US Destroyer, Super Hornets shot down multiple targets
According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), a US guided-missile destroyer and fighters from aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) (IKE) interdicted a dozen suicide drones and anti-ship missiles on Dec. 26, 2023.
CENTCOM said in a statement that Houthi forces fired the 12 attack drones, three anti-ship ballistic missiles and two land-attack cruise missiles from Yemen.
The missiles and drones, “were fired by the Houthis over a 10 hour period which began at approximately 6:30 a.m. (Sanaa time) on December 26. There was no damage to ships in the area or reported injuries,” says the statement.
The attacks were interdicted by destroyer USS Laboon (DDG-58) and F/A-18E/F Super Hornets that had sortied from the carrier. According to USNI News, since last week, Eisenhower and its escorts have been operating from the Gulf of Aden.
Protect merchant shipping in the Red Sea
Laboon has been operating on the other side of the Bab el Manded as part of the ongoing Operation Prosperity Guardian collation that was stood up to protect merchant shipping in the Red Sea.
The Iranian-backed Houthi forces have targeted ships they say have a connection to Israel in a show of solidarity with Hamas in Gaza since Oct. 17.
Reuters reported that also on Dec. 26, Houthi forces claimed responsibility for a failed attack on container ship MV MSC United VIII.
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower deployment
IKE departed on a scheduled deployment, on Oct. 14. Its strike group deployed to the US European Command area of responsibility where along with USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) carrier strike group operates in the area at the direction of the Secretary of Defense to bolster deterrence in the region.
Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 squadrons are deployed aboard IKE.
Squadrons of CVW-3 include the “Gunslingers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 105 ( assigned aircraft (AA): F/A-18E Super Hornet), the “Fighting Swordsmen” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 32 (AA: F/A-18F Super Hornet), the “Rampagers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 83 (AA: F/A-18E Super Hornet), the “Wildcats” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 131 (AA: F/A-18E Super Hornet), the “Screwtops” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 123 (AA: E-2D Hawkeye), the “Zappers” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130 (AA: EA-18G Growler), the “Dusty Dogs” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 7 (AA: MH-60S Seahawk), the “Swamp Foxes” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 74 (AA: MH-60S Seahawk) and the “Rawhides” of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40 (AA: C-2A Greyhound).
Photo by U.S. Navy
