Drone-boats: Modern Maritime Weapons
The Ukrainian Navy recently executed a successful campaign against the Russian Black Sea Fleet, sinking two miniature landing ships by deploying explosive-laden drone boats. This night operation tactically targeted two landing crafts stationed at Sevastopol’s port – the hub for Ukraine’s proactive measures to disable the Russian Navy.
The first vessel, identified as Project 11770 Serna-class, is a modest 85-foot landing vehicle capable of sternly transporting a major battle tank, a pair of armored cars, or 90 armed soldiers. Meanwhile, the older Project 1176 Akula-class landing boat was the second vessel on the radar. It is another 80-foot vessel possessing the capacity to ferry one T-72 tank across the waters.
An infrared video promptly circulated by the Ukrainian forces illustrates the drone boat doggedly inching toward a gray hull under the cover of darkness before a resulting explosion engulfs the scene in riveting flames.
The Strategic Positioning of Boat Pads
Specifically, these boats were alleged to serve as roaming launching pads for a Tor M2 short-distance surface-to-air missile system, supplementing the strained capabilities of the air defense network around the strategically important Sevastopol. It’s no secret that the destruction of air defenses in this particular area has become a priority for Ukraine, something achieved through deploying cruise missile strikes to wreak havoc on the Russian Navy’s vessels and infrastructure.
These landing vessels have also served as transportation mediums for Russian special forces, demonstrating their multi-faceted role in the maritime arsenal. A clear instance of this was during the control conflict at Snake Island last year, where Russia eventually had to relinquish its position owing to Ukraine’s substantial bombardment.
The Aftermath and Lessons Learned
Post-attack, GUR, Ukraine’s military intelligence agency formally announced the sinking of these two landing boats. Such tech-centric warfare remains pivotal in this part of conflict-ridden Ukraine, considering its surface navy is virtually non-existent. Donations and volunteers have also been instrumental in promoting these tech advances.
Constantly adapting to the challenging environment, Ukraine has consistently modified its bomb boats’ design based on acquired experience – a move that has forced Russia to bolster its port and waterway defenses. Anti-drone barriers have become a frequent sight in the harbors of Sevastopol and Novorossiysk.
The Ukrainian Vice Admiral, wise to the ebbs and flows of this ongoing warfare, acknowledges the rapid learning curve both sides exhibit, each deriving lessons from the other’s actions. His insights underline the critical role of swift and innovative solutions in winning the proverbial war at sea.
