Posted on 03/07/2017 10:25:38 AM PST by Retain Mike
A U.S. Navy surveillance ship was harassed by an Iranian fast attack craft while entering the Persian Gulf on Saturday, a defense official confirmed to USNI News on Monday.
USNS Invincible (T-AGM-24) was transiting the Strait of Hormuz in the early morning on March 4 with three other coalition ships when the ships were approached by several Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy fast attack craft, the official told USNI News.
One of the IRGCN craft maneuvered 600 yards in front of the 2,300-ton Invincible and “went dead in the water,” the official said.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.usni.org ...
“Say hello to Mr. CIWS.”
I think the surveillance ship was unarmed. But it might be nice for it to have a “big brother” ship standing by — or an on-deck predator drone that could be launched. Need at least two shots: one warning, one kill.
Going dead in the water in front of a navy ship should be immediate grounds for being blown out of the water- you never know if your driving INTO a boat full of explosives... shoot it
I don’t recall the ship maneuvering to avoid things like that, but then, the Soviets weren’t stupid enough to plant themselves in front of a carrier doing 15 knots. They kept a respectful distance from carriers and escorts, but I think our independently operating ships had run ins with them.
I give this ship and crew a break, they obviously aren’t regular navy and probably aren’t armed.
LOL, “my little friend!”
600 meters.
LOL
They are merchant marines and CIA.
Merchant marines on a U.S. Navy ship?
And didn’t want to get blown up had the small patrol boat been a big IED.
We’d all like to see these guys get cut in half by the Navy ship, but political sensibilities probably negate doing that unless the provocation is severe.
That said, an unarmed US Navy vessel in the Gulf without an escort might not be the best plan.
an act of intimidation...full steam ahead, maintain course....the Navy is letting the Iranians control the situation....
“Launch the nukes.”
“You mean the ones that just blew up?”
Mossad = mo sad
Just blow a couple of these Azzholes out of the water, and this kind of crap will end pretty quick. This kind of “no cajones” policy makes America look like jerks...or worse.
I remember hearing that if a destroyer was called a “tin can”, then an aircraft carrier would be a “can opener”.
"Mr. CIWS has a message just for you! You have to listen very carefully in order to hear it! Are you ready?"
Agreed. One of these days, though.
In my mind, we still owe them a shot to the chops big time for the Hostage Crisis.
And I think we owe the North Koreans as well for the USS Pueblo. My dad was an acquaintance of CDR Bucher, and my dad was the Security and Communications officer at Yokosuka when that all happened (We didn’t see him for the better part of two weeks IIRC) so if I had my way...
USNS
When I lived in Subic Bay as a kid, the aft end of the USS Frank Evans was tied up, and I passed it every day, the gory interior with ripped off pipes, and torn off watertight doors clearly visible from the road. She was cut in half by the HMAS Melbourne.
And I was on the USS Kennedy after she got out of the yards after hitting the USS Belknap. Her entire superstructure melted and ran down the sides of the vessel.
And I was on deck the night she collided in the North Atlantic with the USS Bordelon. I think small ships would steer clear of the Kennedy...
So, yes...those big ships ARE can openers.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.