Posted on 08/27/2014 3:20:37 AM PDT by Enterprise
An Iranian boat that pointed a machine gun at the crew of a US Coast Guard cutter took off after the Americans fired a warning shot in response, the Navy says. Military officials say the Monomoy, one of the Coast Guard vessels patrolling international waters in the Persian Gulf, dispatched an inflatable boat to investigate the Iranian-flagged dhow—a traditional sailing vessel used for fishing and trading—and fired in self-defense after the dhow's gunner charged and aimed his weapon, Stars and Stripes reports. The Navy says no Americans were injured in the incident and it's not clear whether the dhow was hit by the shot, reports CNN. The Monomoy had a friendlier encounter with Iranians in the Gulf in 2012 when it rescued six fishermen.
(Excerpt) Read more at newser.com ...
CG action ping
Hmmmmm? Seems if someone points a gun at one of our “police”, they get shot. Some dumb ass crew member points a gun at one of our war vessels and we fire a warning shot? In the old Navy, that “fishing vessel” would now be at the bottom of the Persian Gulf.
Using Coast Guard cutters in the Persian Gulf ?
Sure hope they are waaay better armed than the Stateside cutters.
No missile/aircraft defense. No torpedoes. Small artillery piece on the bow, sprinkling of .50 cals down the side.
OK against a dhow but anything larger and it becomes very questionable.
The Coast Guard has been in the Gulf for a few years. I would hope that they have the defensive capabilities to cope with whatever they encounter.
Bunch of screwballs have a death wish.
I’m just wondering why our “police” are on the other side of the planet.
Maybe because Obama doesn't believe in defending the US borders.
The Coast Guard has mainly been carrying out anti-smuggling and anti-piracy operations in the Gulf. Local mariners, including Iranians, appreciate them for the most part. They actually attract fishing vessels who appreciate the freedom from piracy, either from privateers or from local maritime authorities.
Ah, the American part of the Persian Gulf , yes, riiiiight.
Does the Irsnian Coast Guard tool around off SAN DIEGO...?
Sorry, but actually this.makes *US* sound bad.
The PG should be Navy responsibility with a sufficient presence. We do have shipping interest there. However thanks to over 20 years of massive cuts look for row boats to be the next Naval response we have in that area.
Great move CG. They leave to kill someone, somewhere else. CG needs to go back to worrying about life jackets.
Don’t we have a NAVY for that?
Like remoras around sharks, although likely with less symbiosis.
There’s a lot more room and a lot fewer people to hit in the middle of the ocean with your warning shots.
That's the CG auxiliary that does the safety inspections. If your getting boarded by the active duty, it's on their check list. CG in the Gulf is there for security zone tip of the spear to keep Naval assets freed up, and if necessary take the first bullets giving DOD time to mount a proper response. Just like the CG assets were there in WWII to take the first torpedoes, protecting the troop carriers and other USN assets.
i’m confused.
the US coast guard normally operates protecting the US coastline and waterways.
beyond that, i believe it’s referred to as the US Navy
Believe me on this my friend, we really DO have the Coast Guard over there.
The Coast Guard is better suited and trained for boarding and inspecting ships and boats. It’s what they do. The Navy has huge ships which do not stop to dispatch a launch and wait around like sitting ducks to retrieve the boarding party. The Coast Guard doesn’t tangle with foreign naval vessels, but they have far more firepower (and trainging and discipline) than pirates and terrorists.
I suppose the Navy could set up a unit of swift boats, or something similiar, but the Coast Guard is ready off-the-shelf.
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