Having actually used radar while on gunboats in Nam I learned the limitations of the technology. I know it’s improved but it becomes less effective as distance closes. It can catch wave tops and you get all sorts of reflections and clutter.
Nothing replaces the Mark I Eyeball. No one was watching. It’s that simple. Hacking is just an excuse. Political correctness and a careerist mentality is the cause.
In Vietnam, I was an RD2 on a PCF, mostly coastal, but a few excursions up rivers and canals.
You’re correct, the sea return from waves and other stuff does limit your ability to see stuff within a mile or so, but I don’t think this is the case here.
About 18 months ago (it may have been longer) we lost a drone to Iran. The Iranians aimed several strong GPS signals at the drone to make it think it was somewhere it was not. The drone went into return home mode and landed in Iran, where the fake GPS told it was home. Result was Iran captured our drone.
I personally believe a similar scenario was inflicted on the captured Navy patrol boat and crew in the Persian Gulf. And I would not be surprised to find out that the 2 recent ship collisions were similarly inspired by fake navigation signals.