U.S. forces aboard a Bath-built Arleigh Burke–class destroyer fired on and took control of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship crossing the Arabian Sea heading toward an Iranian port on Sunday.
The USS Spruance (DDG 111) intercepted the M/V Touska as it was headed toward a port in Bandar Abbas, Iran, according to a press release from U.S. Central Command.
After six hours of repeated warnings and orders to evacuate the engine room, the Spruance disabled the Touska by firing several rounds into the engine room, according to videos of the exchange. U.S. Marines then boarded and took control of the Touska.
Since the U.S. blockade began at the Strait of Hormuz on April 13, approximately 25 commercial vessels have been turned away or returned to Iranian ports, according to the Pentagon.
Bath Iron Works built the Spruance at a cost of $1 billion, naming it after Adm. Raymond Spruance, who played a key role in the U.S. victory at the battle of Midway during World War II, and was named deputy commander in chief of the Pacific Fleet following that battle. Construction of the ship started in 2009 and it entered service two years later.
General Dynamics Bath Iron Works declined to comment and the Local S6 Union representing Bath shipbuilders was unable to be reached for comment.
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