Posted on 12/13/2011 8:53:04 AM PST by edpc
You have to wonder how l;ong the World will let this country bully them before they squash them.
They can easily close it with their C-802 varian cruise missile.
“..he U.S. Military has the ability to sink their ships ..”
Having the ability to so is a lot different than having the political WILL to do so.
This isn’t 1988 and we have a president that appeases moslems and other enemies of the country.
I found nothing on the other news sites.
That makes me wonder about the story.
While it would not surprise me for Iran to rattle a sword like this and “employ” the small zodiac boats that they have used in the past to harass shipping, one also has to remember that they have been building up their submarine forces and that they have been developing anti-ship missile systems. A few mobile land based anti-ship missile systems, combined with some submarines, and normal coastal artillery would cause most shipping companies to consider not risking high value oil tankers.
This doesn't have to be a military operation, it can be commercial blackmail on the part of Iran.
If this is real, which I am not sure yet, my hope would be that a country like say Korea, or Japan, which are both very dependent on oil imports could be allowed to carry the water for the rest of the world and with the blessing of Middle East oil countries, US, and Nato go in and clean house on the Iranians with help from other nations.
Land-based and even air launched cruise missiles are the bigger threat.
The Noor-2 replaced the original solid fuel rocket of the Noor-1 with a much more powerful turbojet. However the actual range gained is somewhat contentious, some use set figure of 120 km found on the C-802(on which the Noor-2 is a loose copy of). However some cite the domestic modifications to the Microturbo TRI 60-2 powerplant as evidence that the range was extended, and in 2006, during the ‘Blow of Zolfaqar’ wargames, commanders were quoted as saying it was 200 km. However the latter number is cast into doubt when the rest of the article mentions that the missile was only ever fired from warships, whereas in 1997, the Noor-1 was tested from an F-4. (7) The most likely range is somewhere around 170 km as it fits in line with the upgrades and domestic production of the turbojet, under the name of Tolloue 4 and 5.(8) Although the missile is overall lighter then the Noor-1 due to reduction in the solid fuel, the warhead remains the same packing the same punch, as do the targeting mechanisms remain unchanged. There are several key changes however. First, in the terminal phase, an upgraded altimeter allows the missile to hug the water closer, staying 3-5 meters above the surface. Second, the option of having a ‘pop-up’ attack pattern was also introduced by Chinese partners in 2006. A ‘pop-up’ pattern involves an immediate jump by the missile in the last few seconds allowing the missile to dive deep into the deck of the target. Third is the introduction of manoeuvring algorithms to make it harder for active ship defences to stop the missile. (9)
Noor 2
• Range: 170 km (140-200 km possible)
• Length: 6.5 m
• Missile Weight: 715+ kg
• Warhead: 165 kg
• Speed: .9 mach
• Guidance
o Cruise: Inertial
o Terminal: DM-3BMonopulse active radar and IR Seeker
• Alterations
o Turbojet engine
o Lower altitude in terminal phase
o Introduction of manoeuvring and ‘pop-up’ attack options
Raad ASM
The largest of Iran’s anti ship missiles, the Raad also has the longest range. It can be fired from a multitude of platforms including static defences, self-propelled tracked vehicles, presumably delivered from North Korea, or from a truck, much like the ones seen launching Kowsars.(10) Developed from the body of the Chinese HY-2 Silkworm, the Raad, however, has seen many improvements most prominently in the seeker and propulsion. The first of the changes include replacing the conical scanning radar and IR imaging with the “brains” of the Noor missile (DM-3B radar) with the end result that the missile becomes of skimming the sea at about 3-5 meters, compared to 8 of the HY-2, a substantial amount when considering a targets countermeasures. It also means that it will be capable of last minute evasive maneuvers and execute a ‘pop-up’ attack on the deck of the target. Although, they will be notably harder with a missile with the aerodynamics of the 3,000 kg missile compared to the 715 kg Noor. It undoubtedly presents other difficulties of meshing the two systems, but they have presumably been fixed due to successful tests. (11) The second main alteration is engine. Public perception is that the Raad is powered by the Tolou-4, the same powerplant as in the Noor. However this is intuitively unlikely given that the Tolou-4 was designed to propel a much smaller (715 kg) missile. Another indicator is looking at the extremely prominent ducts on the Raad compared to the extremely recessed ducts on the Noor. Rather, the more likely candidate is the Tolou-5 upgrade which is described as being much more powerful then its predecessor, although it was only in the prototype stage in 2005, meaning it would have had to of progressed extremely fast for them to appear in the 2007 wargames.(12)
Other then the above modifications, the Raad acts very much like the HY-2 from which it was derived, it is fired with the help of a solid rocket booster, quickly climbing to 1,000 meters, then descending to slightly less then 20 meters for cruising under inertial guidance. When, in terminal phase the active radar is switched on, and the missile descends to about 4 meters to skim the surface of the water and eventually strike the target. Packed with over 300 kg of high explosive in a shaped charge, it is designed for use against the massive destroyers of western fleets. (13) Meanwhile, the 360 km range would literally leaving no part of the gulf untouched.
