Photo credit: WSJ
The US military began a naval blockade of Iranian ports on Monday, as reopening the Strait of Hormuz remains a sticking point in talks between the US and Iran over negotiations to end the war.
ABC News reports that late Tuesday night, the head of US Central Command, Adm. Brad Cooper, said the naval blockade had been “fully implemented” and that “US forces have completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea.”
Over 10,000 US sailors, Marines, and airmen, along with over a dozen warships and dozens of aircraft, are executing the blockade against vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas, according to CENTCOM.
A naval blockade can be carried out by surface ships at sea and by aircraft in the air.
Effectively carrying out a blockade also means having accurate intelligence about what port a ship may have left from or is going to, which is important given that the US Navy’s blockade only applies to vessels leaving or headed to Iranian ports.
Of the 16 US Navy ships now in the Middle East,11 are destroyers capable of intercepting vessels at sea.
A key part of enforcing a blockade is also having good situational awareness, experts. That could mean using drones to monitor a ship’s movements, using intelligence to know a ship’s origin or destination, using reconnaissance aircraft like the E-2 Hawkeye or helicopters that are launched from an aircraft carrier.
That means that all of the Navy ships currently in the Middle East can play a role in enforcing a blockade.
Each destroyer is equipped with two SH-60 Sea Hawk Helicopters that can fly out to ships that might be potentially approaching the blockade line and can provide visual identification of the approaching ship.
The destroyers are also equipped with sophisticated Aegis radar systems capable of tracking ships at long distances.
If a ship is encountered at sea, the destroyer’s crew will issue a warning by radio to the approaching ship that follows a carefully worded script.
In this case, the message is: “The US has announced a formal blockade of Iranian ports and coastal areas. This is a legal action … If you do not comply with this blockade, we will use force. The whole of the United States Navy is ready to force compliance. Out.”
The blockade could be enforced by sending a team of service members to board any approaching vessels. The boarding party could be composed of sailors, Marines, or special operations personnel, depending on the situation.
Boarding operations are tightly choreographed. Marines, or other troops, typically approach a vessel eiher by fast rope from helicopters onto the deck or by climbing from small boats, aiming to overwhelm a crew before it can react.
Teams are trained to quickly secure key parts of the ship, which can include the bridge, engine room and communications spaces, while separating and controlling the crew. The goal is speed and dominance, but also restraint, especially when dealing with civilian mariners who may be caught in the middle of a military operation.
The P-8 Poseidon, a long-range maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, alongside SH-60 helicopters, unmanned aircraft and virtually any US aircraft in the region, can work to create an operating picture of the waters below.
Former CENTCOM commander John “Fozzie” Miller said these pictures are critical in maintaining a blockade, as radar has limits from the water. Airplanes and helicopters can provide a more comprehensive view, Miller said, especially across the sprawling coast of Iran.
Once a ship is flagged, the Navy can hail that vessel to determine its origin. If service members do board, Miller said it’s a lot like getting pilled over by police.
