Bump!
Posted on 02/04/2008 10:50:04 AM PST by RDTF
An American missile ship set to dock at Haifa Port on Monday is equipped with an anti-missile defense system that could be deployed in the region in the event of an Iranian missile attack against Israel.
The USS San Jacinto is an AEGIS cruiser in the Ticonderoga Class and was commissioned in 1988. It carries the most advanced underwater surveillance system available today and is equipped with the AEGIS missile defense system, which was developed by Lockheed Martin to protect against aircraft and missiles. The ship will remain in Haifa for three days.
While the IDF developed and operates the Arrow missile defense system, defense officials said Israel has expressed interest in the AEGIS and that last year, the Defense Ministry requested information on the system from the Pentagon. During the first Gulf War in 1991, the US deployed Patriot missile batteries in Israel to defend the country against Iraqi Scud missiles.
"It is possible that one day, if we are under attack, the US will send these ships to the region to help defend us," a defense official said. "Until then, it is important that we get to know the system, its capabilities and its interoperability with our systems."
The San Jacinto can launch long-range surface-to-surface Tomahawk cruise missiles, rocket torpedoes and standard surface-to-air missiles. The heart of the AEGIS system is the SPY-1A radar system, which is capable of detecting and tracking any aircraft or missile flying within 320 kilometers. The ship has participated in operations in Iraq and Bosnia.
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at jpost.com ...
Ping
Bump!
Message to the Iranians not to try anything?
It would have to stay fairly close to Israel from now on...no use letting the Iranians know it’s there and then sending it away.
....Nah. Couldn't be.
Right?
LLSS.
Stay safe over there.
L
Anybody out there ever make a liberty call in Haifa? I was there once while in the MFO — it struck me kinda like Pittsbugh-by-the-sea.
February surprise for Ah-wanna-jihad and his fellow towel-heads?
It is an industrial city, not a well-known tourist/vacation spot, so your comments are spot-on. Still, for an industrial city it is quite attractive.
it can loiter off the coast at some distance and still be effective, apparently.
For the record, I have never subscribed to or substantiated those rumors, although I have been asked about them several times.
If I knew anything, I would not be saying it here. I know OPSEC.
Some of the things I don't say on here would curl your toes.
The March Israel-Iran Attack rumors are so old they have whiskers growing on them.
Haifa tidbit.
It is also a grainery port and the rats there are as big as a collie dog, but with short rat legs. Feasting on grain all day works on a rat just like pig or a cow.
We had to post guards on all ships lines because the metal shields (”rat guards”) weren’t capable of stopping these huge rats from getting onboard.
Chance for the crew to get ashore and meet up with some of the locals of the opposite sex.
Some of the things I don't say on here would curl your toes.
I have no doubt.
All the same, you watch your back over there. BTW, MrsL really enjoyed the pictures on your FR homepage. She thinks Fox ought to hand YOU a microphone and put you on TV.
"Probably get more of a straight story from her than those overpaid windbags." were pretty much her exact words.
Smart lady that MrsL.
L
...AND the 4 underwater telecommunication cables that were damaged.
I'm not sure this is accurate. The last time I checked, the San Jacinto was armed with the SM-2 missile, which is designed for antiaircraft use, not the SM-3 AEGIS ABM missile. Any currently-serving FReepers out there, please correct me if I'm wrong.
let us not forget those handy Tomahawks
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/04/2153974.htm?section=world
Conspiracy theories emerge after internet cables cut
This thread could quickly become very interesting...
BTW, for those who might be interested, Dimona (sp?) where the two most recent suicide bombers were deployed is Israel’s “nuclear city”.
Maybe SM-2 Block IV A or later variants.
The Block IV A -the forthcoming Navy Area Theater Ballistic Missile Defense (NATBMD) missile.
SM-3 is for a wider-area coverage than TBMD.
Mike
Cut internet cables, anti-missile ships... Nope, nothing to worry about.
Keep your head down and stay safe.
Things are getting a little dicey. And as much as the situation has improved in Iraq lately, we'll not get it settled down completely until Iran is removed from the equation.
Less than 60 days remain on my current mission...
