Navy comparison: Iran vs South Africa

Iran operates a fleet of 97 ships compared to 49 for South Africa. The fleet breakdown includes 6 vs 3 submarines, 1 vs 0 aircraft carriers, 7 vs 4 frigates, 9 vs 0 corvettes, 24 vs 0 amphibious ships, 21 vs 33 patrol boats, 1 vs 2 mine warfare ships (Iran vs South Africa). Iran's navy is officially the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy, while South Africa's is the South African Navy.

Islamic Republic of Iran Navy 🇮🇷

Official Name Islamic Republic of Iran Navy
Total ships 97 as of 2025
Active ships 97 as of 2025
Naval Ensign

Ensign of Iran navy

South African Navy 🇿🇦

Official Name South African Navy
Total ships 49 as of 2025
Active ships 49 as of 2025
Naval Ensign

Iranian ships by category

Ship category Total
Submarines 6
Aircraft carriers 1
Destroyers 0
Cruisers 0
Frigates 7
Corvettes 9
Coastal boats 0
Patrol boats 21
Amphibious ships 24
Mine Warfare ships 1
Cargo ships 0
Support ships 17
Other ships 11

South African ships by category

Ship category Total
Submarines 3
Aircraft carriers 0
Destroyers 0
Cruisers 0
Frigates 4
Corvettes 0
Coastal boats 0
Patrol boats 33
Amphibious ships 0
Mine Warfare ships 2
Cargo ships 0
Support ships 7
Other ships 0

Ship Categories Radar Comparison

Frequently Asked Questions

Which country has more naval ships, Iran or South Africa?
Iran has a larger navy with 97 ships compared to South Africa's 49 ships.
Which navy has more submarines, Iran or South Africa?
Iran operates more submarines with 6 compared to South Africa's 3.
Which country has more aircraft carriers, Iran or South Africa?
Iran has 1 aircraft carrier(s) compared to South Africa's 0.
Which navy has more frigates, Iran or South Africa?
Iran operates 7 frigates compared to South Africa's 4.
How do the Iran and South Africa navies compare in size?
Iran's navy is 2.0 times larger than South Africa's in terms of total ships (97 vs 49).