U.S. Submarine Sinks Iranian Warship In First Torpedo Attack Since WWII, Unclassified Footage Released

The U.S. military is officially back and stronger than ever under the leadership of President Trump.

On Wednesday, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that a U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship with a torpedo.

The feat by the U.S. Navy submarine is quite remarkable.

Considering the last time a U.S. submarine took out an enemy warship with a torpedo was during WWII

Watch Hegseth make the announcement here:

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth confirms that Iranian Frigate IRIS Dena was sunk by a US submarine using a torpedo in international waters off Sri Lanka. “First sinking of an enemy ship by the US using a torpedo since WW2", Hegseth addressing a press conference.

There were… pic.twitter.com/FQfU4usC35

— Dinakar Peri (@dperi84) March 4, 2026

The Military Times reported more on the historic move:

A United States Navy submarine sunk an Iranian ship with a single torpedo as the frigate was transiting the Indian Ocean, marking the first such kill by a U.S. submarine since World War II, the Pentagon confirmed on Wednesday.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the strike during a Pentagon press briefing on Operation Epic Fury alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine.

“Yesterday, in the Indian Ocean … an American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters,” Hegseth said. “Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo. Quiet death. The first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II.”

The identity of the fast-attack boat was not revealed, as is custom for operational security surrounding submarine operations.

The strike occurred off the southern coast of Sri Lanka, according to Reuters, which would indicate the action occurred in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility.

Video of the torpedo striking the Iranian warship was released by the Department of War.

Watch here:

https://t.co/PiqQpVIrMu pic.twitter.com/Wc1e0B0um7

— Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) March 4, 2026

Still photos:

https://t.co/J4grAgoqxc pic.twitter.com/szOofLkh9W

— Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) March 4, 2026

General Dan Razin Caine also gave comments on the torpedo attack:

General Dan Razin Caine lays out the SUCCESS of Operation Epic Fury: “We’ve destroyed more than 20 Iranian naval vessels… For the first time since 1945, a United States Navy fast attack submarine has sunk an enemy combatant ship using a single Mark 48 (Mk-48) torpedo to achieve… pic.twitter.com/J0WpBr0Olx

— RedWave Press (@RedWavePress) March 4, 2026

Watch the full Department of War press briefing on U.S. military operations in Iran here:

LIVE: @SecWar and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, hold a press briefing at the Pentagon. https://t.co/0NijeaLSOO

— Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) March 4, 2026

How does that sound?