The presence of a patrol boat would make it more difficult for Saudi frogmen to carry out any type of limpet mine attack, much less one above the waterline.
The fact the US military had the cargo vessel under surveillance adds credence to the notion that there was prior knowledge an attack was going to take place.
Now the Japanese shipping company itself is disputing the limpet mine story, saying its crew reported seeing airborne objects hit the vessel.
There needs to be a serious inquiry into the type of ordinance that can do the damage sustained by the Kokuka Courageous and whether the Saudis or another third party had access to it.
You’re delusional. Anyplace in the PG is within helo range in minutes of a tanker attack. “Under surveillance” my ass. If a tanker is attacked anywhere in the PG, in less then one minute a helo will be airborne from one of our many USN warships to get photos.
As far as the ordnance, the Iranians invented and deployed their own advanced anti-armor mines to use against our forces in Iraq. They are NOT stupid, and are not idiot client vassals (like the Saudis). The Iranians are 100% able to develop and deploy their own anti-ship mines, as well as Swimmer Delivery Vehicles, bubble-less SCUBA for frogmen, etc etc.