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To: Flavius

Actually those smudge marks aren't missile hits. Google "Saar-5" and check out the pictures of this class of ship. Those are ports of some type. Somebody on another thread posited that the soot may be exhaust from emergency diesel generators.

In any case, those holes exist on non-missile-stricken ships of that class. From the mess aft, it looks like it may have taken the missile in the hanger deck.


6 posted on 07/15/2006 5:16:19 PM PDT by wyattearp (Study! Study! Study! Or BONK, BONK, on the head!)
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To: wyattearp

yep


7 posted on 07/15/2006 5:34:22 PM PDT by bnelson44 (Proud parent of a tanker! (Charlie Mike, son))
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To: wyattearp
I read in an earlier report that the missile struck in the hanger deck area. Not to much visible damage there but the video is from alongside or from ahead, so it may just be the damage is within the hanger and that not visible.

I agree that the water line smudges are exhaust but I think they are associated with the ship's main propulsion system. Here is a description from the Israel Weapons website (http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/naval/saar5/Saar5.html):

Propulsion

The ship's propulsion system is in a CODOG combined diesel or gas configuration. The two MTU 12V 1163 TB82 diesel engines are rated at 6,600hp. The GE LM 2500 gas turbine system is cross-connected and provides 30,000hp. The propulsion system drives two shafts. The propulsion system provides a maximum speed of 33 knots. The cruise speed on the diesel engines is 20 knots and the endurance is 4,000 nautical miles. A large twin rudder provides maneuverability at high speed and controllable reversible pitch (CRP) propellers at low speed.

The video at the IDF website shows more smudging on the hull than on the Israel Weapons website. This may be normal or it may be from ejecting smoke from the fire through the ventilation system. To be perfectly honest, the ship looks pretty good for having just taken a cruise missile.

These weapons have a history of not detonating when they hit a thinly armored/unarmored ship. But the rocket motor continues to burn causing major conflagrations. IIRC, HMS Sheffield burnt out and had to be sunk during the Falklands War and USS Stark had a major fire during the Tanker War (annex to the Iran- Iraq War) when struck by anti-ship cruise missiles. Both missiles were Exocets. If I am not mistaken, the Chinese-designed, Iranian-produced missile involved in this attack is essentially a copy of the Exocet.

Now that the Israelis are alerted to this threat, I'd say the next time the Hezbollah/Iranians turn on it's fire control radar, the IDF will have a hot surprise waiting for them.
8 posted on 07/15/2006 5:56:08 PM PDT by Captain Rhino ( Dollars spent in India help a friend; dollars spent in China arm an enemy.)
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