Pete Hegseth’s assertion that the United States sank the first enemy ship with a torpedo since World War Two has been deemed inaccurate. The US defense secretary announced that an American submarine had sunk an “Iranian warship” in the Indian Ocean on Tuesday night, claiming it as “the first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War Two.”
However, historical records show that the British nuclear-powered submarine, armed with Tigerfish torpedoes, sank the Argentine cruiser ARA General Belgrano during the Falklands War in 1982. Confirming the recent incident, Hegseth stated that the Iranian navy now lies at the bottom of the Persian Gulf, emphasizing its complete destruction.
According to Commander Buddhika Sampath of the Sri Lanka Navy, more than 87 individuals aboard the Iranian vessel have been confirmed dead, with Sri Lankan authorities recovering their bodies and rescuing 32 survivors. Professor Anthony Glees of the University of Buckingham’s Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies highlighted other instances in modern history where submarines sank ships using torpedoes.
Glees criticized Hegseth for his lack of knowledge regarding such pivotal events, particularly citing the sinking of the General Belgrano by the British submarine HMS Conqueror in 1982. He also mentioned two other cases involving submarines sinking ships, underscoring the respect owed to those who lost their lives in such incidents.
Expressing disappointment in Hegseth’s remarks, Glees emphasized that members of the armed forces typically mourn the loss of lives in warfare and condemned any glorification of violence.
