If they are not going to defend themselves, or be defended by their fellow RN personnel, what the hell are they doing out there other than providing themselves as a target?
Exactly. According to one earlier report, before the British government spin artists got things under control, the rules of engagement were said to have instructed British forces not to fire at Iranian forces.
The report further said that the captain of the escort vessel radioed his superiors (unnamed) for permission to fire, explained the nature of the emergency, and was refused permission to do anything.
And the head of the admiralty was quoted the next day as saying something to the effect that it was better to use restraint than to “escalate” things.
Exactly.
However, placing yourself as a ‘passive target’ allows all sorts of options, as well as the ones where you get shot at!!!
The Brits have placed their soldiers/marines as ‘passive targets’ many a time, and left others baffled as to the reason, only for the reason to become more apparent at a later date. Just take a look at the 2 SAS fellas that were - supposedly - captured and passed through the Iraqi terrorist network last year, only for the Brits to go knocking on the terrorist doors with Challenger tanks!!!!
It was a Brit set-up from the start.
In my experience of the Brits, nothing is ever as it seems. This whole hostage ‘crisis’ stinks of a ploy to me.......
If you're sitting in a zodiac with nothing but light shoulder weapons & pistols, and you get surrounded by patrol boats mounting heavy machine guns, the prudent thing to do is surrender or call on the support of your frigate. Since no help was forthcoming they did the only thing they could do -- remember they couldn't really inflict any casualties on the Iranians in the process (you can't argue with Ma Deuce).
The Royal Marines are a tough outfit, but there weren't raised to be Kamikaze.