I guess your writing isn’t good enough for them until it is, but only if you don’t submit it, or something like that. Pretty piss poor on AT’s part. I agree that your conclusion is a likely scenario, but I think it’s worse than that. I believe a stand down order was given. How high up? Who knows? Plenty of bootlickers in the c of c. Btw, my son trained with that unit this summer and he says their top notch.
The LT in charge would have it drilled into his head:
1. YOU WILL NEVER FIRE UNTIL YOU ARE FIRED UPON!
2. YOU MUST CALL HIGHER AND GET PERMISSION TO FIRE!
The Iranians know that as sure as I know my name. This gives them the total opportunity to capture our small boats, just by 1. Jamming outward comms and 2. Edging in closer and closer, until it’s point blank range, and then demanding “Surrender or die!” over a loudspeaker.