The Israeli Navy's new submarine, the INS Tanin, was due to dock Tuesday in the Haifa Port. On Sunday, the submarine took part in a memorial ceremony at sea for the 69 crew members of the INS Dakar. The ceremony took place some 500 kilometers (311 miles) off the coast of Israel at the spot where the Dakar disappeared in January 1968. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz took part in the event, along with Commander of the Israeli Navy Vice Adm. Ram Rothberg. "Its story is the story of the Navy, which is still being written by the activity of the Israeli Navy commander and his soldiers. More than four decades have passed since the INS Dakar's last deployment, and the purpose for which the submarine's fighters and commanders left the Gibraltar Port for the coast of Israel remains the same, even if the threats have changed," Gantz said. "You are now equipped with the latest tools, with the most advanced technology and the best means. The mission is the same one that the Dakar submariners were sent on, and the responsibility is the same -- to protect the coast of Israel, its maritime space, and to work together with the rest of the IDF to achieve the goals necessary to Israel's security," the Israel Defense Forces chief continued. Rothberg said that "the INS Tanin has deep ties to the Dakar, which is resting on the bottom of the sea. Ties of those who continue its work. I am making a commitment to continue what [they] did not finish. We will guard, protect, and operate on every enemy coast and will fight with all our spirit for our home, for the state of Israel." After the speeches, Gantz, Rothberg, and the commander of the submarine fleet threw wreaths on the water in memory of the Dakar crew. For most of its 4,000-mile journey, the INS Tanin was submerged. After leaving northern Germany, it traveled from the North Sea into the Atlantic and through the Strait of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean Sea. The voyage did not include any stops, a testimony to the submarine's ability to stay submerged for long periods. When the Tanin pulls into the Haifa port, it will be welcomed in an official ceremony. The Tanin was originally supposed to be delivered to Israel last year. While it was certified as fully operational in Germany and a senior Israeli Navy official confirmed on Sunday that it was a "fully operational submarine in every aspect," the Tanin still needs to be outfitted with Israeli systems, a process expected to take several months. The arrival in Israel of the Tanin marks the culmination of a seven-year joint submarine project between Israel and Germany. A fifth submarine Israel purchased, the Rahav, is scheduled to arrive in Israel in approximately six months. In February 2013, then-Defense Minister Ehud Barak signed an agreement for the construction and delivery of a sixth submarine, which has yet to be named. It is slated for delivery in 2019. The Dolphin-class submarine is considered a versatile vessel with varied capabilities that make it adaptable to different types of missions. A Dolphin-class submarine is 68 meters long and weighs 2,300 tons. It can dive to a depth of over 200 meters and costs around $500,000. The submarine is propelled by an air-independent propulsion system and carries an extra fuel tank that allows it to stay submerged for extended periods.
Credit: IDF Spokesperson's Unit
"Here, in the open sea, we are lowering anchor, stopping and meeting a new naval power on its way to its home port on the coast of Israel. Without a doubt, this new power, both operational and strategic, is extremely important to the state of Israel, the IDF, and the Israeli Navy," Gantz said.
