Iran acquires high-tech powerboat

The Globe and Mail ^ | April 5, 2010 | Paul Koring

[myknowledge]

Iran has outwitted U.S. and British efforts to keep it from acquiring a superfast powerboat that could be loaded with high explosives and used in a suicidal attack against one of the huge U.S. aircraft carriers deployed to the Persian Gulf.

Unidentified intelligence sources quoted in published reports say Tehran's Islamic regime managed to acquire the Bradstone Challenger, a 15-metre-long craft designed especially for sustained high speeds, early last year.

While naval analysts differ over whether a serious threat exists from so-called swarm attacks by such fast small boats against larger, less-manoeuvrable warships, fears that the rulers in Tehran wanted to use the high-tech Bradstone Challenger – which averaged nearly 100 kilometres an hour in a record-breaking 27-hour circumnavigation of Britain – as a weapon prompted both Washington and London to try to block any sale.

[mowowie]

Isn’t this what the Phalanx system is designed for?

[jim_trent]

I wonder if this superboat is any stronger than the one that was sunk when it rammed a Japanese whaler? Racing boats are usually built light, not rugged. Exactly opposite of what is needed in a military vehicle.

[greatplains]

That’s assuming that our crews will be allowed to use them. :(

[rlmorel]

Boy, ain’t that the truth. Sheesh, who ever thought we would come to this?

[myknowledge]

Or just this Oerlikon twin 30mm.