The Midget Submarines Used by Enemies of America

Published: June 15, 2024 by Liam Frady

Midget submarines are an interesting class of naval vessels. Submarines inspire fear in the waters, using the element of surprise. Midget submarines lack the operational range of their larger counterparts but can be just as devastating to encounter for a freight ship.

Yugo Class

*As with most North Korean equipment, it seems the heyday for its midget submarines is in the 1960s.*
©Katherine Welles/Shutterstock.com

Starting our list of midget submarines is the Yugo class. As you might have guessed from the name, these vessels were intended for foreign export. Instead, these North Korean submarines ended up serving domestically and in some foreign navies.

Yugo Class Naval Usage and Specs

*While the Yugo class is armed, it has no confirmed*
kills to its name.
©Sailor Imran/Shutterstock.com

Water displacement for the Yugo class comes in at 120 tons. Armament is typical for North Korean submarines, consisting of a pair of 533mm torpedo tubes. Current users included Vietnam, North Korea, and Cuba.

Yono Class

Interestingly, the Yono class is one of the more notorious midget submarines. One of these vessels sank a South Korean corvette in 2010. These are popular subs with client states. Original production began in 1965.

Yono Class Naval Usage and Specs

*Interestingly, the Yono class design doesn’t diverge much from the Yugo class.*
©Aleksandr Merkushev/Shutterstock.com

The Yono is in service with the North Korean navy. At 120 tons of water displacement, this isn’t atypical for a North Korean vessel. Further, the armament consists of a pair of 533mm torpedo tubes.

Ghadir Class

*Ghadir subs are among a fleet of other midget submarines fielded by Iran, however these vessels are used primarily for reconnaissance and patrol duty.*
©iStock.com/Derek Brumby

The Ghadir class takes direct inspiration from the North Korean Yugo class. An Iranian design, the Ghadir class operates in the Persian Gulf around shallow waters.

Ghadir Class Naval Usage and Specs

*No foreign exports of the Ghadir have occurred, however, they still serve in the Iranian navy.*
©"2012 Bandar Abbas new equipment induction ceremony - Ghadir-class submarine (19)" by Ebrahim Noroozi is licensed under BY 4.0. - Original / License

Ghadi class midget submarines are only in service with the Iranian navy. They displace around 125 tons and are armed with a pair of 533mm torpedo tubes.

Nahang Class

*Fascinatingly, Iran’s want for midget submarines seems at odds with its other ambitions as a military power.*
©iStock.com/NatanaelGinting

Iran’s interest in midget submarines dates back to the 1980s. As such, the Nahang class is an original design, meant to supplement older purchased models from the North Korean government.

Nahang Class Naval Usage and Specs

*The Nahang never went into mass production, however, it is probably for the best given its limited capabilities.*
©"Submarine Rising in Crete" by DVIDSHUB is licensed under BY 2.0. - Original / License

Only one prototype of the Nahang class was completed, so details are scant. However, it isn’t armed with sonar, at least from what can be surmised from technical documents. As it goes, it seems Iran would rather keep to the Ghadir class of vessels.