Iran Deploys Small Vessels to Disrupt Shipping in Strait of Hormuz

Iran has developed a naval strategy centered on small, fast vessels to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after U.S. and Israeli attacks destroyed much of its traditional fleet. The approach relies on dozens of small military boats armed with missiles, machine guns and drones.

These vessels operate in coordinated groups, enabling them to target large cargo ships carrying substantial loads. The tactic emerged after Iran's larger naval assets were largely eliminated. He added that small fast-attack boats were not viewed as a significant threat and therefore were not targeted.

Less than 10 days later, on April 22, Iranian forces using the small vessels seized two large container ships departing the Strait of Hormuz.

The small-boat fleet was first developed during the Iran-Iraq war to interfere with oil tankers supporting Iraq. Michael Eisenstadt, director of the Military and Security Studies Program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said the boats function similarly to U.S. torpedo squadrons used in World War II.

Eisenstadt stated that Iran possesses more than 1,000 of these vessels. They are armed with rockets, machine guns, anti-ship missiles and mines. Their effectiveness stems from operating in large numbers, which complicates efforts to counter them. In March, Iran demonstrated the capability by launching a few dozen drones against oil tankers and cargo ships in the Persian Gulf, according to Eisenstadt.

Combined with thousands of support drones, the fleet exceeds what is required to restrict passage through the strait, he said. The vessels' proximity to the waterway further aids these operations.