Armed Guards Stunned as Tiny Boat Races Toward Freighter, Quickly Sinking It Moments Later
On June 12, 2024, a small, unmanned kamikaze boat attacked the Greek-owned cargo ship Tutor while it was navigating the Red Sea. Armed guards on the ship were reportedly unable to respond effectively, and the vessel was critically damaged, leading to severe flooding especially in the engine room. This incident has been attributed to the Yemeni Houthi rebels, supported by Iran. The US Navy evacuated the crew, but a Filipino sailor was reported missing and later confirmed dead.
This attack forms part of a larger campaign by Houthi militants targeting critical maritime lanes in the Red Sea, purportedly supporting Hamas following the October 7 attacks in Israel, though U.S. officials have labeled these actions as “pure terrorism”. The Tutor, flagged by war-torn Liberia and owned by Greece, was emphasized as a civilian vessel, thus highlighting its vulnerability in such conflict zones, underscoring the ongoing threat posed by such irregular warfare tactics. The broader implications suggest a rise in the use of inexpensive and easily deployable unmanned systems in conflicts, marking a shift towards more asymmetrical warfare methods.
Armed Guards Stand Dumbfounded as Strange Small Boat Zooms Toward Cargo Ship … Moments Later the Freighter Is Sinking
By Jared Harris June 18, 2024 at 11:15am
New video out of the Red Sea appears to show the moment a small boat was apparently able to score a critical hit on a massive cargo ship.
The clip posted by worldwide conflict news tracker Clash Report begins with several armed men looking over the side of the Greek-owned freighter Tutor while a small boat approaches. The men realized the incoming vessel, seemingly an uncrewed kamikaze boat, is heading right for their ship.
The guards, apparently unable to do anything but watch up until that moment, immediately ran for cover.
Footage shows what appears to be the first successful Houthi kamikaze USV strike on Greek-owned cargo ship Tutor while transiting the Red Sea on June 12.
The crew was evacuated by the U.S. Navy.
The ship is sinking. pic.twitter.com/qMBfV00zZp
— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 17, 2024
The vessel was hit and soon began to take on water.
According to the United States military, which responded to the sinking ship, Yemeni Houthi rebels were behind the kamikaze attack.
“On June 12, Iranian-backed Houthis struck M/V Tutor, a Liberian flagged, Greek owned and operated bulk cargo carrier, with an uncrewed surface vessel (USV) resulting in severe flooding and damage to the engine room,” a U.S. Central Command update reads. “One civilian mariner remains missing following the attack. The crew abandoned ship and were rescued by USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) and partner forces.”
The Tutor was abandoned but appears to still be afloat in a very-diminished capacity.
Will the situation in the Red Sea soon grow worse?
The missing sailor, a Filipino seaman, was later confirmed dead.
Houthi militants’ campaign against the vital Red Sea shipping lane kicked off in November of last year, aided in the violence by Iran. The conflict erupted as the Houthis proclaimed their support for Hamas in the wake of the deadly October 7 attacks in Israel. The Red Sea attacks have often targeted civilian cargo liners and shipping vessels.
“This is pure terrorism,” National Security Spokesman John Kirby said, according to Barron’s. “There’s simply no other word for it. The Houthi claim of supporting Gazans is meritless.”
Kirby would seem to be completely right.
Civil war-torn Liberia, where the Tutor is flagged, and Greece, the nationality of the vessel’s ownership, seemingly have no direct hand in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The answer for the Houthis’ action seems clear. The Tutor, a civilian vessel, made an easy target. With no active defenses or elaborate electronic countermeasures, this ship and others like it are sitting ducks for Houthi attacks.
Not every Houthi attempt to sink ships is a success, however.
A large scale attack from the Houthi rebels in March was countered by United States warships, operating in the region to secure a critical axis in international shipping.
The rise of the Houthi menace in the Red Sea has highlighted a changing battlefield that appears to favor hit-and-run tactics favored by irregular forces.
Kamikaze ships and drones, depending on their size, can be quickly and cheaply manufactured and fielded without the need of putting a trained crew in harm’s way. Weapons of this nature can easily disable a ship, or as seen in the fields of Ukraine can knock out an advanced piece of American-made armor.
As the technology for these weapons becomes more easily accessible, their presence on the battlefield will undoubtedly increase.
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