[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Thanks for the correction. Same thing though, we got between them. The Stark got shot, apparently deliberately, when the Iraqis tried to discourage the U.S. from escorting tankers. The Stark was performing engine tests required for an Atlantic crossing, she was due to rotate home. It was 0300 HR local time and the only officer with the keys that would free the weapons system was three decks below conducting the engine tests when the Iraqis fired. Had he been on the bridge (actually, they should have had a firing solution on the shooter and been painting him with fire control radar before he shot) they would probably have defended themselves and taken out the attacking aircraft as well.

[SampleMan]

I was sleeping in the bunk area on the USS George Philip (FFG 12) when USS Stark (FFG 31) was hit and the very same area was incinerated. I was a midshipman then.

The FFGs were never the most robost ships, usually referred to has having the Helen Keller weapons system, but using their CIWS would have been a whole lot preferable to not using it.

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

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