[garyhope]

I don’t understand why we just didn’t hose all those boats.

Just turn the Phalanx canons on them and make em, puff, disappear.

[quack]

I’m sure the Phalanx was on them.You don’t have to turn it.It’s computer controlled to swing on any threat approaching the vessel.

[G.Mason]

I would imagine we are laying the ground work for just that scenario ... coming to a theater near you soon.

[america4vr]

I say this with great trepidation hoping fervently it is not the case but after reading your comment, it dawned on me that the last time the US Navy responded militarily against Iran, it ended in disaster for us when the target they fired upon was not a military aircraft but a civilian passenger jet.

So with all the horrific repercussions that it engendered, the US public apology, compensation to the victims' families that ran into the millions, not only the embarrassment for the US and the Navy but also the Iranian terrorist attacks to avenge our mistake with a premeditated murder of innocent civilians, military personnel, maybe, just maybe the US Navy is being a bit gun-shy.

[ChinaThreat]

I do believe the phalanx would have been a nice option.

[LasVegasMac]

I don’t understand why we just didn’t hose all those boats.

Hey, they said they only asked us to identify ourselves....

"This is the USS Range accompanied by the USS Bearing and the USS Mark....and my name is 'SHOOT'........hello?.....hello?"

[r9etb]

I don’t understand why we just didn’t hose all those boats. Just turn the Phalanx canons on them and make em, puff, disappear.

It would have served no purpose to do so -- and most likely it would have done more harm than good.

As it turns out, the Iranians probably hurt themselves by doing this, and having our guys not respond.

[ModelBreaker]

Just turn the Phalanx canons on them and make em, puff, disappear.

A friend of mine has worked on the issue of close defense against little boats. The Phalanx doesn't work so well for that.

Targeting is a big problem because little boats keep disappearing behind waves. So automation is very difficult. Also, I'm not sure the phalanx even depresses enough to serve in that role. It's an air defense system.