The futuristic looking HSV-2 Swift, an ex-U.S. Navy experimental high-speed logistics catamaran now being utilized by the UAE government, was struck by a missile on the evening of October 1, according to multiple reports. The ship was operating near the Yemeni port of Mokha located on the northeastern edge of the Mandeb Strait, a narrow and strategic body of water that connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Iranian-backed Houthi rebel fighters have claimed responsibility for the attack.The video below supposedly shows the attack. The missile launch does appear to be that of an anti-ship missile, and the ship on fire does appear to be an HSV-2. A massive explosion is shown when the supposed missile impacts the ship; it likely detonated the fuel onboard, plus any flammable or explosive cargo. The ship's aluminum hull and commercial ship design standards offer little resilience to an anti-ship missile attack, and the HSV-2 is not equipped with a close-in weapon system (CIWS) capable of fending off such attacks.
The UAE has formally acknowledged that there was an "incident" with the ship, but claims that no lives were lost. If the video above is legitimate, which it appears to be, that would be a miracle.
The Australian-built Swift was launched in 2002, and served with the Navy as a semi-operational test platform used to explore new sea basing, minesweeping, and high-speed logistical support concepts.Her slightly older sister ships, USS Joint Venture and USAV Spearhead, also served with the US armed forces from the early- to the mid-2000s before being released from service.