# Iran is building a supercarrier! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 12, 2014, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-is-building-a-supercarrier/688283 "2014-05-12T15:54:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-is-building-a-supercarrier/688283/1 "2014-05-12T15:54:46Z")
No, not really…they are building a [mock up](http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2014/03/21/why-is-iran-building-giant-mock-up-of-u-s-aircraft-carrier/) of one of the US’s supercarriers. > [@](#): > > Why is Iran building giant mock-up of U.S. aircraft carrier? > > By Laura Koran > > Amid ongoing high-level diplomatic talks between the United States and Iran, it’s a symbol of underlying mistrust. > > Commercial satellite images obtained by CNN reveal that Iran is constructing a large-scale replica of a U.S. military aircraft carrier, complete with fake U.S-style airplanes, near the southern port city of Bandar Abbas. > The mock supercarrier seems to have been modeled off of an American Nimitz-class (CVN 68) carrier, down to the number “68” painted on the flight deck, though its intended use remains a mystery. > > According to one U.S. official, the mock-up is more akin to a Hollywood set than an actual warship. > > The U.S. government does not believe the carrier is functional, or that Iran is even capable of building an aircraft carrier. I figure the speculation that they plan to use it for target practice (maybe by [this](http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2013/02/08/irans-newest-warplane-something-from-gi-joe/), or [these](http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/09/28/iran-unveils-squadrons-of-flying-boats/) while watching it with [this](http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/12/world/meast/iran-u-s-drone-copy/index.html?hpt=hp_c3)) is probably the correct answer, but it seems awfully big (and expensive) just for a propaganda video. Those wild and crazy Iranian’s! What will they think of next? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-is-building-a-supercarrier/688283/2 "2014-05-12T16:06:50Z")
The US doesn’t believe Iran is capable of building an aircraft carrier? I find it hard to believe any American official would say something that silly. Aircraft carriers are not cutting edge technology. I’m sure Iran could build one if it wished. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-is-building-a-supercarrier/688283/3 "2014-05-12T16:12:16Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The US doesn’t believe Iran is capable of building an aircraft carrier? I find it hard to believe any American official would say something that silly. Aircraft carriers are not cutting edge technology. I’m sure Iran could build one if it wished. Um…I think it’s more difficult (and expensive) than you think it is. China is trying to build a carrier fleet, and actually has (IIRC) 2 home grown carriers laid down and under construction, but thus far all they have sort of at sea is an old re-tread Soviet carrier that they bought for scrap and then restored and are using for training their crews. And China is an economic superpower. Iran…not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-is-building-a-supercarrier/688283/4 "2014-05-12T16:32:18Z")
Also, actual use of an aircraft carrier to take off and land airplanes is not easy, requiring specially trained crews, both on the ship and in the planes. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-is-building-a-supercarrier/688283/5 "2014-05-12T16:58:02Z")
Maybe their practicing building a carrier for when they get around to doing it for real. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-is-building-a-supercarrier/688283/6 "2014-05-12T17:13:46Z")
Well, two possibilities come to mind. Either they’re training to take over a carrier in case things go pair-shaped in the Middle East, or they’re doing some kind of Steven Segal sort o f propaganda film – Under Siege in reverse, where the people taking over the carrier are the the good guys. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-is-building-a-supercarrier/688283/7 "2014-05-12T18:32:13Z")
They (Iran) really missed an opportunity here. They should have built a mockup of a [Helicarrier](http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/11115/111152652/3698046-2340041-shield.jpg) instead. That would have really gotten the intelligence services going.