The Armaments of the U.S.-Led Multinational Coalition in Red Sea

The U.S.-led multinational coalition forces have deployed in recent weeks several destroyers  in a bid to counter the Ansar Allah (Houthi) attacks on ships in the Red Sea.

Today, the Red Sea is awash with armaments as an all-out war between the Houthi group and U.S-led coalition forces is about to explode.

In preparation for the war in the Red Sea, the Houthi group has deployed several missiles and drones and Naval Mines and and numerous launch pads, particularly in provinces overlooking the Red Sea. The group has prepared tens of gunboats which will be used in the war against the Americans and their allies.

Last week, the Houthi spokesperson said the Red Sea will be a "burning zone", and now the fire of war has begun to rise, especially after ten Houthi fighters were killed yesterday by U.S. airstrikes in the Red Sea.

As the Houthis say their attacks on ships in the Red Sea will not stop as long as Israel continues its aggression in the Gaza Strip, the U.S. and its allies say the security of the international shipping lanes should be maintained. The understanding gap between the two sides seems to be wide, and the war is a likely scenario.

This report illustrates the multinational coalition’s military capabilities in the Red Sea as it prepares for a war against the Houthi group.

Technical and Operational Specifications of Warships, Frigates, Battleships, Destroyers, and Aircraft Carriers Participating in Operation Prosperity Guardian

Vessels Contributed by the Countries Participating in Operation Prosperity Guardian

Spanish Frigate Victoria (F82)

Victoria (F82) is the second of the six Spanish-built Santa Maria-class frigates of the Spanish Navy, based on the American Oliver Hazard Perry class design. Constructed in 1983, the vessel was launched on July 23, 1986 and commissioned on November 11, 1987. The frigate has been assigned to Operation Atalanta, fighting piracy of the Somalian coast.

Die Fregatte Hessen F221

Hessen is a Sachsen-class frigate of the German Navy. Built between 2001 and 2005, it was launched on April 21, 2006. Its main mission is to fight aircraft and other arial targets. It is equipped with long-range missiles and very strong radars.

Italian frigate ITS Virginio Fasan (F 591)

Virginio Fasan (F591) is a Carlo Bergamini-class frigate of the Italian Navy. The Carlo Bergamini class were developed by the FREMM multipurpose frigate program. FREMM-IT 9 & 10 have undisclosed enhanced capabilities.

Greek frigate Hydra, Mek

It is one of the Hydra-class which consists of four frigates of the Hellenic Navy. It was designed in Germany and is part of the standard MEKO class warships.

British destroyer HMS Diamond

HMS Diamond is the third ship of the Type 45 or Daring-class air-defense guided missile destroyers built for the Royal Navy. It is equipped with a SAMPSON active electronically scanned array multi-function radar system that allows the Diamond to track 2,000 threats from over 250 miles away, a Sea Viper missile system that can launch eight missiles in under 10 seconds and can guide up to 16 missiles simultaneously, a Wildcat HMA2 helicopter with Martlet air-to-surface missiles, and a 4.5-inch Mark 8 naval gun.

Lancaster F229

HMS Lancaster is a Duke-class Type 23 frigate of the Royal Navy. It is one of the few ships of this category which are still in service. It was renewed in 2019. It did not receive the upgrade that other frigates of the class subsequently received. Therefore, it is regarded as a "general purpose" frigate without the more specialized anti-submarine capability of the other ships in this type in the fleet.

USS Philippine Sea (CG-58) 

Is a Flight II Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser on active service in the United States Navy. It is named for the Battle of the Philippine Sea during World War II and is the second ship to bear the name.

USS Gravely (DDG-107)

USS Gravely (DDG-107) is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer in the United States Navy. It is named after Vice Admiral Samuel L. Gravely, Jr. Commissioned in 2010, it has been on several overseas deployments.

USS STETHEM (DDG-63)

USS Stethem (DDG-63) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy. It is part of the Pacific Fleet, assigned to Destroyer Squadron 9.

USS Mason (DDG-87)

USS Mason (DDG-87) is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer in the United States Navy.

On 6 December 2023, Mason shot down an air drone headed toward Mason from Yemen.

On 11 December 2023, Mason responded to a distress call from the Norwegian-flagged oil and chemical tanker Strinda, traveling from Malaysia and carrying a cargo of palm oil, after the vessel was struck by an anti-ship cruise missile whilst passing through the Bab-al-Mandeb Strait.

On 13 December 2023, Mason shot down in self-defense a drone launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen, that was heading directly towards the Mason. Mason was at the time responding to the distress call issued by the tanker Ardmore Encounter. Houthi forces had unsuccessfully attempted to board the tanker on skiffs, exchanged fire with the ship’s armed guards, and then fired two missiles in the Ardmore Encounter’s direction, prompting the distress call. The tanker was carrying jet fuel from India to the Netherlands and Sweden.

USS Carney (DDG-64)

USS Carney (DDG-64) is the 14th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy. The guided-missile destroyer is the first to be named after Admiral Robert Carney, who served as Chief of Naval Operations during the Eisenhower administration.

In December 2023, Carney and civilian-owned commercial ships were attacked in international waters in the Red Sea, with ballistic missiles and drones launched from Yemen.

USS Laboon (DDG-58)

USS Laboon (DDG-58) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy. It is named after Father John Francis Laboon (1921–1988), a captain in the Chaplain Corps of the United States Navy, who was awarded the Silver Star during World War II while serving on the submarine USS Peto.

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69)

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) is an aircraft carrier currently in service with the United States Navy. It is named after the 34th President of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower. It was constructed at a cost of $4.7 billion.