British Navy HMS Sutherland frigate conducts simulated small boat attack exercises SWARMEX.

According to pictures released on Twitter, October 10, 2020, the British Navy HMS Sutherland Type 23 or Duke-class frigate has conducted simulated small boat attack exercise (SWARMEX) in confined waters.
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Sailors of British Navy HMS Sutherland Type 23 frigate conducts simulated small boat attack exercises SWARMEX. (Picture source Twiter account HMS Sutherland)

For many years, small boat attacks have become one of the most significant threats against combat ships. In 2008, the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, Admiral Thad Allen, emphasized the importance of addressing the small boat threat by stating that “the rippling economic ramifications of a small vessel attack against a high-value target such as a container vessel, cruise ship, or petrochemical facility elevate the problem from a national level to cause for global concern.” He further stated that to mitigate the danger from small boats, federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Coast Guard, need greater MDA (Maritime Domain Awareness), appropriate legal regimes, and partnerships across the public and private sector.

U.S. analysts believe that attacks by small boats are the most likely means of maritime attack against the U.S. because they “satisfy the overwhelming terrorist requirement for simplicity.”36 Other experts have begun to suggest that, as the world becomes better prepared for terrorist attacks on land, “threat displacement” effects could occur, resulting in an overall increased amount of maritime terrorism over the next few years.

It is important to note that the small boat threat involves more than just a vessel loaded with explosives ramming itself into a large vessel or facility. Small boats could also be used to carry terrorists across the U.S.’s maritime border as were the Islamic terrorists that attacked Mumbai.41 Small boats could also be used as platforms for terrorists using shoulder-fired “stinger-type” weapons against other ships or at commercial aircraft passing overhead.

In response to these new threats, the crews of combat vessels train to counter these types of attack using onboard weapon systems as 12.7mm or 7.62mm machine guns as wells as Gatling gun.

The British Navy HMS Sutherland is a Type 23 frigate or Duke-class of the British Royal Navy. For its close protection, the vessel is armed with two 30 mm DS30M Mk2 automatic cannons, or two 30 mm DS30B automatic cannons, two M134 Minigun 7.62×51mm NATO six-barrel rotary machine guns, and four FN MAG 7.62 mm general-purpose machine guns.