The whole tow line hook up was done very, very quickly. Watch and totally discount the 'Rope' was too short excuse.
US Military Riverine Command Boat Training
Worth doing a search for RCB specs to understand how heavily armed and armored they are as well as navigation and detection gear.
You can see the arms and some of the ammo in videos released by the Iranians. At least a couple of Dillon M134s, at least a couple of M240s, rifles, etc. The boats normally also have an M2 on board, photos of the two captured boats during training in November show the M2s.
The boats have lots of sensors, including radar, etc. so they should have known what was coming long before it got there. And, assuming that both boats were operational, they are among the fastest boats in existence, and have armor that is supposed to withstand the typical AK-47 round.
Great link, thanks.
Before a very serious open-water transit between nations/duty stations, boats are given a NASCAR-level mechanical checkout. They don’t “break down” and if one did, the other just tows it and keeps trucking.