USS Charlotte crew awarded Navy Unit Commendation for reportedly sinking Iranian frigate

The crew of the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Charlotte has been awarded the Navy Unit Commendation by Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao for their role in Operation Epic Fury. In March 2026, the submarine reportedly achieved the first confirmed torpedo kill by a U.S. submarine since World War II, sinking the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena with an MK-48 torpedo in the Indian Ocean, 20 miles south of Sri Lanka. The vessel sank within minutes, killing an estimated 80 people, while 32 survivors were rescued. The last U.S. submarine to achieve a torpedo kill was the USS Torsk in August 1945. The award recognizes the crew's professionalism and dedication in combat operations during the early stages of the Iran war.