--- title: "Iranian Speed Boat Swarm Harasses American Naval Ships At Very Close Range In Persian Gulf" description: "The Iranian boats brazenly swarmed the U.S. Navy's giant sea base, destroyers, and smaller patrol ships, including two Coast Guard vessels." date: "2020-04-15" modified: "2020-04-16" authors: - name: "Joseph Trevithick" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick" url: "https://www.twz.com/33033/iranian-speed-boat-swarm-harasses-american-naval-ships-at-very-close-range-in-persian-gulf" categories: - "Around The Globe" - "Cyclone Class" - "Iran" - "Middle East" - "Navies" - "News & Features" - "Patrol Boats" - "Persian Gulf" - "Sea" - "U.S. Navy" tags: - "AH-64E Apache" - "Arabian Gulf" - "boat swarms" - "Cyclone class" - "Iran" - "IRGCN" - "Island class" - "persian gulf" - "US Army" - "USCG" - "USN" - "USS Lewis B. Puller" - "USS Paul Hamilton" --- # Iranian Speed Boat Swarm Harasses American Naval Ships At Very Close Range In Persian Gulf ![]() *www.twz.com* The U.S. Navy has released video and pictures of Iranian [speedboat-type craft]() harassing its ships, including the expeditionary sea base [USS *Lewis B. Puller*](), as well as vessels from the U.S. Coast Guard, in the Persian Gulf. Approximately 11 of the watercraft, belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, swarmed the group of vessels, which were training [with U.S. Army AH-64E]() Apache attack helicopters at the time. https://youtube.com/embed/wKdMXIZanNE The incident took place on Apr. 15, 2020 in international waters, [according to a statement]() from U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, or NAVCENT. In addition to *Puller*, the *Arleigh Burke* class destroyer USS *Paul Hamilton*, the *Cyclone* class patrol craft USS *Firebolt* and USS *Sirocco*, and the *Island* class patrol cutters USCGC *Wrangell* and USCGC *Maui* were also on the scene at the time. "The IRGCN \[Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy\] vessels repeatedly crossed the bows and sterns of the U.S. vessels at extremely close range and high speeds, including multiple crossings of the *Puller* with a 50 yard closest point of approach (CPA) and within 10 yards of *Maui*'s bow," according to NACVENT's statement. "The U.S. crews issued multiple warnings via bridge-to-bridge radio, five short blasts from the ships' horns and [long-range acoustic noise maker]() devices, but received no response from the IRGCN." ![message-editor%2F1586988224383-1.jpg]() *Iranian speedboats circling around the USS *Lewis B. Puller* on Apr. 15, 2020., *USN** ![message-editor%2F1586988229527-2.jpg]() **USN** ![message-editor%2F1586988239912-4.jpg]() **USN** ![message-editor%2F1586988256351-5.jpg]() **USN** ![message-editor%2F1586988272121-3.jpg]() *One of the US Coast Guard's *Island* class cutters, possibly the USCGC *Maui*, encircled by Iranian speedboats., *USN** ![message-editor%2F1586988281776-6.jpg]() **USN** ![message-editor%2F1586988287729-7.jpg]() **USN** ![message-editor%2F1586988299929-8.jpg]() *An Iranian speedboat circles around the *Arleigh Burke* class destroyer USS *Paul Hamilton*., *USN** ![message-editor%2F1586988306614-9.jpg]() **USN** ![message-editor%2F1586988315002-10.jpg]() **USN** "After approximately one hour, the IRGCN vessels responded to the bridge-to-bridge radio queries, then maneuvered away from the U.S. ships and opened distance between them," the statement continued. "The IRGCN's dangerous and provocative actions increased the risk of miscalculation and collision, were not in accordance with the internationally recognized Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) 'rules of the road' or internationally recognized maritime customs, and were not in accordance with the obligation under international law to act with due regard for the safety of other vessels in the area." ![message-editor%2F1586988322655-11.jpg]() *It's unclear if this image just has a processing error or if the foreground was redacted for some reason., *USN** ![message-editor%2F1586988330189-12.jpg]() **USN** ![message-editor%2F1586988337791-13.jpg]() **USN** ![message-editor%2F1586988342747-14.jpg]() **USN** As the Navy notes, in addition to the simple danger of collisions with the Iranian boats as they went speeding around the American vessels, the provocative maneuvers raised the risk of dangerous miscalculations as they are what one might expect to see in a swarming boat attack. In December 2019, Iranian media claimed to have successfully challenged the *Nimitz* class aircraft carrier USS *Abraham Lincoln* and other ships from her strike group as they passed through the highly strategic Strait of Hormuz. The Navy subsequently confirmed to [*The War Zone*]() that a large number of its