Posted on 06/21/2007 12:41:53 PM PDT by Jedi Master Pikachu
The Brits made gross errors in tactics and their sailors and marines were caught without any support. The helo was refueling and surface combat ships weren’t in position to defend.
The Brit soldiers and marines boarding the vessel had no choice in giving up, but a few of them were an embarassment during capture and after release.
I think the Iranians learned from the Aussie experience that they needed more firepower if they were going to catch a boarding party, and came back with more when they caught the Brits
Should have busted a cap in there asses...
Expect a FReepmail shortly.
BTTT
Do not alter headlines. Last warning.
"Greater strategic awareness" = much more firepower. God bless the Aussies; they're our staunchest allies, and we're fortunate that they are.
Precisely to both of you - and I’m writing as a retired officer of the RAN, who has experience boarding parties in the Gulf.
People should note that the Australian sailors were able to get back to the ship they had just boarded, and that allowed them to set up a survivable defence situation. They were taken off that ship by helicopter for a reason - men in inflatables are incredibly vulnerable.
The Iranians didn’t allow the British that type of escape route. Maybe they’d learned from the first encounter, maybe it was luck, maybe it was poor tactics or situational awareness on the part of the sailors and marines. Maybe it was a combination of those. But the situations were not identical.
My thoughts as well.
However, Great showing by the Aussies.
Gotta love them :-)
Cheers.
Aye. The Iranians will only go as far as we let them go. .....and the Brits left the door wide open. Confront Iran and they invariably back down.
That’s our boys! God love ‘em.
Smart move -- better than being caught in a small boat.
The Brits — from condescendingly telling us to “bugger off” to meekly surrendering to a 3rd world naval vessel/crew [*chortle*] within minutes time. One can only imagine what Horatio Nelson would’ve thought.
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During Pearl Harbor think of Boatswain’s Mate Thomas Donahue of the Monaghan. He was at the #4 gun waiting for ammunition lockers to be opened and ammunition distributed. While he waited he through wrenches at the low flying Japanese airplanes. When they finally got them opened someone yelled up and asked him what he needed. His response was “Powder, I can’t keep throwing things at them.”
That’s the kind of determination that should’ve been displayed by the Brits. You kinda expect that from the Aussies. Aussies do like to rumble.
Would you expect any better ?
I have a friend who was in Basra last year who told me that morale among the Brits is rock bottom. They hate to leave their camp at the airport and can’t wait to get out and “let the Americans have their war”
We’d be better off giving Basra to the Poles.
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