This report was submitted to the Israeli military censor, who ordered substantial changes and deletions. With a crew of 35, the Dolphin has enough range to sneak undetected into ports as far away as the Persian Gulf, send frogmen to plant mines and destroy ships.
Foreign experts say they can be replaced by small cruise missiles carrying nuclear warheads.
Analyst Yiftah Shapir of the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University said he believes Israel will be able to fashion a nuclear warhead small enough to fit the Dolphin. If Israel were attacked with nuclear weapons, missiles aboard the Dolphin would be unharmed and ready for retaliation, according to foreign weapons experts. With Iran and Iraq trying to acquire nuclear weapons, Israel saw the need for a second-strike capability, the experts said. The Israeli military and the government don't talk about the subject. The mood was festive today as the Israeli navy and Israeli Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ehud Barak greeted the Dolphin about 12 miles off the northern port of Haifa.