[Jeff Head]

For those interested in this critical development.

[AndrewB]

Hmmm-looks like an exhaust port to me....

[Dreagon]

Now Israel needs to use one of it's missile subs to put a few missiles into Tehran.

[AndrewB]

Here's another.

[nuconvert]

It was a Chinese made Iranian purchased C-802 Silkworm missile

[Grut]

I am now leaning towards the systems not being engaged at the time of attack.

CIWIS may not even have been operational; it's an old military tradition to send out broken ships and planes because the mission is soo important....

[Eastbound]

Looks more like some kind of a sewage port than it does a missile hole, similar to the one on the starboard beam, except for the absence of discoloratioin.

[rawhide]

Do we know for sure that the ship sustained damage on the right side of the ship? I see no pictures of the left side of the ship? The soot we see around the blow-hole may be a result of fire inside?

[wtc911]

How many of these does Iran have lining the Straits of Hormuz?

[Lancey Howard]

BUMP!
Thanks for the ping.

[Lurker]

That's some damned fine seamanship.

L

[NAVY84]

I Believe that the impact maybe the pile of debris in front of the helo in the first pic. There seems to be some wreckage and possibly a radome askew atop the hanger. This would be an up the butt shot (worst possible scenario for their missiles and CIWS) for sure with the missile hitting the intersection of the hanger and the flight deck (largest RCS from astern for a plunging popup missile) That would explain the even keel (no actual hull penetration) and the persistant fire (maybe a helo in the hanger?) It would also do serious damage to the aft engineering spaces below the hanger.

As for a comment on the experience level of the IDF's Navy; They are, from what I saw of their seaman and officers, every bit as capable and professional as the rest of the IDF. The survival of that ship after a hit of this type speaks to that.

[ladyinred]

Thanks Jeff.

[fso301]

Photoshop?

In this thread, the video seems to show two hits.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1666416/posts

[cva66snipe]

Jeff IF what I read in a Debka article is true that water line hole is in fact a discharge port. http://debka.com/article.php?aid=1184 The ship had two missile hit attempts. One exploded in the water nearby. The second one hit the Helo deck. Meaning it likely IMO came down aft of the ship and at a sharp angle.

The DEBKA article states the ship was sinking. IMO if that was a steep angle just fwd of the helo pad that could likely be true. A blow up of picture #1 seems to show charing just fwd of the parked chopper. I do not think the chopper was likely on the ship at that time adding to the confusion and may have prevented a Delta Fire as well. About the soot on the aft hole? Just that soot from an above deck hit.

More important the ship again according to DEBKA is in fact underway on it's own power. Debka may have gotten this one right and from what I see it fits as being the most likely scenario.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Small hole.

[ArmstedFragg]

I am now leaning towards the systems not being engaged at the time of attack.

The crew committment for combat is almost 100%, with most of them in the CIC. So, if they were running a normal 1/3 watch, they may well not have had the systems activated.

[M Kehoe]

Good evening, and thanks for the pics.

I trust you are doing well.

5.56mm

[wyattearp]

Just read this at:

(International Middle East Media Center)

"Close to midnight the ship made its way to port in Israel where its rudders were repaired."

If this is correct, it likely means that the ship was hit square in the butt. It also means that the pics can't be current.

[rmlew]

Either the 160kg warhead failed to explode or the Sa'ar V was not hit by a Slikworm.

[hershey]

Heard late last night (CNN or Fox) that their CWIS wasn't on because they didn't believe Hezbollah had long range rockets.