• Range: 360 km
• Length: 7.48 m
• Missile Weight: 2,998 kg
• Warhead: 315 kg
• Speed: .8 mach
o Guidance: Inertial in cruise, DM-3BMonopulse active radar and possibly IR seeker in terminal.
Blog source: http://thearkenstone.blogspot.com/2009/08/anti-ship-missiles-kowsar-noor-and-raad.html
Here is my take for what it is worth:
Iran has cornered themselves. They are too far in to stop (convincingly) with nuclear weapon development. They are being attacked covertly and politically (finally with some effect). The explosions, the UAV, the scientists killed, etc. A real world leader would be adding force multipliers to the stress Iran is feeling from the world. I think they expect an attack but are pretty twitchy about when and where it will come. A good counter strategy is to instigate an attack in the right spot to get your oponent to show their hand and a reason to retaliate offensively.
The greatest political problem is Israel’s involvement in a war with Iran (or at least that is what Iran thinks). Israel brings some tools to the table that would be useful. Iran is looking for an excuse to start firing on Iran from Syria, Iran and anywhere else they can get shells on target from. Their hope is to completely destabilize the region and have Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Pakistan, etc involved. The most important strategy is not the military any of those countries bring to conflict. It is the side they take and the instability it creates in all ME nations.
Iran is hoping for a catalyst that doesn’t point blame at them (IMO). They hope to garner Muslim sympathy in the region (at least with the people) and have an excuse to go on overt offense.
American forces sinking a ship or two in the Straight would do just fine for them. Problem is, I doubt we would actually do anything about it. We would probably lead from behind.
The missile’s standoff range is limited by the initial system used to identify and track the target. Any land, sea, or air based radar system in the coastal area would be dealt with immediately.
You mean it the a Navy of "Floating Sinkers"?
Is it true the Iran puts wheels on the bottom of their ships to make them easier to get to shore?
Rumor is Iran has trouble with the construction of their ships because all Muslim men fight about who get to lay the keel.
The Iranian Navy is really suffering these days since the latest round of sanctions has cut off their supply of sails.
Have you ever seen the wake an Iranian destroyer pushes at full speed? Neither have they.
I heard the Chinese are helping Iran with a carrier. It is a super helicopter to fly their ships out to sea.
Did you hear about the Iranian seaman they found on a ship? The UN is investigating the incident.
These are all Bearknocks originals. Feel free to use them.
I’ve been saying this would happen since 2008
Grain embargo on USSR, don't recall anyone starving.
Per Iran, I don't care if they don't wan to sell THEIR oil, but that isn't what they have in mind.
The truth is that Iran would quickly be reduced to economic ruin if we blockaded their ocean going imports and exports.
Yes they have land borders, but its tough to truck that much oil, and their neighbors will be taking a sizable cut for the access.
The question was whether we had used grain as a political tool.
Their harvest had fallen 21 percent from the previous year. The embargo would have had more effect, but the USSR just found other suppliers in Europe and S. Africa.
Central control and distribution meant people were always starving and suffering from shortages of all kinds under the Soviets.
I think about 1/3 of Chinese oil supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz.
Be a great way to shut China down.
Go ahead boys!
We’re Christian so we don’t use food as a weapon.
As for Iran, they really only have one other international commercial commodity tha petroleum, and that is pistachio nuts.
If Iran tries to boycott oil to the rest of the world, it hurts them more than it inconveniences anyone else.
These people running Iran are not too smart.
The Iranian government is apparently led by pouty children.
(Of course, so is ours.)
That's assuming we have an American for a president, of course.
At 500 mph land based cruise missiles can cover the strait in less than 20 minutes. The question is how many do they have and how many would they need to fire to score a hit?
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