Two Tanker Ships Damaged In Suspected Attacks In The Gulf Of Oman (Updated) [good details]

thedrive.com/the-war-zone ^ | Tyler Rogoway

[RoosterRedux]

The situation remains extremely fluid at this time and details are bound to morph in the coming hours, but it seems clear that some sort of maritime incident has occurred in the Sea Of Oman. Reports indicate that at least one tanker is on fire and the UK Maritime Trade Operations group put out a safety bulletin warning of an incident occurring in the Gulf Of Oman and urging extreme caution to mariners operating in the area.

The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Front Altair appears to be the ship on fire, while reports also state that the Panama-flagged tanker Kokuka Courageous has also been involved in some type of an incident. The ships are in an area to the southeast of the Strait Of Hormuz, the same general locale where America's Lincoln Carrier Strike Group has been operating in recent weeks.

*snip*

Whatever happened, it occurred at a time when the entire region is extremely tense following an influx of U.S. forces due to largely unspecified intelligence reports about Iran spinning up operations against U.S. interests in the Middle East. A number of tankers were struck by what appears to be Limpet Mines shortly after the U.S. said it was speeding the Lincoln Carrier Strike Group to the region in an act of deterrence. Nobody has claimed responsibilities for those attacks that resulted in less than catastrophic damage to the tankers, although the U.S. and its partners in the region have stated that they think it was the work of irregular Iranian proxy forces.

*snip*

[central_va]

I always thought the MK48 had a 2,000lb warhead but maybe I am wrong. Either way the amount of damage shown is not impressive at all.

[xkaydet65]

Tankers are pretty tough because of their design. Back during this nonsense in the 80s the USN was supposedly escorting tankers but when mines were found the tankers preceded the DDGs because they could withstand the mine damage better. And the story of the Ohio and the Malta convoy in 42 is a good lesson on the durability of tankrrs

[central_va]

I think 1 Jap Long lance torpedo would have devastated that tanker. Who knows?

[NorthMountain]

Not even close … torpedo warheads have always been under 1000lb, usually about half that. (Again, nukes don't count.) Mk48 is typical. Even the justly famous Japanese Type 93 "Long Lance" had a warhead in the neighborhood of 500lb. Its primary advantages in WWII were reliability and accuracy.

I agree that the damage shown looks small (hard to judge scale) compared to what I'd expect from a 500lb warhead exploding underwater in contact or near contact with the hull. Something about this whole thing smells. I'm not saying the attacks didn't happen … just don't want to jump to conclusions about who's guilty.

[Bookshelf]

American concern with freedom of navigation in international waters is as old as Thomas Jefferson. Whether its the Persian Gulf or the South China Sea, it still makes no difference.

[NorthMountain]

Here’s an image search for torpedo damage from WWII

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=torpedo%20damage%20%20WWII&qs=n&form=QBIRMH&sp=-1&pq=torpedo%20damage%20wwii&sc=0-19&sk=&cvid=C858890EF1B14437A9EBA1BC32E91183

500lb of torpex (or Japanese, German equivalent) makes an awful mess.

[central_va]

I doesn't look like torpedo damage. Something is fishy.

This is real torpedo damage:

[GOPJ]

Kerry probably has his hand in this ... maybe a few ‘intelligence thugs’ who are freaked the coup failed... traitors...

[GOPJ]

Usually limpet mines are set off by a time fuse. They may also have an anti-handling device, making the mine explode if removed from the hull by enemy divers or by explosions. Sometimes the limpet mine was fitted with a small turbine which would detonate the mine after the ship had sailed a certain distance, so that it was likely to sink in navigable channels or deep water out of reach of easy salvage. Thus, determining the cause of the sinking is more difficult.

Interesting... perfect choice for the narrow Strait of Hormuz...

[Redleg Duke]

They were the weapons used by the original “Special Boats Units” in sinking a freighter carrying German radar equipment. It was memorialised in “Cockleshell Heroes”.

I believe that they also were used in the attack on the Tirpiz up in Norway.

[NorthMountain]

That’s USS MARYLAND, struck during the Battle of Saipan with (probably) a Japanese Type 91 torpedo, with a 500lb warhead. Saw that picture when looking up torpedo damage.

MARYLAND displaced just over 30,000 tons. Now I have to do some looking.

Kokuka Courageous is listed at vesselfinder dot com at 27000DWT.

Front Altair is listed there at 109894 DWT.

I think those pictures at the top may be (supposedly) from the earlier set of attacks.

[Cowgirl of Justice]

Has anyone seen John Kerry?

[Little Ray]

If I were a tin-foil hat wearing anti-Semite, I would accuse Israel.

I despise the Iranian government as much as anyone. But the results of our interventions in the ME have been so bad and what makes anyone think intervening in Iran would come out better?

I am positive that this is a case of “Let’s you and him fight!” by someone who has a lot to gain by hurting both the US and Iran.

[butlerweave]

Someone wants higher oil prices ?

[NELSON111]

Me too. Honestly, I think it’s most likely one of the Gulf states but it could be them as well.

[DoughtyOne]

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[SunkenCiv]

Thanks GOPJ. And, thanks Jimmy Carter, Obama, Kerry, Biden.

• Tankers Off Iran Hit by Suspected Torpedoes

[xkaydet65]

Aren’t most modern torpedoes designed to explode under a ship, thereby breaking its back. That was the purpose of the original Mark 14 back in 42. I would think the technology to achieve under keel detonation is a whole lot better today. So the image of torpedo damage as in the pic is from another time.

[haircutter]

QUESTION...

Does anyone know if Val Jarrett is still getting Secret Service protection and free transportation...?

We know she lives in Barry Hussein’s mansion, more than likely for FREE, like she lived in the WH Private Quarters,,,meals and laundry Free as well...

Just wondering, what she hold over the Hussein’s head????