Posted on 07/15/2006 1:58:15 PM PDT by Woodstock
Initial probe into attack on missile boat Friday reveals Navy had no intelligence of possible missile threat in area where boat was operating; missile, aircraft interception system has been turned off due to presence of IDF planes in sector
The actions taken by crewmembers of the IDF missile boat that sustained a direct Hizbullah missile hit Friday, prevented a great disaster that could have resulted in numerous casualties, an initial inquiry into the incident reveals.
Boat Attacked
Sailor killed at sea / Tova Dadon
Shortly after deadly attack on Navy ship operating off Beirut shores, Amgar family of Ashdod informed their son is okay; next phone call bears different news: Soldier, who was so fond of sea, is missing. His body recovered Saturday
Brigadier-General Noam Page of the Navy said in a press conference Saturday that the Navy was unaware that a missile threat existed in the sector, and that the boat's crew had acted accordingly.
Missile boats are equipped with a missile interception system capable of automatically intercepting any missile or aircraft approaching it. However, as the boat was operating in an area where a large number of IDF planes were present, the Navy had refrained from activating the system.
Navy sources said that had they known the Hizbullah was in possession of missiles of the type used against the boat Saturday, the missile interception system would have been turned on.
‘We’ve been hit’
The initial investigation revealed that at 8:45 p.m. crewmembers on board the vessel were preparing for Shabbat dinner when a loud blat was heard. One of the ship’s commanders has informed the Navy’s control command: “We’ve been hit.” In the first few minutes after the strike, it was unclear what hit the boat, and the sailors concentrated on extinguishing the fire that broke out at the landing pad after 50 kilograms of explosives penetrated the vessel’s body.
Large Navy and Air Force units were dispatched to the place and began assisting the forces on board the boat.
Simultaneously, the crew conducted a damage control routine aimed at establishing what systems sustained damages in the attack. At the first stage it was decided to pull the boat away from its position using another boat, and at the same time to surround it with additional crafts in order to protect it from being hit again.
A senior Navy official said Saturday that the fire on board has repeatedly erupted after being extinguished as a result of the heat absorbed by metal objects on the boat. Only after the crew managed to contain the fire and tend to the damages it was discovered that four sailors were missing.
Or disinfo to cover up a failed system?
Yes, blue-on-blue engagements are bad, but c'mon. This is what IFF is for. USS Stark's CWIS was down for preventive maintenance. Why have the systems if you're not going to use them when in-theater? Lesson NOT learned.
I suspect that you are spot on correct with that statement, sir.
It was a calculated risk and they got burned. Fool me once...
It requires a change in tactics and the IDF will adapt. Of the 3 branches, the Navy is probably the weakest - only because the army and air force have had a helluva lot more practice, given that the arab navies consist of squat.
This is significant only in the escalation of weapons and obvious involvement by other powers and the brief emotional lift to the Mohammedans. The true battle impact is limited.
iirc weren't the initial patriot failures due to not resetting radar after previous tracking engagements?
where's the damn reset button?
(not that its the same)
Remember the USS Starke?
Remember the war games circa 2002/2003 where a Marine General "sank" the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy? Remember sometime summer of 2004/2005 where the USS John F. Kennedy collided with a Dhow in the Persian Gulf?
"Or disinfo to cover up a failed system?"
Perhaps. Human error may explain it.
Failure of the system to detect and intercept the drone is scarier for future encounters.
Ping
Occam's Razor.
Israel needs to get destroyers, cruisers, etc. The Muslims are not going to have a weak navy forever.
the stark was a guided missile frigate whose phalanx system was not operating properly. iirc
As many have stated the Israeli Navy is really the ugly stepchild. They really haven't been involved in any major engagements since some 1973 battles with the Syrians near Latakia.
I susoect this was due to carelessness and some initiative on the part of Hezbollah.
It's happened to us as well. The Iraqis and the Taliban have shot down a bunch of Apaches and Blackhawks. A good number of Abrams Tanks and Bradleys have been taken out by the insurgents due to IEDS and other munitions. In Gulf War 1 a few jets were shot down. The NVA and VC shot down quite a bit more than a few. To expect to fight a war and have no materiel losses or dmages is really unrealistic. Hezbollah night het a few IAF planes as well. I certainly wouldn't be shocked.
That's what war is largely. The bad guy adapts and you react. The ship seemed to make it back to port of its own steam. The damage appears to be less than the Cole for example. I suspect they'll learn from this and move on.
Bingo. The vulnerability of ships is so underrated especially by the US. Any contest between high tech navies and air forces will be a blood bath.
The other excuse I have seen...was that they did not want to shoot down friendlies.
Like they can not id the bad guy !
Did Iran buy some subs lately ?
yes they did, russian kilos wasn't it?
I admit, I am thinking ahead of the curve but it is better to be safe than sorry.
Where are the Arabs getting the ships from and where will they be based on the Med? Not going to be Egypt, Lebanon or Palestine (sic) so that rules out most of the coast. Can't bring anything thru the canal either.
I personally prefer Navy to all branches but apart from a missile platform, 5 inch support for ground and special ops insertion, can't see what they'd need big ships for.
Wouldn't mind giving the IDF BB-62 and letting it sit off the coast again though.
The French will sell Exocets to anyone with a 4th of July permit or approver equal and they have been around since the 60's.
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