Escalation: Combat Drone Fired Directly from Iran Hits Israeli-Linked Tanker Off India’s Coast

Jewish Press ^ | 23/12/23 | Hanah Levi Julian

[Eleutheria5]

A combat drone believed to have been fired directly from Iran struck the Merchant Vessel Chem Pluto, an Israeli-linked chemical/oil products tanker off the coast of India on Saturday, according to a report broadcast on Israel’s Channel 12 News.

The tanker is owned by Rio Brillante SA, based in Panama, and operated by Fleet Management Ltd., based in Wilton, Connecticut.

The Israeli connection is not clear.

The attack, which started a fire on the vessel, took place some 200 nautical miles southwest of Veraval, India, according to Reuters, quoting the British Ambrey maritime security firm. Some “structural damage was also reported and some water was taken onboard” the firm said.

“Merchant vessels are advised these types of attacks are typically targeted at Israel-affiliated shipping, but have in the past mistakenly hit previously Israel-affiliated vessels,” Ambrey said. “This event fell within Ambrey’s Iranian UAV heightened threat area.”

This is the first such known attack so far away from the Red Sea since the start of the war against Israel launched by Iranian-backed Hamas on October 7th.

The vessel was reportedly carrying crude oil from a port in Saudi Arabia, and was sailing towards Mangalore in southern India at the time of the attack. It was rescued by the Indian Coast Guard ship ICGS Vikram, which will escort the vessel, expected to reach Mumbai by Monday (Dec. 25).

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[gracefullyparanoid]

Always appreciate a fellow Commodore Grimes fan.

[oldvirginian]

The old classics are best.

[JohnBovenmyer]

Thanks for bringing back memories of Grimes. Made me want to reread those books, but that's a longer task than for what I presently have time. It also made me check Chandler's bibliography Found a few on The Rim I'd missed to add to my shopping list although I do have all listed in the "John Grimes" subset. In Chandler's day the Crown still had a navy and its tradition mattered.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I’m a big Heinlein fan. I thought it was an odd saying when I read ‘Stranger’ so I researched it some years ago. I was surprised to see it in your post...but recognized it instantly.

[oldvirginian]

“In Chandler’s day the Crown still had a navy and its tradition mattered.”

While the English army was a smart outfit it was the navy that made the Empire possible. What people seem to forget is our revolution was one small part of a world spanning war England was fighting against France, Spain and the Netherlands. If England had been able to assemble the fleet and transport sufficient troops they would have made short work of the pesky colonists.
As it was, England gave up the American colonies to preserve the larger Empire.

I remember about 40 years ago listening to a late night radio channel. The guest was an Englishman talking about how the US had been ascendant since WW2 while English prestige and ability to project power had waned. His message was to never lose a class A navy that could strike anywhere in the world with minimal notice.

[oldvirginian]

I love Heinlein too, one of the masters of science fiction.
I’ve found a good few of the old authors at the Baen Books website.
Ah the good old days when we were young and the universe was ours for the taking.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I love Baen Books. I’ve downloaded a ton of eBooks from their free library. Good way to get a look at new authors.

[oldvirginian]

I enjoy their free library as well.
The ability to sample most authors is one I really appreciate. My only complaint is with science fiction in general is the genre tilting to the PC sword and sorcery too much.
Don’t get me wrong I can bounce between the Pern and brainship books by Kurtz for weeks but in the end I need more Belisarius, Hammer’s Slammers and Falkenberg’s Legion. The one somewhat pleasant surprise was the Honor Harrington series, but it seems to have gone off the rails with the grrl power.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Ah, Pern. I loved Ann McCaffrey's series on the dragon riders of Pern.

I had the misfortune of reading The White Dragon first...before I realized it was the last in a series. So...I went back and started over with Dragonquest and read them all...ending with The White Dragon again. Ruth and Jaxom great characters once I learned the history.

Back in the day, I was a member of Harper's Hall and created a character of my own. Not a dragon rider but a rather roguish wanderer. That was many PCs ago. I can't find his 'bio'. Oh well.

[oldvirginian]

McCaffrey wrote the Pern and Brainship series while Kurtz wrote the Deryni series. Sheesh, I can’t even keep the authors straight anymore.

Like you, I read the white dragon story first, as a short story actually. In fact, I seem to have picked up every series somewhere near the end and have had to go off looking for the beginning. Kinda frustrating but a bit fun too. Hunting down the originating story/book is a joy in itself.

[jonrick46]

"This was in the Indian Ocean. Suez is between the Red Sea and the Med, and Yemen is on the far side of KSA, not opposite the Suez."

Looking at the map, I think I know what you are saying:

I believe the Merchant Vessel Chem Pluto oil tanker was attacked in the Indian Ocean (Arabian Sea) as it was heading to the Red Sea and through the Suez Canal to Israel. Iran has stuck its neck out by attacks in the Indian Ocean.