Posted on 01/06/2024 6:54:12 AM PST by logi_cal869
Yesterday, the ongoing disruption of shipping in the Red Sea took an interesting turn. The Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV), a threat well known to anyone who has operated in the Gulf in the last few years – and very well known to the Russian Black Sea Fleet, some of whom have taken up residency on the bottom as a result – made its appearance in the southern Red Sea.
So far, details are scant. Vice Admiral Cooper, the US Fifth Fleet commander based in Bahrain, said:
“This was a one-way attack, unmanned surface vessel that had launched from Houthi-controlled territory, had transited out to international shipping lanes, clearly with the intent to do harm. Fortunately, it detonated. It’s unclear who the target vessel was…”
It’s a significant development for Operation Prosperity Guardian (OPG), the international naval effort whose aim seems to be something like “providing sufficient reassurance to shipping companies to restore the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea”.
First, it’s clear that the Houthis show no sign of slowing down, despite a joint statement from the governments of the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore and the United Kingdom on 3 December that this must not continue. The entirely defensive nature of OPG coupled with ‘stern warnings’ isn’t deterring the Houthis.
Second, the USV explosion will not help reassure the major shipping companies such as Maersk, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd and Evergreen who have elected to route around the Cape of Good Hope rather than run the Houthi gauntlet through the Bab-el-Mandeb chokepoint. For the big shippers, the strait truly is living up to its name: the Gate of Grief.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Some interesting details in the report and worth following this development, especially considering the USN failure to adopt any effective weaponry/tactics to defeat Iranian manned fast attack craft, let alone the LO USV threat.
Pro Active defense.
Destroy Piracy!
Nothing that a couple of tactical nukes wouldn’t take care of. But,we’ve got the commie traitors in charge. Bummer.
latti71
@djuric_zlatko
From “ X”
“The head of Yemen’s Supreme Political Council, Muhammad Ali al-Houthi, threatened that any country participating in the multinational force created by the US to protect shipping in the Red Sea would “lose its maritime security and become a target for us.” - ISZ reports”
So it’s not about shipping “ linked to Israel”
Probly never really was
It’s about Yemen challenging Western and allied access to the Suez
I, for one, fail to grasp the apparent refusal of the USN to adopt proximity munitions to destroy small surface craft.
It’s time for the B-52 carpet bombing campaign on the Houthi’s to begin…..
WWG1WGA!
USV has been around for awhile. Taking out a USV is fairly simple but that does nothing but destroy the USV. Kind of like shooting down the incoming missiles or drones.
Eliminate the launch point via overwhelming force and you solve that problem.
If you don’t destroy the nest, the vipers will continue to sting.
It’s bigger than that, imho:
This is the trigger for Iranian involvement and a major escalation which could upend 2024.
I believe the USV was intended to target USN and it was likely detonated by unpublished USN anti-drone technology efforts.
I said we must adapt, ... we may have to change Naval Leadership and a significant amount of the Officer Corps to do so.
“ If you don’t destroy the nest, the vipers will continue to sting.”
Destroy the Houthi once and for all.
> Eliminate the launch point via overwhelming force and you solve that problem. <
Yep. That’s obvious to everyone except the folks in the Biden administration.
Right now the US Navy is playing a successful game of Whack-a-Mole with these incoming threats. But success is not guaranteed with such a “game”.
As a side point, I wonder if Biden’s handlers actually agree with you. But they want to strike closer to the election to make Biden look strong. If so, they are risking lives for political advantage.
Frankly, the U.S. would do well to just leave everyone alone over there and let the countries where these shipping companies are domiciled protect those cargo ships. Nobody should be rewarded with U.S. Navy protection in an industry that has gone out of its way to do business outside the authority of U.S. laws and regulations.
What airplane can carry the most Daisy cutters or MOABs?
just exactly how difficult would it be to destroy the ports from which these kamikaze boats launch from? ... not difficult at all ... just a matter of lack of will from weak governments ...
I think both you & I know what that means (first a loss of assets/personnel to prompt said changes).
Or perhaps Biden is orchestrating this so he can respond by kicking some Houthi butt and uping his poll numbers.
So, why aren't those launch points just eliminated? Maybe, because these ports are guarded by Muslim women holding babies..
I’ve heard the Somalis have joined in with the Houthis to disrupt shipping.
It’s defined as an ‘escalation’ which, logically - under military doctrine & law - should already have occurred (including the missile launch sites).
The fact that - militarily - we have not yet responded AT ALL suggests LOUDLY that the timing of subsequent/consequent events doesn’t yet meet ‘their’ scenario.
Forthcoming, but on ‘their’ timetable to influence domestic events here in the US.
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