Why Iran’s Swarm Attack Failed Against US Destroyers

Iran launched 58 cheap drones at two US destroyers, each worth less than a pickup truck. The ship's 5-inch guns opened fire immediately, cycling through ammunition, burning precious minutes. Then the speedboats came. IRGC fast attack craft packed with explosives, the destroyers swung their main batteries to engage.

That's when four anti-ship missiles launched from the coast, wavetop altitude closing at Mach 0.9. The drones and boats were never the real attack. They were the distraction, designed to drain ammunition, exhaust operators, and point every weapon in the wrong direction. But the US was counting missiles too.

SM-2s intercepted all four cruise missiles, not one hit. It ran 58 drones and a dozen boats to create a 90-second opening. It ran 58 drones and a dozen boats to create a 90-second opening. It wasn't enough.