On April 15, eleven Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) vessels repeatedly conducted dangerous and harassing approaches of the USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3), USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60), USS Firebolt (PC 10), USS Sirocco (PC 6), USCGC Wrangell (WPB 1332) and USCGC Maui (WPB 1304) while the U.S. vessels were conducting joint integration operations with U.S. Army AH-64E Apache attack helicopters in the international waters of the North Arabian Gulf, reported The Defense Visual Information Distribution Service.
The IRGCN vessels repeatedly crossed the bows and sterns of the U.S. vessels at extremely close range and high speeds, including multiple crossings of the Puller with a 50 yard closest point of approach (CPA) and within 10 yards of Maui's bow.
The U.S. crews issued multiple warnings via bridge-to-bridge radio, five
short blasts from the ships' horns and long range acoustic noise maker
devices, but received no response from the IRGCN.
After approximately one hour, the IRGCN vessels responded to the
bridge-to-bridge radio queries, then maneuvered away from the U.S. ships and opened distance between them.
The IRGCN's dangerous and provocative actions increased the risk of
miscalculation and collision, were not in accordance with the
internationally recognized Convention on the International Regulations for
Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) "rules of the road" or
internationally recognized maritime customs, and were not in accordance with the obligation under international law to act with due regard for the safety of other vessels in the area.