The Israeli Navy is preparing to receive its fourth Dolphin-class
submarine by training a larger number of combat submarine crewmen and
marine commando forces. The IDF Website quoted a reliable Navy source
as saying approximately 10% more submarine crewmen will be trained at
first.
Approximately two weeks ago, Israel Navy Submarine Tanin (Crocodile)
was launched in the city of Kiel, Germany and officially handed over
to the Ministry of Defense and the Israeli Navy.
"The submarine is currently undergoing tests, which only a limited
number of officers participate in," an Israeli Navy official told the
IDF website. Once the testing phase is complete, a team of Israeli
combat soldiers will take command of the submarine in German waters.
It will most likely arrive in Israel in 2013 and will join the
current IDF submarine fleet. The new submarine is considered to be
one of the most advanced and versatile in the world, capable of
adapting to a wide variety of missions.
In order to attract more enlistees to the submarine force, the IDF
plans to open a submarine youth track as part of the Gadna – a pre-
military program that introduces high school aged youth to the
military.
The INS Tanin and two additional submarines that have been ordered
will double the number of existing Israeli submarines.
