Posted on 01/14/2007 4:59:19 PM PST by maquiladora
TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Deputy Governor General of Iran's southern province of Hormuzgan strongly rejected rumors about eruption of clashes between Iranian and US battleships in the Persian Gulf.
Speaking to FNA, the official viewed the rumor as a part of the enemies' psychological war on Iran, and added, "Such efforts are made to break the Iranians' resolve after West's efforts in the form of the UN Security Council Resolution 1737 to influence Iran's decision through downgrading public morale failed."
An informed source in the security department of the Iranian interior ministry also denied such reports as baseless.
The only operation on the coastal provinces in southern Iran in the last two days pertained to a clash between Iran's Law Enforcement Police and a gang of smugglers in the vicinity of the Persian Gulf port city of Jask.
Since the early hours of Sunday morning, many Iranian subscribers have received an SMS which spoke of a clash between Iranian and American battleships in the Persian Gulf waters.
Must be rumors circulating in Iran.
ping
FARS.."There are no US battleships in the Persian Gulf. Nothing to see here. Move along."
SMS?
Cell phone text message.
It's like a text message I think..
I have the function on my wireless Internet but I never use it.
some Microsoft software (kidding)
Silly Messaging Service
Watch out Mahmoud Imadimjihad. Shh, don't anyone tell them where the BBs really are.
Seems to me the last time we used a battleship was to bombard the coast of Lebanon under Reagan. Or am I wrong about that? I think they recommissioned the New Jersey just for that purpose.
A plaque on the Missouri, now moored in Honolulu says it was used in the first gulf war.
I'm sure you're right. What I remember is that the New Jersey was recommissioned after battleships went out of fashion because somebody figured that firing large shells was cheaper in the long run than firing million dollar missiles, especially at the proverbial mud huts.
I believe the last time we used a battleship was in Desert Storm to hit the coast of Kuwait.
I think "warship" was mis-translated as "battleship". There are currently no battleships still in active service
USS Missouri uses her big guns in the first Gulf War ---
"While the United States and other countries around the world heard the words "The liberation of Kuwait has begun," Missouri continued to fire Tomahawks — 28 in all.
The war continued as Allied air superiority continued to dominate the demoralized Iraqi army. In February 1991, Missouri fired her 16-inch guns — the first firing of her guns in anger since the Korean conflict in the 1950s. Firing at targets just north of Khafji, Saudi Arabia, the ship assisted shore-based ground units in their tasks. Missouri shared gunnery duties with USS Wisconsin (BB 64) and the two battleships continued to hammer at their targets with 16-inch gunnery. Near the end of the month, Missouri turned her big guns on Faylaka Island and Kuwait City in support of the ground offensive. Iraq agreed to a cease fire agreement on 28 February 1991."
http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/ships/battleships/missouri/bb63-mo.html
Psyops. We did the same thing pre-Iraq. I bet Iranian military officers start getting more specific messages soon.
Against Iran, a battleship like the New Jersey would be a good idea. Between having enough armor to take an Exocet hit, and being able to continually bombard shore offensive positions, it could put some hurt on the Iranians.
Unfortunately, the last two battleships that could have been used (the Iowa and Wisconsin) were mothballed.
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