[casino66]

I have said it on another thread but.....

It is my understanding that there were up to six Iranian boats that had surrounded the Brits. If the Cornwall had openned fire on them, there would have been many Iranian casualties plus 15 dead Brits. The Cornwall would not have been able to extinguish all six boats. The Iranians were heavily armed and would have taken out the Brits after the first shots were fired by HMS Cornwall.

Just my two cents worth.

[Cicero]

I doubt very much that they were on the Iranian side of the water. By the time the boat was surrounded, it was a bit late, but they could have fired warning shots when they saw the Iranians leave the shore.

Except that the rules of engagement didn't allow it. So if what you say is true, then it just means that the moment when it became too late to take useful action was just a little earlier.

[kvanbrunt2]

Didn't the brits invent radar

[Fraxinus]

Why not call in some air support. I assume they had radios. A flight of A-10's or Tornadoes would be preferred, but even F/A-18's with sidewinders would have been able to put a hurting on the patrol boats.

[grey_whiskers]

It is my understanding that there were up to six Iranian boats that had surrounded the Brits. If the Cornwall had openned fire on them, there would have been many Iranian casualties plus 15 dead Brits. The Cornwall would not have been able to extinguish all six boats. The Iranians were heavily armed and would have taken out the Brits after the first shots were fired by HMS Cornwall.

I don't know if you realize it, but that remark doesn't look too good when taken together with your tagline.

Cheers!

[lentulusgracchus]

It is my understanding that there were up to six Iranian boats that had surrounded the Brits. If the Cornwall had openned fire on them, there would have been many Iranian casualties plus 15 dead Brits.

The question in my mind is, how is it that HMS Cornwall, with her detached personnel aboard the Indiaman, allowed those Iranians even to approach? She should have engaged at once, the minute it became evident they were full of armed Pasdaran and they were en route the stopped ship.

[matt1234]

It is my understanding that there were up to six Iranian boats that had surrounded the Brits. If the Cornwall had openned fire on them, there would have been many Iranian casualties plus 15 dead Brits. The Cornwall would not have been able to extinguish all six boats. The Iranians were heavily armed and would have taken out the Brits after the first shots were fired by HMS Cornwall.

Let's assume you're correct. If it went down as you described, the UK would have at least deterred the iranian koranimals from trying it again in the future. The way the UK has played this (so far), they are simply encouraging more of the same. I hope that they will teach the iranians a terrible lesson to discourage more of the same. I hope the US particpates.

It's basic psychology. To discourage behavior, you apply punishment or negative reinforcment. If you do neither, and the actor obtains some reward or positive reinforcement, he is more likely to repeat the behavior in the future. Psych 101.

[farlander]

Tho, I bet Iranians didn't expect to be in a fight. If HMS Cornwall opened up and made a run for it, it'd have done well.