Gulf shootout [U.S. ship fires on Iranian gunboats]

Washington Times ^ | 3 May 2002 | Bill Gertz and Rowan Scarborough

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

A U.S. Navy replenishment ship was threatened by several small boats during an encounter April 23 near Iran.

The USS Walter S. Diehl, an underway replenishment oiler, was passing through the Strait of Hormuz when it was approached by as many as six deep-v small power boats. The ship fired flares to warn the approaching boats away, but the boats kept coming closer.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

A gunner on Diehl opened fire with a 50-caliber machine gun. The boats sped off.

Yeah!!

Sorry if this has been posted. I searched by title and several keywords and didn't find anything.

[Politically Correct]

A 50cal has a way of getting your attention.

[RandallFlagg]

Personally, I woulda opened up with the CIWS and left them for chum.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Yep. Our response was appropriate. We've learned some lessons from the USS Cole. Having an empty magazine and yelling "Trick or treat!" at the terrorists doesn't stop them.

"They tried to surrender, but the ship kept going," one official said of the incident.

The .50 cal fire changed the Iranians' attitude in a hurry!

[pabianice]

Well, they got the details wrong.

The oiler WALTER S. DIEHL (T-AO 193) is a US Naval Ship, not a United States Ship. USNS ships are civilian ships attached to the Navy for support duties. As such, they carry no fixed armament. The Iranians undoubtably know this and must have figured the Diel couldn't defend itself. Surprise!

Here are the stats:

USNS Walter S. Diehl is one of Military Sealift Command's thirteen Oilers and is part of the 34 ships in the Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force.

• Length: 677.5 feet

• Beam: 97.5 feet

• Draft: 35 feet

• Displacement: 40,700 long tons

• Speed: 20.0 knots

• Area Command: MSC Far East

• Civilian: 81

• Military: 23

Picture at

http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/AO193.htm

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Interesting. Thanks!!!

But wait, I thought civilians have no business using .50 caliber weapons. The gun-grabbers couldn't be wrong, could they?

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

The Iranians undoubtably know this and must have figured the Diel couldn't defend itself. Surprise!

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

I can just picture one of the Iranian boat captains saying, "Damn those Americans! They're not fighting fair!"

[toddst]

A gunner on Diehl opened fire with a 50-caliber machine gun. The boats sped off.

The old "warning shots" routine. They should have cut the "pirates" to pieces IMHO. In fact, this incident justifies setting up a decoy program to draw these slugs out and destroy them. But then the Navy may already be going that direction. Let's hope!

[Mind-numbed Robot]

"They tried to surrender, but the ship kept going," one official said of the incident.

Will someone please put this in perspective for me? Makes no sense to me.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

That is a bit weird. The article says that the boats sped off after facing .50 cal fire. The article also says that the Iranians tried to surrender. That doesn't seem consistent to me.

[michigander]

USNS WALTER S. DIEHL (T-AO 193)
Kaiser class Oiler

[lafroste]

I can just picture one of the Iranian boat captains saying, "Damn those Americans! They're not fighting fair!"

It is a sad (hahahahaha) commentary on the state of the arab's navies when one of our oilers is still overwhelming force as compared to their entire "fleet".

What a bunch of yutzes.

[gitmo]

Yeah, I read that line a few times myself. I guess flying directly toward you at 50 mph is considered "surrender" in the Arab world.

[gitmo]

But wait, I thought civilians have no business using .50 caliber weapons. The gun-grabbers couldn't be wrong, could they?

I hope they had a concealed-weapon permit.

[Prodigal Son]

They're probing us for weakness.

[20yearvet]

"They tried to surender" The boats probly showed a white flag in an attempt to get next to the US Ship. But the ship did not sop or let them get close enuff to ram or blow up. ++++++++ From an old Army Guy "Good Job Navy"