Navy fired Warning Shots at Iranian Boat

Foxnews ^ | 4/11/08 | Foxnews

[veracious]

Nothing followed.

[veracious]

Blam it.

[Mr. K]

I bet they thought they would be allowed to board the ship like when the british were grabbed.

[Clintons Are White Trash]

Only a warning shot? They have had plenty of warnings, make the next one count!

[Towed_Jumper]

And when one of these Iranian speedboats press in on a US warship and our Navy blows it out of the water, how long will it be before the DemonRats in Congress start screaming that this was another “Gulf of Tonkin”-type event to drag us into war with Iran?

[VA_Gentleman]

Too bad they missed.

[r9etb]

And when one of these Iranian speedboats press in on a US warship and our Navy blows it out of the water, how long will it be before the DemonRats in Congress start screaming that this was another “Gulf of Tonkin”-type event to drag us into war with Iran?

The Iranians are hoping for just that sort of response. They also have a pretty fair idea of the USN's trigger distances. They want us to shoot at them.

Good job, once again, by the commander at the scene.

[pepsionice]

Whatever our guys aimed at...there were likely within three inches of the intended target...so if I were an Iranian sailor...I’d take a mighty big sigh of relief that I got away alive.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Remember, the last time the Iranians did this, a passenger jet got caught in the crossfire.

[Red6]

Again-

These sort of events serve three ends: harass, desensitize, and probe.

They collect information on how we respond, with what, at what ranges, how fast, etc...... By running constant mock attacks, you desensitize the enemy to your actions and when the real event occurs they are less likely to react quickly and violently. It also serves to boost morale among their guys, demoralizes us (That's at least the intent), and gets them international attention especially in the Middle East and Arab world where this is seen as them snubbing their nose at us. In their world this is seen almost as some victory. It's all part of the game.

[r9etb]

Remember, the last time the Iranians did this, a passenger jet got caught in the crossfire.

And a large portion of the Iranian navy ended up getting sunk.... ;-)

[2001convSVT]

Too bad it was not a 16” naval rife that fired the warning shot.

[dragnet2]

I couldn’t agree more. Stop with the warning BS. Blow the SOBs out of the water. Send the GD message.

[fso301]

To warn away a boat at 200yards, why not just fill some line throwers with pork chops and fire away?

[Mr. Lucky]

I can’t remember how, but this would be a good place to post a photgraph of one of the Iowas lighting off a full broadside.

[Lazamataz]

[wolfcreek]

It’s amazing how the concussion displaces the water like that.

[dragnet2]

It not only does that, it also moves the ship. Examine the center image.

[wolfcreek]

Do they have a extra deep keel to compensate?

[fproy2222]

It not only does that, it also moves the ship. Examine the center image.

++

After looking at the pictures, all I can hear in my head is that song about

Don’t rock the boat, baby, don’t rock the boat.

[dragnet2]

I have no idea but that would probably be likely. However firing these guns close to simultaneously, that ship is going to move, as the center image seems to suggest. Then again, I could be wrong, as I am a U.S. Army Veteran with limited naval warship knowledge.

[RightWhale]

A flare is kind of a warning shot.

[UCANSEE2]

“Good job, once again, by the commander at the scene. “

You remember. Many don’t.

[Blogatron]

I heard they lurch about 3 feet sideways when they do that. I also heard that one of those shells landing would level an area half the size of a football field, and from 27 miles away.

Lebanese Civil War (1983–1984)
On November 28 — after October 23, 1983 Beirut barracks bombing — the U.S. government announced that New Jersey would be retained off Beirut although her crew would be rotated. On 14 December, New Jersey fired 11 projectiles from her 16 inch (406 mm) guns at hostile positions inland of Beirut. These were the first 16 inch (406 mm) shells fired for effect anywhere in the world since New Jersey ended her time on the gunline in Vietnam in 1969. On 8 February 1984, New Jersey fired almost 300 shells at Druze and Syrian positions in the Bekaa valley east of Beirut. Some 30 of these massive projectiles rained down on a Syrian command post, killing the general commanding Syrian forces in Lebanon and several other senior officers. This was the heaviest shore bombardment since the Korean War.

[Lou L]

Do they have a extra deep keel to compensate?

I believe the ship's draft is about 40 feet, but what's remarkable is how wide they are. Their beam is close to 100 feet across.

[Mr. Lucky]

Even with the language barrier, The Iranian navy would understand the message.

[going hot]

Imagine the displacement that occurs on the other end of the trajectory.

[Cementjungle]

It’s amazing how the concussion displaces the water like that.

Think of the poor fish!

[Mr. Lucky]

The fish are smart enough not to pick a fight with the United States Navy.

[Osage Orange]

You know...I’d pay some tall $$$ to go see that.

[Cementjungle]

The fish are smart enough not to pick a fight with the United States Navy.

LOL... good point.

[RockinRight]

Ahmanutjob is just begging for an ass-kicking now.

[river rat]

"It’s amazing how the concussion displaces the water like that."

Hell, you ought to see the effect of "concussion" on human beings.....

[SmithL]

You ought to feel the bounce when a Trident launches.

[The Pack Knight]

Iowa and Wisconsin are museum ships now, but they're still considered mobilization assets and are expected to be kept in such a condition that they can readily be converted back to military use.

They might be incredibly expensive to operate, but their armor could be useful against any kamikaze speedboats Iran tried to throw at it. That and the sheer psychological effect of their presence could make them useful assets, if not necessarily cost-effective.

It makes me think the Navy ought to consider developing some armored patrol craft for the sort of littoral warfare we could expect to see in the Gulf.

[dragnet2]

Oh, I’ve felt the bounce off 155mm Howitzers and 105s real close up. Kinda neat at first, but it seriously got to the point where was turning my brain and nerves into jello.

[The Pack Knight]

I think their knowledge of the Navy's trigger distances is what concerns me the most. I think it's pretty fair to assume the Iranians' objective here is to gather intelligence on the U.S. Navy's procedures and rules of engagement, with an eye towards exploiting them in the future.

After the Cole bombing, they've seen a serious vulnerability in our fleet, and right now they're exploring the feasibility of a series of Cole-style attacks as the opening move of any war in the Gulf. Their goal would either be to attack our carriers directly, or to open them up for submarine attack by targeting their escorts. It seems like their best chance of catching the U.S. fleet off guard.

The most frightening scenario is if they were to acquire nuclear weapons. Anything they develop themselves is likely to be too big to deliver by any of their aircraft or missiles, but could easily be carried by a moderately sized speedboat or patrol craft. If such a boat were able to penetrate the picket line of a carrier group, the results could be catastrophic.

[jdm]

STARWISE’s original thread is still in breaking news too. I think this marks the first time in FR history where a locked thread has remained in breaking news for hours. Just an observation.

[Chode]

HOZE-EM!!!!

[nascarnation]

How about a Gatling gun that fires pork fat in paintball cartridges as a fun playtoy for our Navy guys & girls?

[Chode]

or pigsh!t...

[Nuc1]

If you want to see the effect look at the ship's wake. The wake experiences pronounced step changes following nine gun salvos. One can see this in Korean war footage. Looks to me like only six of the nine 16 inchers fired in these pics. Still, a beautiful sight.

[STARWISE]

I think you’re right .. they must like
how I messed up the Fox News link .. LOL.

[veracious]

Yah, well “warning shot” was in the Fox news headline with nothing more. A flare is not a _shot_ in my book, so this is not the way I would have phrased it...