Iran
IMPERIAL IRANIAN NAVY HOVERCRAFTS
The history of the Imperial Iranian Havercraft Squadron back to 1968. On 29th July 1968 HIH Princess Shahnaz Pahlavi of Iran paid an official visit to East Cowes to inaugurate the Imperial Iranian Navy hovercraft squadron. She was taken in IIN 02 for a trial run.
Iran's hovercraft, which function primarily for amphibious assault and logistics support, represent the largest fleet of such vessels in the world. They give the navy unique maneuverability around the shallow shores of the Persian Gulf and were used successfully in the 1971 occupation of Abu Musa and the Tunbs islands. It was the first operational military use of these craft in the world.
The Imperial Iranian Navy had the largest havercraft squadron in the world. The Hovercraft squadron is based at Kharg Island