The Persian Gulf and nearby areas

[Pelican]

Iran says forced US submarine to surface in Gulf, US denies - https://english.alarabiya.net/News/midd ... ulf-Report - LFT

Unmanned Surface Vessel Transits Strait of Hormuz with U.S. Coast Guard - https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News- ... ast-guard/

[Pelican]

Royal, US and French Navies complete major minehunting workout in Gulf

https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... ut-in-gulf

[Pelican]

British warships take part in Gulf minehunting exercise

Naval forces from the United Kingdom, France, and the United States participated in the biennial mine warfare exercise, Artemis Trident, to enhance their minehunting capabilities in the Gulf.
The exercise aimed to improve the coordination and expertise of these forces, combining state-of-the-art and traditional minehunting methods.
Continues at - https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/british ... -exercise/

[Pelican]

Iran seizes oil tanker in Gulf, U.S. Navy says

Iran seized a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman in international waters on Thursday, the U.S. Navy said, the latest in a series of seizures or attacks on commercial vessels in sensitive Gulf waters since 2019.

Iran's army said it had seized a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman after it collided with an Iranian boat, injuring several crewmen, Iranian state media reported.
See - https://www.reuters.com/world/us-navy-s ... 023-04-27/

[Pelican]

Another oil tanker captured by Iran yesterday.

IRGCN fast-attack craft swarmed Panama-flagged oil tanker MV Niovi in the Strait of Hormuz, forcing the merchant vessel to reverse course into Iranian territorial waters during an unlawful seizure.
USN video - https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/ ... 0359419907

[Pelican]

Destroyer USS McFaul Prevents Iran From Seizing Tankers in Gulf of Oman

See - https://www.oldsaltblog.com/2023/07/des ... more-60654

And - https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstor ... ys/story/-

[Pelican]

The US Navy and Marines will soon shut down Iran’s new Tanker War

Nutcracker rather than sledgehammer. What a good idea - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/0 ... it-hormuz/

[Pelican]

Watch: Iran Army Keeps An Eye On U.S Warship in Indian Ocean for 24 Hours

Iran’s Fars News Agency disclosed on Tuesday that an American Arleigh Burke-class destroyer had been successfully attacked by the Ababil (Flock of Birds)-V drone in the northern segment of the body of water.

Before beginning the surveillance operation against the US vessel, the plane is said to have taken off from a base on the Iranian island of Jask.

The unmanned aerial vehicle body of the Ababil class may absorb radar signals, making it difficult for reconnaissance equipment to detect it.

Continues at - https://www.marineinsight.com/videos/wa ... -24-hours/ - Note - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JftZMjh3RZQ&t=2s

[Pelican]

Navy Lookout

Iran appears to be converting a merchant ship to a UAV/drone carrier complete with 60m ski-ramp.
GEOINT analysis of Iran Shipbuilding and Off-Shore Industries construction area on 24 October 2023, revealed progress to convert a former cargo ship (Perarin) into an aircraft carrier.

See - https://twitter.com/AllSourceA/status/1 ... 39/photo/1

[Pelican]

HMS Diamond sent to the Gulf in response to rising tension in the Middle East

HMS Diamond will join US warships deployed in the Persian Gulf region as the risk of conflict and the threat to merchant shipping increases. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has said “it’s critical the UK bolsters our presence in the region”.

When Hamas attacked Israel on 7th October it reignited tensions in the Middle East that had been lessening. Hamas is financed, backed and controlled by Iran which is also arming Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Houthis have carried out a series of attacks on merchant shipping and tried, but failed several times to hit US warships in the Red Sea. Iran can also threaten the whole Gulf and disrupt much of the flow of oil and gas from the region, should it lay mines or attack vessels which are especially vulnerable in the Strait of Hormuz.

The US Navy had not sent an aircraft carrier into the Gulf for several years but this week the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group passed through the Strait, sending a clear message to Iran. Besides the carrier, the escorts comprise of a cruiser and 2 destroyers; USS Philippine Sea, USS Mason and USS Gravely, a noticeably smaller group than the USN has fielded in the past. Also participating is the French frigate FS Languedoc. HMS Lancaster is available to contribute as she is permanently based in Bahrain along with RN mine warfare assets and support ship RFA Cardigan Bay.

The despatch of HMS Diamond is a significant statement of UK support for the US actions to deter Iran. The USN also has very high regard for the air defence capabilities of the Type 45 although it is unclear exactly what role she will play. If she does not enter the Gulf, she could be employed to protect merchant vessels in the Red Sea or the Gulf of Aden. The MoD says she is being deployed to help ensure the freedom of navigation of merchant vessels, around a hundred of which pass through the Strait of Hormuz on a typical day.

The Iranians have invested increasingly in UAVs, USVs, swarms of fast attack craft and mini-submarines. They are currently converting a merchant vessel into a large drone carrier complete with a ski ramp. The multi-faceted threat posed by missiles and non-conventional weapons and platforms in the Persian Gulf has never been more complex. There will be little opportunity for the carrier strike group to relax in such a demanding environment and relatively confined waters. Iran will, however, be forced to think twice about any further attempts to enflame conflict in the Middle East.

Continues at - https://www.navylookout.com/hms-diamond ... ddle-east/