (SNFHQ; Persian: قرارگاه مقدم ناوگان جنوب), compromises the 1st, the 2nd and the 3rd naval regions of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy. The SNFHQ is based in Bandar Abbas, and is responsible for coordination across its three southern districts as a forward operating base, as well as presence of units in international missions off Iranian territorial waters.

## Structure

The jurisdiction and responsibilities of the navy was redefined in 2007, as a result, the southern fleet was reorganized.

### Before 2007

Prior to these changes, the organization of the southern fleet was as follows:

| Region | Headquarters | Area of responsibility |
| - | - | - |
| 1st Naval Region | Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan | Strait of Hormuz |
| 2nd Naval Region | Bushehr, Bushehr | central Persian Gulf |
| 3rd Naval Region | Mahshahr, Khuzestan | northern Persian Gulf |
| Chabahar Naval Base (independent) | Chabahar, Sistan and Baluchestan | Gulf of Oman |

### Since 2007

The forces under command of the southern fleet currently operate under these districts:

| Region | Namesake | Headquarters | Area of responsibility |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1st Naval Region | Emamat | Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan | Strait of Hormuz |
| 2nd Naval Region | Velayat | Jask, Hormozgan | western Gulf of Oman |
| 3rd Naval Region | Nabovat | Konarak, Sistan and Baluchestan | eastern Gulf of Oman |

## Commanders

* Commodore Abbas Ramzi Ataie
* Rear Admiral Kamal Habibollahi (October 1972–January 1976)
* Captain Mohammad-Hossein Malekzadegan (1983–1985)
* Commodore Ebrahim Ashkan (?–2017)
* Vice Commodore Afshin Tashak (2017–present)

## Order of battle

### Submarines

* Kilo-class submarine
   * Taregh (reported out of water as of January 2021)
   * Nooh (reported out of water as of January 2021)
   * Yunes (reported out of water as of January 2021)
* Fateh-class submarine
   * Fateh (active as of 2021)
* Ghadir-class submarines (about 20 were believed to be operational as of 2020)
* Nahang (rarely seen on operation)

### Surface combatants

* Alvand-class frigate
   * Alvand (active as of 2020)
   * Alborz (active as of 2020)
   * Sabalan (active as of 2020)
* Moudge-class frigate
   * Jamaran (active as of 2020)
   * Sahand (active as of 2020)
   * Dena
* Bayandor-class corvette
   * Bayandor
   * Naghdi
* Kaman-class fast attack craft
   * Kaman (active as of 2020)
   * Xoubin (active as of 2020)
   * Khadang (active as of 2020)
   * Falakhon (active as of 2020)
   * Shamshir (active as of 2020)
   * Gorz (active as of 2020)
   * Gardouneh (active as of 2020)
   * Khanjar (active as of 2020)
   * Tabarzin (active as of 2020)
* Sina-class fast attack craft
   * Zereh
