Iran Disrupts Tankers, US Sends Destroyer Prepared To Anticipate Russian Submarines To The Gulf: Equipped With 96 Missiles

JAKARTA - The United States Navy deployed guided-missile destroyers into the Gulf, amid rising tensions with Iran in the region.

The US Naval Forces Central Command (US 5th Fleet) said on Twitter the deployment of the latest warships was intended "to help ensure regional maritime security and stability".

"The guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) arrived in the Middle East operating area after transiting the Suez Canal, July 14," the 5th Fleet wrote on Twitter, as quoted July 18.

"Thomas Hudner supports the US 5th Fleet to help ensure regional maritime security and stability," the tweet continued.

Earlier this month, the US Navy said it had prevented Iran from confiscating two tankers, releasing footage from drones intended to show an Iranian warship firing at one of the ships.

One of the tankers, the tracking Voyager, suffered minor damage to its hull, reported by The National News July 18.

The US Navy said another Marshall Islands-flagged tanker TRF Moss was disrupted by Iranian warships until a US guided-missile destroyer, USS McFaul (DDG-74) approached the two ships.

📸: Guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) arrives in the Middle East operating area upon transiting the Suez Canal, July 14. Thomas Hudner is supporting U.S. 5th Fleet to help ensure regional maritime security and stability. pic.twitter.com/tphihpcZ51

— U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet (@US5thFleet) July 16, 2023

: Guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) arrives in the Middle East operating area upon transiting the Suez Canal, July 14. Thomas Hudner is supporting US 5th Fleet to help ensure regional maritime security and stability. pic.twitter.com/tphihpcZ51

It said the two tanker incidents occurred in Oman Bay.

Earlier, a spate of confiscations and military attacks against commercial shipments took place in Gulf waters this year, including the seizure of two tankers, one of which headed for Texas, within a week in May.

Despite the relative frequency this year, attacks on ships in the region were more aggressive last year, with two incidents using attack drones, the first hitting an oil tanker in July, killing two sailors when the explosive drone flew into a crew compartment.

In November, Singapore-flagged M/T Pacific Zircon suffered minor damage when attacked by drones. It said the two tankers were linked to an Israeli-owned company.

Last April, Washington made a rare announcement, calling one of its most formidable submarines, the USS Florida (SSGN-728), a nuclear-powered Ohio-class submarine capable of carrying 154 cruise missiles, will be deployed to the region.

Last month, the US sent F-16 fighter jets to strengthen its military presence in the region.

It is known that the USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) is equipped with 96 missiles of various types, including the Tomahawk cruise missile, anti-submarine and anti-aircraft patrols.

"In 2021, the United States Navy has formed a destroyer task force to anticipate Russian submarines in the Atlantic Ocean," the USNI News Institute of the Navy wrote.

"The ship will be ready to fulfill all types of assignments, including tracking Russia's underwater activities in the Atlantic and our country's defense", said the Commander of the US Navy's Atlantic Fleet Surface Ship, Rear Admiral Brendan McLane, citing RIA Novosti News Agency.

The task force group is called the 'Greyhound'. The group includes the two most efficient destroyers, the USS Thomas Hudner (DDG-116) and the USS Donald Cook (DDG-75). Both are included in the Arleigh Burke Class missile destroyer.