{
  "id": 8669858,
  "title": "Naval ramming: How warships used collisions from World War I to modern times",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/naval-ramming-how-warships-used-collisions-from-world-war-i-to-modern",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-20T11:00:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/military-digest-naval-ramming-history-warship-collisions-modern-tactics-10886207/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On September 15, a clash occurred between two naval vessels in the Arabian Sea, with one sinking as a result. This incident has raised questions about the actions of the Pakistani captain involved. The use of ramming as a tactic has a long history, dating back to the era of sail-powered ships. In ancient times, galleys would ram enemy vessels using slave oarsmen, often with disastrous outcomes. The rise of gunpowder and cannons led to the decline of ramming as a primary weapon. However, ramming retained its effectiveness against submarines during both World Wars, sinking numerous German and Japanese U-boats. The British battleship HMS Dreadnought and the Japanese destroyer Amagiri famously used their ram bows to sink enemy submarines. Despite the damage caused to the ramming vessel, its effectiveness led to its continued use in specific situations. During the Cold War, deliberate low-speed ramming or \"shouldering\" became a tactic in tense but non-violent confrontations. Notable examples include incidents involving Soviet and American warships in the Black Sea, Sea of Japan, and South China Sea. In recent years, the South China Sea has seen a rise in risky naval maneuvers, with China, India, Pakistan, and other nations employing what experts call \"grey-zone tactics\" to assert their presence without resorting to open hostilities. Despite the risks involved, ramming remains a potential tactic in certain circumstances, albeit one that is rarely used due to the high likelihood of severe damage to both vessels.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Naval ramming tactics have ancient origins, used by galleys with slave oarsmen.",
    "Ramming remained effective against submarines during World Wars I and II.",
    "Grey-zone tactics involving ramming persist in modern naval confrontations."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}