A rare use of a naval deck gun
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance opened fire on the Iranian cargo ship Touska on April 19 with its 5-inch MK 45 deck gun, according to The War Zone. The report described the action as an unusually rare modern instance of a U.S. warship striking another vessel with a deck gun.
A U.S. Navy official told the outlet that the last known clear case of a Navy ship firing its deck gun at another ship occurred on April 18, 1988, during Operation Praying Mantis. That operation also involved U.S. and Iranian forces in the Persian Gulf region.
Historical parallel
The earlier incident involved U.S. ships firing on the Iranian Kaman-class fast attack ship IRIS Joshan. The U.S. ships identified in the report included the guided-missile cruiser USS Wainwright, destroyer escort USS Bagley, and guided-missile frigate USS Simpson.
Those ships were part of what was then known as Surface Action Group Charlie. The engagement occurred during Operation Praying Mantis, which followed the USS Samuel B. Roberts striking an Iranian mine.
The broader context was Operation Earnest Will, a U.S. effort that began in 1987 as attacks on merchant shipping increased during the later stages of the Iran-Iraq War. The operation included reflagging Kuwaiti oil tankers under the U.S. flag so they could be escorted by U.S. Navy ships.
Why the strike stands out
Modern surface combatants carry a range of missiles, sensors, and electronic systems, making ship-to-ship gunfire far less common than in earlier naval eras. That is why the USS Spruance incident is notable: it brings a legacy weapon system into a contemporary operational setting.
The report does not establish broader operational conclusions beyond the specific engagement. But the rarity alone makes the event significant for observers of naval tactics, escalation management, and U.S.-Iran military interactions.
This article is based on reporting by twz.com. Read the original article.
Originally published on twz.com
