What are Iran’s Soleimani-class catamaran warships that the US has destroyed

The United States on Thursday said it has destroyed all four of Iran’s Soleimani-class catamaran warships, a significant blow to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) as the ongoing war between the US, Israel and Iran shows no signs of abating.

These vessels were the largest and most advanced combatants in the IRGCN fleet, designed for littoral combat and asymmetric operations. Combining missile systems, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, and fast-attack boats, they were central to Iran’s strategy for exerting naval influence in the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters.

Origins and naming

The first vessel in the class, Shahid Soleimani, was commissioned in 2022 and named after the late IRGC General Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a US drone strike in Iraq in 2020.

Iran has a history of naming weapons systems after Soleimani, and the warship was formally unveiled in Bandar Abbas, Iran’s southern port city.Shahid Soleimani was constructed at the Shahid Mahallati Shipyard in Bushehr. Satellite imagery of its early construction emerged in March 2022, but few official details were released at the time.

Its predecessor, the Shahid Nazeri, commissioned in 2016, also featured a catamaran hull with widely spaced, narrow hulls, but the new vessel was larger, more robust, and designed to carry heavier armaments, according to The War Zone.

Design and features

The Soleimani-class ships are catamaran-style warships, which means they have two parallel hulls for stability, speed, and maneuverability in littoral environments. Iranian media described Shahid Soleimani as incorporating “radar-evading” or stealth-like design features aimed at reducing its radar signature, though independent verification of these claims is limited.The vessel is equipped with four domestically developed engines, allowing it quick deployment and extended endurance at sea.

Its larger hull compared to Shahid Nazeri also allows it to carry helicopters and fast-attack boats from a stern ramp, acting as a command-and-control platform for coordinating smaller IRGCN vessels and unmanned systems.

Armament and combat systems

According to Iranian media PressTV, Shahid Soleimani was the first IRGCN ship to feature a vertical launch system (VLS). Six VLS cells were visible in aerial photos during the ship’s unveiling, with additional covered areas possibly containing more missiles.

Iranian reports claim the VLS can fire surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) with a range of about 93 miles, potentially aligning with upgraded Sayyad SAM variants, reported TWZ.

Other reported weaponry includes:

Then Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, told PressTV:“This is the Islamic Republic of Iran’s first domestically-developed warship which is equipped with the vertical launch, short-range and medium-range air defense systems.

The ship’s combat system is powered by indigenous software designed with the ability to detect different types of targets and assign them to the ship’s weapons.”

Operational role

Soleimani-class corvettes were primarily designed for coastal combat and asymmetric warfare, protecting and coordinating smaller IRGCN speedboats in the Persian Gulf. Their combination of missile systems, helicopters, and drone capability allowed them to act as a floating command hub, extending Iran’s reach and providing enhanced firepower compared to the IRGCN’s smaller vessels.These vessels also had a littoral strike function, meaning they could operate in shallow waters and near ports while projecting anti-ship and air defense capabilities. The ability to carry fast-attack boats and drones increased their versatility in coordinating swarm tactics—an IRGCN hallmark in past close encounters with US naval forces.

Destruction by US strikes

Despite their advanced capabilities, all four Soleimani-class corvettes have reportedly been destroyed by the US military. Footage reviewed by The War Zone shows the Shahid Sayyad Shirazi (FS313-03), another ship in the class, on fire after being struck by a US Navy torpedo, the first torpedo kill by the US since World War II. Smoke and missile launch trails are visible in the footage, though it is unclear whether the vessel attempted to retaliate.Earlier US strikes on Bandar Abbas, Iran’s main naval base on the Strait of Hormuz, appear to have also destroyed other Soleimani-class corvettes, two frigates, and a Kilo-class submarine, further degrading Iran’s naval capabilities.

Significance

The destruction of the Soleimani-class warships represents a major setback for the IRGCN. These vessels were among the most sophisticated in the fleet, combining surface-to-air and anti-ship missile systems, helicopters, drones, and command-and-control capabilities. Their loss reduces Iran’s ability to operate in the Persian Gulf with coordinated naval assets, while also weakening its asymmetric maritime strategy.While their operational effectiveness in combat have been debated, the Soleimani-class ships were symbols of Iran’s efforts to enhance its naval power and challenge US and allied forces in the Gulf. Their destruction reflects the rapid escalation of conflict and the vulnerability of even the most advanced IRGCN assets in the face of US strikes.