Trump Orders USN To Destroy Iranian Gunboats

[tomahawk6]

The IRG is now on notice.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-says-hes-instructed-navy-to-destroy-any-iranian-gunboats-harassing-us-ships

Trump says he's instructed Navy to 'destroy' any Iranian gunboats harassing US ships

 

[Jarnhamar]

About time.

 

[Remius]

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

 

[Baz]

Would not conducting an exercise near their territorial waters, that included an Expeditionary Support Base with embarked ground attack helicopters, be a valid course of action to prevent harassment by them?

 

[Cloud Cover]

Perennially, its always a useful distraction to beat up the IRG when things don't look so good at home, and it coolant happen to more deserving people. 

 

[Remius]

Not sure though if a tweet actually changes their ROEs...

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/22/trump-says-he-told-navy-to-destroy-iranian-boats-harassing-us-ships-200385

 

[Bruce Monkhouse]

I agree with Baz.....

 

[PuckChaser]

Not sure though if a tweet actually changes their ROEs...

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/22/trump-says-he-told-navy-to-destroy-iranian-boats-harassing-us-ships-200385

It's almost like a person can near simultaneously issue direction via the proper channels that the general public doesn't seen, and send a tweet that the public does see.

 

[Remius]

It's almost like a person can near simultaneously issue direction via the proper channels that the general public doesn't seen, and send a tweet that the public does see.

Except in his case he’s tweeted plenty of stuff that hasn’t been backed up by any official direction and caused confusion.

For the record, I am on board with the idea.  Long overdue.  The question is have the ROEs changed to reflect that. 

 

[Spencer100]

Would not conducting an exercise near their territorial waters, that included an Expeditionary Support Base with embarked ground attack helicopters, be a valid course of action to prevent harassment by them?

I think ESB is what is there. The USS Lewis B Puller.  (You would think Chesty would have rated an Amphib not upfitted tanker?) Plus Bataan and Eisenhower are in the area.

This is the video I  think that started the President

https://news.usni.org/2020/04/15/video-iranian-attack-boats-harass-u-s-navy-coast-guard-vessels-in-persian-gulf

 

[PuckChaser]

Except in his case he’s tweeted plenty of stuff that hasn’t been backed up by any official direction and caused confusion.

For the record, I am on board with the idea.  Long overdue.  The question is have the ROEs changed to reflect that.

If the US does ROE like we do, its classified (ours is SECRET). So we'll never know if there was official direction.

 

[stellarpanther]

Great let's start a war now to!  I'm not saying I'm supporting what Iran does but I don't think they need to start having more aggressive ROE right now.  Trump is going to do anything possible to try and shift some of the medias attention away from his shitty handling of the COVID-19 issues.

 

[Spencer100]

Great let's start a war now to!  I'm not saying I'm supporting what Iran does but I don't think they need to start having more aggressive ROE right now.  Trump is going to do anything possible to try and shift some of the medias attention away from his shitty handling of the COVID-19 issues.

I don't see that at all.  I think total opposite.  He's wanting to say to the different actors out there...The US is busy right now, don't be temped to do something or push the limits.  Same in thing the SCS and other places.  I think it is pro active. 

 

[OldSolduer]

Great let's start a war now to!  I'm not saying I'm supporting what Iran does but I don't think they need to start having more aggressive ROE right now.  Trump is going to do anything possible to try and shift some of the medias attention away from his shitty handling of the COVID-19 issues.

One can only take so many punches to the nose before one has to strike back. Iran has been doing this to the USA for a very long time.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

I think the tweet is aimed at the IRGC and the senior naval staff, you have your ROE's, but if your not sure your administration has your back, then perhaps you will interpret them cautiously. I expect the US to start firing more warning shots and eventually a small vessel is going to be sunk and they will back off for awhile. Likely they will grab some merchant ship from another nation as retaliation, as much sense as that makes... 

 

[Baz]

I think the tweet is aimed at the IRGC and the senior naval staff, you have your ROE's, but if your not sure your administration has your back, then perhaps you will interpret them cautiously. I expect the US to start firing more warning shots and eventually a small vessel is going to be sunk and they will back off for awhile. Likely they will grab some merchant ship from another nation as retaliation, as much sense as that makes...

This has been going on forever.  I was called on Guard in 2001 by an Iranian ship telling me I was operating illegally and to contact them.  We told our ship and ignored them.  Granted, we were in there TTW, but we were operating legally in a transit passage.

 

[Good2Golf]

"I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea," Trump tweeted.

How do you "shoot down" a boat? ???

 

[Jarnhamar]

Great let's start a war now to!  I'm not saying I'm supporting what Iran does but I don't think they need to start having more aggressive ROE right now.  Trump is going to do anything possible to try and shift some of the medias attention away from his shitty handling of the COVID-19 issues.

This is what can happen when you let hostile small-craft too close to big navy ships.

The destroyer's rules of engagement, as approved by the Pentagon, kept her guards from firing upon the small boat (which was not known to be loaded with explosives) as it neared them without first obtaining permission from Cole's captain or another officer.

17 U.S. Navy sailors were killed and 39 injured

 

[PuckChaser]

How do you "shoot down" a boat? ???

You shoot a hole in it, and it goes down to the bottom of the ocean.  ;D

 

[Good2Golf]

You shoot a hole in it, and it goes down to the bottom of the ocean.  ;D

Touché! 


That said, on a serious note, I'm surprised they were allowed that close.  Maybe time to take a page out of the Japanese whaling industry's play book and get some sonic disruptors, for a nice non-kinetic(ish) solution? :nod: