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U.S. Navy Destroyer Fires Deck Gun at Iranian Ship for First Time in Nearly 40 Years
The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Spruance fired its deck gun at the Iranian cargo ship Touska on April 19, marking the first such incident since 1988. The event occurred near the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing tensions. The ship was seized after being damaged but did not sink.
Apr 21, 7:52 PM·2m read1 source
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The U.S. Navy reported that the guided missile destroyer USS Spruance fired its 5-inch MK 45 deck gun at the Iranian cargo ship Touska on April 19, 2026, in the Persian Gulf region. This action marked the first time in nearly 40 years that a Navy vessel has used its deck gun against another ship in combat.
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The incident involved the Touska attempting to evade a naval blockade on Iranian ports. The Touska, an unarmed civilian cargo vessel, sustained damage to its engine room from the gunfire. The ship did not sink and was subsequently boarded and seized by U.S. forces.
Video footage released by the Navy shows the moment of impact near the Strait of Hormuz.
A U.S. Navy official stated that the last confirmed instance of such an action occurred on April 18, 1988, during Operation Praying Mantis in the Persian Gulf. In that operation, U.S. ships including the guided missile cruiser USS Wainwright, destroyer escort USS Bagley, and guided missile frigate USS Simpson fired upon the Iranian fast attack craft IRIS Joshan.
The engagement involved deck guns after missile exchanges. Operation Praying Mantis was a response to the mining of the U.S. frigate USS Samuel B. Roberts on April 14, 1988, which caused significant hull damage and injuries to 10 sailors. The operation resulted in the destruction of two Iranian ships, severe damage to another, and the neutralization of two surveillance platforms.
It was part of the broader Operation Ernest Will, which protected merchant shipping during the Iran-Iraq War.