boats had sailed near the ships during the transit, but said that this was "within normal behavior patterns for Iran." The reason why Army Apaches train to operate from ships like *Puller*, in the first place, is, in part, to be able to respond to exactly these kinds of attacks. You can read more about this Army-Navy training, which has been going on since March, in this [recent *War Zone* piece](). In March, an Air Force AC-130W Stinger II gunship also took part [in a training exercise]() with Navy ships and aircraft in the Persian Gulf, again specifically to work on tactics, techniques, and procedures to respond to small boat attacks. Air Force A-10 Warthog attack aircraft [have regularly trained]() in the past to perform similar maritime missions and, last year, the [*War Zone* first reported]() on photos showing that service's F-15E Strike Eagles carrying cluster munitions, an ideal weapon for engaging boat swarms, while on patrol over the Persian Gulf. https://youtube.com/embed/2bTdPtPDSJU The threat of Iranian small boat attacks, or the IRGC using those craft to conduct hostile boardings, is very real. There were unconfirmed reports that the IRGC had briefly seized the Hong Kong-flagged tanker *SC Taipei* in the Gulf of Oman [just yesterday](). Armed men reportedly board that ship and directed it to move to an area close to the Iranian coast, before releasing it later in the day. At the time of writing, no group has claimed responsibility for the incident and there is no official word from the owners or operators of the *SC Taipei*, or international maritime organizations, as to who carried out the boarding operation. In July 2019, the IRGC [notably seized control]() of the British-flagged oil tanker *Stena Impero* in response to the United Kingdom detaining one of Iranian supertanker. This was just one of a number of ships [Iran seized last year](). The U.S. government has also blamed the regime in Tehran for [a string of attacks]() on commercial oil tankers. https://youtube.com/embed/jzHyWWaII4w Iran has [a long history]() of harassing U.S. military vessels, specifically, in the Persian Gulf, as well, but reported incidents had notably dropped off in recent years. Since tensions first spiked between the United States and Iran in May 2019, however, there has been an increase in various forms of Iranian provocations throughout the region, including in the Gulf of Oman, as well. This included [the IRGC's shootdown]() of a Navy RQ-4A Global Hawk drone over the Gulf of Oman last June, which was followed by U.S. Marines aboard the *Wasp* class amphibious assault ship USS *Boxe*r bringing [down an Iranian drone]() in the highly strategic [Strait of Hormuz]() the following month. This is not to mention a host of incidents on land throughout the Middle East over the past 18 months that the United States blames Iran or its regional proxies. This includes unprecedented suicide [drone and cruise missile]() strikes on Saudi Arabian oil infrastructure in September 2019 and the equally unprecedented [Iranian ballistic missile strikes]() aimed at U.S. forces in Iraq in January 2020. The latter was in retaliation for the U.S. government's decision to kill [Iranian General Qasem Soleimani]() in Baghdad that same month. Iranian proxies in Iraq continue to launch their own rocket attacks, which have been a regular occurrence in Iraq for months, [provoking American counterattacks](). It's unclear what has necessarily provoked this latest incident between U.S. and Iranian forces, but it comes as the United States has continued its campaign of maximum pressure against the regime in Tehran. This includes crippling sanctions, the impacts of which have been [even more pronounced]() in recent months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This virus has hit Iran particularly hard and the country has experienced trouble securing medical and other aid due to U.S. and international sanctions. The pandemic has also reportedly increased criticism of the regime within Iran and [experts have warned]() that this could drive authorities in Tehran to seek drastic ways to distract from a domestic situation. Whatever the case, the incident clearly shows that tensions, as well as the risk of conflict, between the United States and Iran remain high, even amidst the pandemic. We will continue to update this story as more information becomes available. *Contact the author: joe@thedrive.com* ## Author Joseph is *TWZ’s* Deputy Editor, helping to oversee the site’s highly experienced and dedicated team, while also writing informative and impactful defense and national security content. He lives right in the thick of it in the Washington, D.C. area. ### Author social links [Twitter]() [Bluesky]()