In one of the latest incidents in the waters of the Persian Gulf, the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Spruance used cannon fire to prevent the merchant vessel M/V Touska from breaking the maritime blockade that Washington is maintaining on Iran’s ports. The incident, disclosed yesterday by U.S. Central Command, ended with the ship being captured by a Marine boarding team.
According to details provided by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Spruance (DDG-111) intercepted the container ship M/V Touska “…as it transited the north Arabian Sea at 17 knots enroute to Bandar Abbas, Iran. American forces issued multiple warnings and informed the Iranian-flagged vessel it was in violation of the U.S. blockade…”
The incident lasted for six hours, during which the destroyer USS Spruance repeatedly issued warnings to the Iranian-flagged merchant vessel. Once that stage was exhausted, the U.S. Navy destroyer ordered the crew of the M/V Touska to evacuate the engine room. “…Spruance disabled Touska’s propulsion by firing several rounds from its 5-inch Mk 45 gun into the engine room…”*
In the video released by CENTCOM, USS Spruance can be seen firing at least three rounds from its main gun at the Iranian merchant ship. However, the sequence did not clearly show the consequences of the impacts, which reportedly forced the container ship to halt. Subsequently, personnel from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit boarded the vessel, which remains in U.S. custody according to Central Command.
The actions by the U.S. Navy came after several incidents were recorded in recent days in the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, clashes in which Iran’s Armed Forces attacked various merchant ships transiting through the Strait of Hormuz.
Maritime blockade remains in effect
The use of cannon fire from a U.S. Navy ship is a clear demonstration of Washington’s determination to maintain the maritime blockade against Iran’s ports in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The decision to uphold this posture remains in place after back-and-forth developments regarding the restoration of naval transit through the Strait of Hormuz, a measure that had initially reportedly been agreed upon following the latest negotiations between Iran and the United States.
For CENTCOM, “…U.S. forces acted deliberately, professionally, and proportionately to enforce the blockade…” The recent encounter between the destroyer USS Spruance and the M/V Touska, which ended with cannon fire and capture, was the first time the U.S. Armed Forces had to resort to weapons to enforce the blockade.
Since Washington announced this measure against Iran, U.S. forces have ordered 25 merchant ships “…to turn around or return to an Iranian port…” CENTCOM added in its statement.
For its part, USS Spruance is part of the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) Carrier Strike Group. The destroyer is one of more than 10 Arleigh Burke-class ships currently deployed in Central Command’s area of responsibility, units that operate independently or as part of carrier escorts.
Illustrative cover image. Credits: U.S. Navy – Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kassandra Alanis
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