If the listed radar system is correct (& you know how military reporting goes) the SPY-1A is not the sytem used for ballistic missile defense. I think that only the latest SPY-1D’s with the SM3 Standard Missile are able to fill that role. If I’m wrong I’m shortly to be corrected.
I hope the San Jacinto is equiped with a Captain that has the cajones, and the Rules of Engagement, to attack and sink any harassing Iranian Quds Force speed boats that come closer than 500 yards.
It would be impressive, though, to get one of those little speed boats from the Persian Gulf all the way to the Med. ;-)
Not to mention the statement issued by the Israeli general that people should ensure ballistic missile attacks and need to build missile rooms in their homes.
“I’m not sure this is accurate. The last time I checked, the San Jacinto was armed with the SM-2 missile, which is designed for antiaircraft use, not the SM-3 AEGIS ABM missile. Any currently-serving FReepers out there, please correct me if I’m wrong.”
Wouldn’t weapon loadouts of specific ships be classified?
Soooo, what implication might one draw from these coincident events?
Those little speed boats were purchased from the red chinese. I’m betting every terrorist organization in the world has access to them.
Not really. A ship has to be correctly configured to fire a given type of missile. A cruiser configured strictly for the air defense role will have different configuration (radar, fire control, launcher equipment, etc.) from one capable of knocking down both aircraft and incoming ballistic missiles. The configuration of each ship (and its standard weapons load) are public knowledge, available from many sources.
I sure hope all stay safe, I would just love to hear the internet chatter right now from AQ, Hezbollah or Hamas.
So, what’s your assessment of the San Jac’s offensive & defensive capabilities? Assuming the knowledge would not benefit the muzzies.
“Soooo, what implication might one draw from these coincident events?”
Perhaps some intel has indicated there is an increased threat or maybe they are trying to make a point to someone.
Are you serious??
Those be some big rats!! Dayum!
That’s my take on it. If I had all the intel as to what’s really going on, I might station a warship or ten in the eastern Med and be ready to shoot. But then, I don’t have the intel. Something to watch...
I use those Aegis cruisers in Command and Conquer. They work very well. ;)
And what does the guard do? Hopefully the answer is shoot the thing and not turn it over to PETA.
Worst case: the crap is about to hit the fan with Iran. The Iranians just tested a "peaceful" rocket with the range required to hit Israel. They may be planning to follow that up with an actual missile attack. If the Iranians were to launch a nuke or nukes at Israel, it's likely their first target would be Haifa, which is adjacent to Tel Aviv (the nation's largest population center) and the port by which Israel would receive critical supplies, spares and munitions in case of war. The IDF has an operational ABM system (the Arrow missile) capable of shooting down incoming IRBMs, but the San Jacinto has been moved to Haifa to provide a backup in case any incoming Iranian warheads get through.
If an incoming nuke were to be shot down by the IDF or our ship, the Israeli government would almost certainly retailiate against Iran with nukes, but as long as the attack did not result in civilian casualties they might be persuaded to limit the response to a counterforce attack (i.e, an attack against military targets only). However, if an Iranian nuke got past all defenses and destroyed Israel's largest city, God forbid, it's highly unlikely anything could stop the Israelis from vaporizing Tehran in retaliation. Therefore, it is vital that any incoming WMDs be shot down before any civilians get killed. The Arrow ABM and our ship will be the only hope if the lives of the citizens of Tel Aviv and Tehran are to be spared.
The governments of Iran, Israel, and the United States are well aware that the Internet is the number one global information medium. If the Israelis had to nuke Iran in retaliation for an attack, it would be in their best interest to physically sever Iran (and the neighboring Arab world) from the Net to keep the Iranians from sending out photos, videos, and stories of the carnage. This could explain the recent cable cuts.
Keep in mind that these are only my uneducated opinions. Let's all pray that nobody launches nothing at nobody.
You have a point....but the Iranian's could refuel them at sea with their submarines.
[/grin]
Ummm on second thought if one puts himself in their slippers, probably not because they are looking for the return of the mahdi. Interesting (in the chinese use of the word) little game of chess going on...
Another piece of the puzzle. God help us.
Hopefully this is all just a big game of saber rattling.
High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. or WOT [War on Terror]
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Heck, you’re gettin short!
They have short timers calenders over there like they
had in Nam?
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