Q&A · 54:31-1:02:07

Ports need fixed and mobile air defense

A question about a reported strike on an Iranian submarine leads to the practical problem of protecting naval repair and supply bases.

Question

Is there information about the US Army reportedly sinking an Iranian submarine with HIMARS?

Short answer

A submarine tied alongside is how the incident is described; the discussion then turns to protecting ports used for rearming, resupply, and repair.

Notes

The discussion describes the reported strike as an attack on a submarine tied alongside. The general problem is that warships need protected places to rearm, resupply, and undergo repairs throughout a conflict. Mobile defenses offer flexibility, but a port itself cannot move. The proposal here combines fixed and mobile batteries when resources cannot provide enough mobile systems for every site. Portsmouth's radar installation and possible Aster launchers serve as a hypothetical example, rather than a description of an installed defensive battery.