What at first looked like a David versus Goliath conflict in the Persian Gulf between the U.S. and Iran, has turned into a stalemate largely because Iran has managed to keep the Strait of Homuz closed. That is in no small part because of their massive fleet of mosquito boats.
The strait is under a double blockade with hundreds of commercial ships unable to pass through for fear of being stopped by either the U.S. or Iran. But, Iran’s navy has largely been put out of commission, so how are they able to maintain their blockade? Apparently, it is easier to close a strait than reopen it.
The Mosquito boats number in the hundreds and are a variety of outboard-driven speedboats equipped with machine guns and other weapons and manned by only a few men. Their tactic is to swarm against any target while their outboards buzz like mosquitos.
One would think this conflict would have an inevitable end. But will mosquito boats be like David’s sling, low tech but effective? It seems an odd question to have to ask.
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