🇺🇸 U.S. Warship Fires but Misses as Iranian Vessel Rushes Toward Aircraft Carrier

🇺🇸 U.S. Warship Fires but Misses as Iranian Vessel Rushes Toward Aircraft Carrier

A tense encounter unfolded in the Arabian Sea this week when a U.S. Navy destroyer reportedly failed to stop an approaching Iranian vessel that moved dangerously close to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, according to two U.S. officials cited by CBS on March 12.

The incident began when an unidentified Iranian craft rapidly closed the distance to the American carrier strike group. Concerned about the vessel’s trajectory, a nearby U.S. warship opened fire using its Mark 45 127-mm naval gun, a standard weapon system mounted on many U.S. destroyers.

However, officials said the gunfire missed the target repeatedly, raising questions about whether the shots were intended as warning fire or whether the destroyer experienced targeting issues during the engagement.

With the Iranian craft continuing its approach, the situation quickly escalated. A U.S. military helicopter was launched from the strike group and armed with Hellfire missiles to neutralize the threat.

The helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles, striking the approaching vessel and stopping it before it could move closer to the aircraft carrier. The condition of the Iranian vessel and its crew remains unknown.

The U.S. Navy has not confirmed which destroyer fired the Mark 45 gun. Currently escorting USS Abraham Lincoln in the region are the destroyers USS Spruance and USS Michael Murphy, while several other Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are also operating independently across the Middle East waters.

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees American military operations in the region, has not yet issued an official statement about the incident.

The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group is heavily armed, carrying stealth F-35C fighters, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G electronic warfare jets, E-2D early-warning aircraft, and multiple helicopters. The carrier is one of two deployed in the Middle East and Mediterranean amid the escalating conflict with Iran.