Iranians threaten to blow up US Navy ships _ Hormuz Strait

Telegraph UK ^ | 4:12pm GMT 07/01/2008 | Damien McElroy, Foreign Affairs Correspondent

[cmiller623]

Why are these guys always calling their troops “elite” revolutionary guards when in battle they will get shredded like Saddam’s elite troops did??

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

It’s a Persian thing!

[PsyOp]

No. Those are for close-in-antimissle defense. Most likely the Five-inch guns.

Isn't 200 yards a bit close in for the 5-inch? Can it depress low enough at that range? I would imagine CIWIS would be better at that range for that type of target. Even though it is designed for anti-missle it can target surface objects.

[tobyhill]

I don’t think we are heading for a recession but the only one that benefits from Iranian stunts like this is Iran when oil prices spike and they make a billion more. Iran is doing it for one reason, money and will continue to do it till we send a clear message that will result in consequences.

[RightWhale]

Can it depress low enough at that range?

Yes, indeed. Fires horizontal with the water just like the good old days of Spanish galleons and buckaneers.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

fyi

[mr_hammer]

Has anyone read Vince Flynn’s latest novel “Protect and Defend”?

Seem like a script torn right from his newly printed novel.

[RightWhale]

Simple enough picture but not even close to reality.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Meant to link to your thread:

Why We're in the Persian Gulf

*******************EXCERPT Intro************************

For this system to work, the Americans must prevent any power from dominating the Persian Gulf while retaining the ability to protect the safe passage of ships through its waters.

[NavyCanDo]

“BREAKING something about a couple Navy jets down in Gulf”

Top of the hour news said it was a collision between the two. The aviators are OK

[tobyhill]

What’s not reality? Iran making more money when oil prices spike due to their own actions? That’s a given and these Iranian stunts will continue till the US puts an end to it.

[lormand]

My Prayers go out to them. I appreciate their sacrifice to our nation.

[dragnet2]

Thanks...A midair? Damn....

[RightWhale]

Maybe, but prices didn’t spike but dropped $3 and counting. You have a complex oil business and Iran is not even one of the top majors.

[rahbert]

bingo!

[agere_contra]

That it wasn't implies that the rules of engagement are simply hand-cuffing our captains.

Absolutely. Western navies are tied down by their ROE.

[Travis McGee]

"Five small boats were acting in a very aggressive way, charging the ships, dropping boxes in the water in front of the ships and causing our ships to take evasive manoeuvres," the Pentagon official said.

The ROE should have meant these boats were sunked seconds later.

[rfp1234]

Were they Iranian Flying Boats?

[RightWhale]

Is that a new secret military weapon designed to make the enemy collapse in laughter?

[rfp1234]

LOL - if you look closely at the pic, the pilot is a Scottish Terrier.