Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine announced on 10/3 that US forces destroyed 50 Iranian warships using artillery, fighter jets, bombers, and sea-launched missiles during 10 days of conflict. Subsequently, a US official informed the military news outlet War Zone that HIMARS units were involved in attacking Iranian warships. However, the official did not specify the exact type of ammunition used or which vessels were targeted by this method.
A US HIMARS launcher fires missiles at Iran in a video released on 4/3. Video: CENTCOM
Video footage from United States Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees US military operations in the Middle East, showed HIMARS launchers firing army tactical missile system (ATACMS) and precision strike missile (PrSM) ballistic missiles at Iran during the operation.
War Zone editors Joseph Trevithick and Howard Altman noted that no ATACMS variant possesses the capability to strike moving targets; it can only target fixed objectives, such as ships anchored in port. This scenario is highly probable, given that many Iranian warships were attacked while docked or anchored offshore.
US experts suggested that Washington may have deployed the PrSM Increment 2 variant, which offers limited anti-ship capabilities. The PrSM Increment 1 version lacks the ability to strike moving targets, and it remains unclear if these can be readily upgraded to the Increment 2 standard.
"Regardless, the operation, dubbed 'Horrific Fury,' appears to mark the first time the US has used ballistic missiles to attack enemy warships," Trevithick stated.
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The Iranian warship IRINS Makran burns while anchored at Bandar Abbas port on 2/3. Photo: Planet Labs
Due to their high speed, ballistic missiles are particularly well-suited for long-range strikes against high-value, heavily protected targets. They also enable deeper penetration into fortified objectives. This capability is especially valuable when targeting large, heavily armored warships, according to Trevithick.
The US military is working to catch up with other military powers, particularly China, in the field of anti-ship ballistic missiles. Altman commented, "Using this weapon in the conflict with Iran signals what will happen in future US operations."
Iran also allocates significant resources to develop short-range anti-ship ballistic missiles, subsequently transferring these weapons and technology to the Houthi armed group in Yemen. In 2023, the Houthis became the first force globally to employ anti-ship ballistic missiles in actual combat. Conversely, Iran does not appear to have used this weapon type in the current conflict.
By Nguyen Tien (Source: War Zone, AFP, AP)
