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Two U.S. Navy boats in Iranian custody but crew will be returned ‘promptly’

cupper

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Two U.S. Navy boats in Iranian custody but crew will be returned ‘promptly’

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2016/01/12/iran-captures-two-u-s-navy-boats-but-will-return-crew-soon/?hpid=hp_rhp-top-table-main_checkpoint-iran-430pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory

Two small U.S. Navy vessels appear to be in Iranian custody, but their crews will be released promptly, the Pentagon confirmed Tuesday.

Two U.S. naval craft were en route from Kuwait to Bahrain when they disappeared from the Navy’s scopes. The incident marks the latest run-in between Iranian and U.S. crews. In late December, Iranian gunboats fired unguided missiles almost 1,000 yards away from the aircraft carrier the USS Harry S. Truman.

A U.S. official said the boats were small riverine variants and may have run out of gas or had mechanical issues and were believed to have been within 12 nautical miles of Iran when they broke down.

The U.S. government has been in communication with Iranian authorities, according to a senior defense official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence issues.

“We have received assurances the sailors will promptly be allowed to continue their journey,” the official said.

Another U.S. defense official said it was too early to say what exactly took place and how the American crew and vessels were “picked up” by Iran. He said the American craft and their crew were taken during the incident to Farsi Island, an Iranian island in the Persian Gulf where Iran maintains a naval base.

A senior defense official added that so far there was no indication of hostile intent and that the American crew was being well-treated by the Iranian government.

“In some ways this has been very professional,” the official said.

Defense Sec Ashton Carter was updated throughout the afternoon about the incident and spoke with Sec of State John Kerry and National Security Advisor Susan Rice.

In recent weeks, U.S. lawmakers have called for increased sanctions on Iran after the country tested two ballistic missiles in recent months. Since the tests, President Hassan Rouhani vowed to expand the country’s ballistic missile program.
 
NBC News Pentagon Correspondent Steve Handelsman is reporting that one of the boats had a mechanical failure and in the process of trying to get both boats back, drifted into Iranian territorial waters off of Farsi Island in the middle of the gulf. Iranian Coast Guard seized the vessels and Crews.

Sec. of State John Kerry contacted his counterpart in Iran, gave assurances that the violation was unintentional and received assurances that the vessels and crews would be released in international waters in a short period of time.

This will will make things interesting for tonight's State of the Union Speech.
 
Pictures of the craft would be helpful.Maybe the Iranians will show us some images 8)
 
The website Foxtrot Alpha has some images of what the craft were.

Appear to be very small craft, being transported from Bahrain to Kuwait.

From subsequent reports, it would appear that one of the craft broke down and drifted into Iranian waters near Farsi Island, and the other craft stayed with it.  Although there are conflicting reports that perhaps the vessels were waiting to be refulled, and the ship coming to refuel them missed it's timing.

^All speculation without confirmation, and reports from different sources seems to suggest something different.
 
The two crews have been released along with their craft,which are of the type assigned to Special Boat Squadrons.One of the crew was a female which I suspect was an officer.Perhaps more will come out.Here is ana rticle about the Navy opening the career field to females.

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2013/Jun/17/Pentagon-women-combat-seals-riverine/
 
tomahawk6 said:
The two crews have been released along with their craft,which are of the type assigned to Special Boat Squadrons.One of the crew was a female which I suspect was an officer.Perhaps more will come out.Here is ana rticle about the Navy opening the career field to females.

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2013/Jun/17/Pentagon-women-combat-seals-riverine/

What do you think, hollywood movie within the next 8 months?
 
For sure a HUGE propaganda movie of US servicemen on their KNEES, with their hands behind their back and the American flag fluttering in the background.

That video will go around the world, and viral in the Mideast to prove the US is weak.

Horrible. Next week or so Iran gets their withheld $150 Billion from the Obama administration back to fund more terrorism.
 
Jarnhamar said:
What do you think, hollywood movie within the next 8 months?

They already have a goal date for integration, AKA must-have-women-pass-by date, so I'm surprised the movie isn't already being shot.
 
jmt18325 said:
Yes, the whole, drifting story is...a bit far fetched.

There is information that as yet hasnt been released regarding this incident.Just speculating they forgot to bring their tow line or they just wanted some shore time. :camo:
 
"Mistakenly steered"? So an enlisted Coxswain's career just ended?

Defense News

Sailors on seized U.S. Navy boats mistakenly steered into Iranian waters
By David Larter, Meghann Myers and Andrew Tilghman, Navy Times 6:18 p.m. EST January 14, 2016
US Navy Riverine Command Boats

The 10 U.S. sailors detained for a tense 16 hours on an Iranian island base are being debriefed in Qatar as more details emerge from the high-stakes encounter.

The boat crews were arrested by Iranian forces after they skirted by Iran's Farsi Island in the Persian Gulf. The sailors seem to have mistakenly entered Iranian waters aboard their top-of-the-line riverine assault boats. Their navigation systems appeared to be working and the boats had fuel.

(...SNIPPED)
 
I've heard several explanations from various news sources. Ran out of fuel, mechanical breakdown, faulty navigation gear.

The only thing that hasn't been brought up yet is stupidity. Never underestimate the ability for humans to do stupid things.

But there is also the actual location and in whose waters were they actually. What kind of limit does Iran claim around Farsi Island? 3 mile, 12 mile, 200 mile or some other limit?
 
Either there is a reason they are covering up on for OPSEC or the level of incompetence has hit 9.75 out of 10.
 
Cupper:
I've heard several explanations from various news sources. Ran out of fuel, mechanical breakdown, faulty navigation gear.

The only thing that hasn't been brought up yet is stupidity. Never underestimate the ability for humans to do stupid things.

You forgot the ROE's the Lt was given when confronted by President Obama's newest ally in the Mideast.

The Lt was a pawn in Obama's legacy.
 
Rifleman62 said:
Cupper:
You forgot the ROE's the Lt was given when confronted by President Obama's newest ally in the Mideast.

The Lt was a pawn in Obama's legacy.

Right. I forgot that one.  :Tin-Foil-Hat:
 
>Either there is a reason they are covering up on for OPSEC or the level of incompetence has hit 9.75 out of 10.

I have read all sorts of articles speculating on reasons why the US is trying to hide their own "mistake".

Another scenario could produce a coverup for diplomatic reasons: there was no mistake and no overt US provocation; the Iranians committed an act of war, and the current US administration doesn't want to escalate tensions but also doesn't want to face domestic blowback for ignoring it.
 
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