By Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization
US Navy helicopters launched from a carrier and destroyer were attacked in the Red Sea from a group of Houthi small boats, responding in self-defense with lethal force destroying three out of four Houthi-boats.
The Navy helicopters, from the USS Eisenhower carrier and USS Gravely in the Red Sea, were responding to a distress call from a Singapore-Denmark container ship called the MAERSK HANGZHOU which came under attack by four Iranian-backed Houthi small boats
US Central Command released and essay on the incident, stating “The small boats, originating from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, fired crew served and small arms weapons at the MAERSK HANGZHOU, getting to within 20 meters of the vessel, and attempted to board the vessel.”
US Navy helicopters were fired upon by Houthi-small boats by crew served weapons and small arms when attempting to support the attacked container ship, and the US Navy helicopters “returned fire in self defense…sinking three of the four small boats, killing the crews,” according to US CentCom. The fourth boat “fled” the area, CentCom said, adding that there was no damage to US personnel or equipment.
The CentCom essay did not specify the type of helicopters used to destroy the small boats, but both US Navy carriers and destroyers launch UH-60 Sea Hawk helicopter variants capable of rescue operations, anti-submarine missions, sensing and reconnaissance and “attack” as needed. Most Carrier Air Wings and destroyers do not operate smaller attack helicopters, although amphibious assault ships typically do. Nonetheless, the two variants of US Navy Sea Hawks the “R” and the “S” are both armed with 30mm cannons, Hellfire missiles and Hydra 70mm rockets. It is likely that helicopter mounted crew served weapons were used to destroy the Houthi small boats, and it appears the small arms and crew served weapons fired by Houthi-small boats may not have been shot accurately or been out of range to hit US Navy helicopters. However, SeaHawks are configured for armed combat, and depending upon the engagement range, the helicopters may have used 2.75mm Hydra 70 rockets increasingly able to hit small moving targets with precision. SeaHawk helicopter can also be armed with HELLFIRE missiles, yet they would likely be used against larger targets as the weapons are known as “tank-killers.” Helicopter crews could also fire side-mounted 50-cal machine guns. The operative or tactically relevant variable here is that the Houthi-small boats were prevented from more closely approaching and attacking commercial ships due to the US Navy helicopters. This is critical, as the CentCom report explains that the Houthi small boats came within 20-feet of the Singapore-Denmark container ship.
Kris Osborn is the President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization and the Defense Editor for the National Interest. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a Highly Qualified Expert with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.
