[wyattearp]

You're saying that each missle is unique in its flight characteristics and the Israeli navy reviewed the radar (I assume) log of the attack and pulled a missile "fingerprint" from that?

The missle is radar-guided. The specific characteristics of that radar is the "fingerprint".

[wyattearp]

Dang. I hate it when the double-post thing happens.

[GonzoGOP]

Also remember the ship didn't sink. There are bound to be fragments of the missile all over the ship. A torn off fin, parts of the small turbojet engine would be a dead give away. Even the size and shape of the blast and chemical residue from the warhead would give you a good idea what is was. A tiny fragment of the body would give you the diameter, limiting it to a few possible missiles.

That and one of the missiles missed so they may have gotten a good look at that one.

Finally once you fire a missile the launcher is visible. If you look at the launcher you can usually tell what it was that it launched.