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The 5-inch, 54-caliber Mark-45 gun referenced in the accounts of this incident is worth understanding in more detail. This weapon has been a cornerstone of American naval surface warfare for over five decades. It is a fully automated system, meaning it can be loaded, aimed, and fired without crew members needing to physically handle the ammunition during the firing sequence — a significant safety and operational efficiency advantage in combat conditions.
The Mark-45 is capable of firing a variety of ammunition types and can engage both surface targets and aerial threats, making it a versatile and important component of any destroyer or cruiser’s defensive and offensive arsenal. The fact that it reportedly missed the Iranian vessel multiple times raises questions that the military has not yet publicly addressed — questions about range, sea conditions, the speed of the Iranian vessel, and the specific circumstances of the engagement.
When the cannon fire proved ineffective, the decision was made to deploy a helicopter armed with Hellfire missiles — a choice that reflects both the urgency of the situation and the limitations of the initial response.
The AGM-114 Hellfire missile is a precision-guided weapon originally developed for anti-armor missions but now widely used across a broad range of targets, including surface vessels, vehicles, and fixed positions. It uses laser or radar guidance systems to strike targets with a high degree of accuracy. The fact that two Hellfire missiles struck the Iranian vessel suggests the helicopter crew had a clear targeting solution and executed the engagement effectively.
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