“60 Drones, 27 Attack Boats, and Hidden Submarines: The 12 Minutes That Nearly Sank U.S. Warships in the Strait of Hormuz.lh

The first wave consisted of 63 unmanned aerial vehicles, flying low across the water to reduce radar visibility. Engineered for autonomous coordination, the drones operated like a hunting pack. Even if jammed or isolated, each unit could independently track and strike its target using onboard infrared systems and pre-programmed attack patterns.

Behind them came 27 high-speed attack craft, slicing through the confined waters at over 40 knots. Armed with anti-ship missiles and crewed by highly trained naval commandos, the boats advanced in a three-pronged pincer movement. Their objective was clear: overwhelm defensive systems through saturation and close to missile-launch range before being destroyed.

Onboard the U.S. destroyers USS Porter and USS Laboon, combat information centers erupted into controlled chaos. Threat boards glowed with airborne and surface contacts. Orders rang out: weapons free.