The global economy has been deprived of nearly 20% of its fuel supply due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has effectively shut this crucial waterway by threatening vessels that pass through the strait, which is only 39 kilometers wide at its narrowest point.
Iran's Kamikaze Boat Threat
Iran has threatened to deploy kamikaze or suicide boats to target ships, posing the gravest danger to international shipping attempting to traverse this vital maritime corridor. The United States has destroyed the vast majority of Iran's major naval combat vessels, including the sinking of the IRIS Dena and the Iranian drone carrier ship IRIS Shahid Bagheri. Consequently, Iran's physical control of the Strait of Hormuz now relies heavily on its extensive fleet of small mosquito boats, which are armed with rockets, missiles, heavy machine guns, and small automatic cannons. Iran has repeatedly showcased footage of numerous such boats stored in caves.
Recent Incidents and Countermeasures
To counter these gunboats, recent attacks have targeted Indian-flagged ships Sanmar Herald and Jag Arnav. Earlier this month, America's Central Command stated that it had destroyed six Iranian boats that threatened commercial shipping in the troubled strait. Targeting these small vessels has proven extremely difficult due to their size. The U.S. has deployed helicopters such as the Apache, MH-60 Seahawks, and AH-1Z Viper, along with A-10 ground attack aircraft and drones, to tackle this menace.
Unmanned Suicide Boats and Precedents
Given Iran's inability to exert full control over the Strait of Hormuz, it is highly likely that they will use unmanned suicide boats. Iran's proxy, the Houthis, were the first to employ these remote-controlled vessels against commercial ships sailing through the narrow Bab Al Mandeb, the waterway separating the Arabian Peninsula from Africa. The Houthis are believed to have first used these uncrewed boats against a Saudi Al Madinah-class frigate, with the Saudis claiming that three boats struck the warship.
In the Black Sea, Ukraine has also utilized small boats to confine the Russian fleet to its ports. Despite lacking a conventional navy, Ukraine has exerted significant control over the Black Sea against a prominent Russian naval presence, forcing Russia to divert considerable resources to safeguard its naval assets.
Advantages of Small Vessels
The primary advantage of these small vessels is their size. Designed without crew compartments, they sit very low in the water, blending in with waves both visually and on radar. Their small size, combined with high speed, makes them extremely difficult targets to hit in a moving sea. The threat of these boats has kept commercial shipping at bay for three months, and for good reason. These boats can carry hundreds of kilograms of explosives and, due to their design, strike a ship exactly at the waterline, causing instant flooding and catastrophic damage.
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