U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke Destroyer Fires Naval Gun in First Combat Interdiction of Iranian Ship

The U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Spruance (DDG-111) used its Mark 45 Mod 4 5-inch naval gun to disable the Iranian-flagged container ship Touska in the Gulf of Oman, marking a rare real-world combat use of precision naval gunfire in a high-risk maritime interception. The operation highlights the U.S. Navy’s ability to apply controlled force in a critical chokepoint while maintaining escalation control and protecting freedom of navigation. According to information published by the U.S. Department of War on April 24, 2026, the destroyer’s fire disabled the vessel without destroying it, allowing boarding teams to secure and inspect the ship. This demonstrates how modern naval forces combine precision weapons with interdiction tactics to counter illicit activity and sustain sea control in contested waters. Read full Naval Defense News at this link …

U.S. Navy USS Spruance (DDG-111) conducts maritime interdiction operations in the Arabian Sea on April 15, 2026, with an inset highlighting the Mark 45 Mod 4 127 mm naval gun used to deliver precision disabling fire during the seizure of the Iranian-flagged container ship Touska. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War, with additional editing of Army Recognition Group)

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