First photos of a missile attack on the HSV-2 Swift, a hybrid catamaran operated by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) military, shows extensive damage to the starboard bow of the vessel that was transiting the Bab al-Mandeb Strait when attacked by Yemini Houthi rebels allied with Iran last Oct. 1.

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Military analysts believe the damage was inflicted by only one large missile, probably the Chinese-designed C-802 anti-ship missile (ASM) Iran has in its inventory. Iran has supplied a number of these missiles to its Houthi allies fighting to overthrow the Yemini government backed by Saudi Arabia.

The C-802 is the export version of China's YJ-8 ASM that carries a 190 kg warhead to a distance of 120 km. The YJ-8 arms China's Xian H-6 strategic heavy bombers.

Swift is the forerunner of the Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) warships, which are high-speed, shallow draft vessels that today transport U.S. Marines to trouble spots around the world.

She is privately owned and operated by Sealift Inc.but was originally built under the "Joint High Speed Vessel" program of the Navy as a proof of concept. She was directly leased to the U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command from 2003 to 2013 as a mine countermeasures and sea basing test platform but was later used mostly for fleet support and humanitarian missions.

The UAE, which leased Swift from its Australian operators, claimed Swift was on a routine trip from Aden to the south when the missile attack occurred. The ship was serving as a high-speed logistics ship for the United Arab Emirates Navy when she was hit.

The Emirati military said Swift was under its command during the "incident" at Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The Houthis originally claimed their night attack had sunk the Swift and posted a video showing the launch of a missile at night and a violent explosion.

"Rockets targeted an Emirati warship as it approached the coast of Mokha" on the Red Sea, said the Houthis on their website.

"It was completely destroyed," said the Houthis.

Other accounts said the Swift was struck by four anti-tank missiles.

TagsHSV-2 Swift, hybrid catamaran, United Arab Emirates, UAE, C-802 anti-ship missile, YJ-8, Joint High Speed Vessel, Houthis, Iran, Saudi Arabia