October 13, 2024: The Persian Gulf nation of Qatar has ordered several M23 class miniature submarines from an Italian firm. These boats are 23 meters long and five meters wide. They can dive to a depth of 200 meters. Top speed is 21 kilometers an hour submerged. There is a crew of six and room for another six people, who are usually naval commandos. There is a special exit hatch for the commandos, who can leave the sub while it is submerged. Equipped with individual breathing equipment, the commandos can swim to shore to carry out their mission. The sub can later retrieve these men. The M23 is armed with two torpedo tubes carrying standard 21 inch torpedoes but no reloads. The torpedo tubes can also carry naval mines and other types of naval munitions.

The M23 is similar to miniature subs built and used by Iran and North Korea. For example, the North Korean Sang-O-class submarine is a coastal submarine used for reconnaissance and landing commandos in places like South Korea without being noticed. North Korea carried out these secret missions dozens of times. In 1996 one of these subs ran aground in South Korea and was captured. Crews of these subs were ordered to commit suicide rather than be captured. Not all stranded crewmen did so.

With a displacement of 275 tons, Sang-O’s are 34 meters long with a crew of fifteen, and are armed with four torpedo tubes loaded with torpedoes and no reloads. There is a snorkel device that allows the sub to cruise a few meters beneath the surface while taking in fresh aid and expelling diesel engine fumes that, in large concentrations, can kill the crew. These subs can carry four or five naval commandos who can be put ashore or retrieved after reconnaissance or sabotage missions