The official said attempts were made to communicate over radio, but there was no response and the interaction was “unsafe and unprofessional.”
“Unprofessional”? No. It was a deliberate provocation. This weak and limp schoolmarmery from the Navy only encourages more such provocations.
Note also that Reuters refers to the “Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps,” leaving out the “Islamic” from the group’s name.
“U.S. Navy ship changes course after Iran vessel interaction: U.S. official,” Reuters, March 6, 2017:
WASHINGTON, March 6 (Reuters) – Multiple fast-attack vessels from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps came close to a U.S. Navy ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, forcing it to change direction…
…the IRGCN boats came within 600 yards of the USNS Invincible, a tracking ship, and stopped. The Invincible was being accompanied by three ships from British Royal Navy and forced the formation to change course.
The official said attempts were made to communicate over radio, but there was no response and the interaction was “unsafe and unprofessional.”
gravenimage says
Vessels from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps force US Navy ship to change course
……………………
More saber rattling from the Islamic Republic of Iran. Our backing down just emboldens these Mohammedans.
Michael Ray says
It is ever so simple. You punch the bully right in the nose as hard as you can. It is the mixture of blood and snot and tears draining down their stunned face that is so convincing.
From the schoolyard to Geopolitical warfare, there is no essential difference. The longer we let the bully hold sway, the longer the list of casualties is going to be.
Kathy Brown, Esq. says
Bingo Michael!
And oh yes: It is ‘the mixture of of blood…and tears draining down their stunned face.’ It most certainly is that.
But don’t forget the PAIN. That broken nose all skewed over to the side that way? Oh, that hurts.
They love inflicting pain. Now they’ll get it themselves. Then a lot of them-most-will learn. The ones who won’t/don’t? They’ll keep getting killed. Yay.
gravenimage says
Spot on, Michael.
Halal Bacon says
Just throw a couple of pig carcasses overboard, they will change direction
WAYNE WEISPHAL says
That is a good one. LOL
Climber says
SO, they forced the U.S. ship to show its side when it turned.
Terry says
There were three British ships with the US ship. Also- the ship is listed as a “tracking ship”.
I DO NOT know what that means.
Is it armed (like a destroyer, or similar) or is it more like a ship that scientists might use, to cover- whatever?
If it is the latter, the changing course might make sense- but what were the two British ships-IE. what kind.
And,why does the U. S. NAVY have to escort them? Doesn’t britain still have a navy of its own?
Arthur says
From Wikipedia:
USNS Invincible (T-AGM-24)
operated by Military Sealift Command
A radar ship that had a large passive sonar array to detect submarines
Refitted as a missle range instrumentation ship; X and S band radar to collect data on ballistic missiles.
Deployed in Persian Gulf in 2012 in convoy with British minesweepers
Regarding a larger radar system (SBX-1, essentially a >1 megawatt radar on an oil platform), Wikipedia says,
Wow!
The USNS Invincible is much smaller. One might speculate it is looking out for missiles being launched over Iran, Saudi Arabia, or Afghanistan. Perhaps they will someday call up Washington D.C. with the message, “One is on its way to you!”
Terry says
So. Basically. The US ship was unarmed
So kind of helpless
Thank you
John Rowe says
In my day we would fog that ship and foul the props, then us Marines would slip on and take control of it, scuttled that boat and send it to the bottom and send their personnel off in rubber rafts wearing pink panties….
John Rowe (USMC) Poking communist in the eye since 1971
Angemon says
A shot across the bow would have made a much better communication…
Stan Lee says
Keep the Royal Navy away from unarmed U.S. vessels! The Brit government will only appease when push comes to shove! If an unarmed U.S. ship is to cruise in those waters, and the Iranians know it is unarmed, they will show some bravado. If the Brits are with our ship, this is what we end up with. The Iranians are now dancing in the streets of Tehran!
The bravado will end real fast if the U.S. Navy escorts it through trouble-type waters, especially an escort having a rapid-firing cannon on its deck, plus some .50 cals.
Putting some rounds in front of the Iranians will make them think twice, then if they reply, they should be fired upon in earnest. What in he– are they carrying that has our own or NATO ships scared?
Ben Jordan says
it is long overdue to sink the entire Iranian navy and destroy all its accompanying land based assets such as cruise missiles and c2…we have substantial unfinished business with Iran starting even before they sponsored killing of Marines in Lebanon…it’s long overdue!!
Martel says
In 2007 eight British sailors and 7 marines were taken hostage by the navy of the Iranian Islamic revolutionary guard whilst in disputed waters, (non Iranian waters). They were surrounded and taken for a few weeks. They were armed and did not confront the Iranian vessel with any intimidatory behavior.
Around the same time they tried this on a similar vessel from The Royal Australian Navy. The Australian forces raised their weapons and threatened to shoot and sent a volley of aggressive abusive threatening language towards the Iranian vessel that came to seize them. This aggressive reaction threw the Islamic Guard off and the Australians were able to get out of there and not be taken hostage like the British from HMS Cardiff.
What have we learned from this? Should western forces back down when they are being intimidated in legally navigable waters. The time for backing away is withering on the vine.
Martel says
Above Correction: HMS Cornwall, not Cardiff.
gravenimage says
Good for the Aussies! I had not heard about that case!
Transmaster says
The is the USNS Invincible (T-AGM-24) The key is US “Naval Service” the ship is not a war vessel it is unarmed it depends on escort ships for defense it has a civilian crew. It would have a small detachment of Sailors for self defense if boarded nothing more. If this had been a USS Navy warship they would not have been harassed in this way.
p says
As per obola, they are to be a nuclear power…. Obola’s revenge on us for what happened in Kenya.
BTW: obola is running a shadow government with all the extremests Trump has not disposed of. These career employees cannot be fired, and I suggest firing them anyway. Let them seek greviences in the courts.
Human garbage parasites.
Milad Meah says
UK warship said USA
Frank Courtney says
The three RN ships should have done the job they were there to do – protect the U.S. ship.
They were probably hamstrung by rules of engagement dreamed up by pen pushing politically correct UK government mandarins.
Admiral Horatio Nelson would have turned his blind eye to such instructions.
Further explanation:
“Stick close to your desks and never go to sea and you all may be rulers of the Queen’s navee”
W.S.Gilbert “HMS Pinafore”
Full lyrics:
Sir Joseph, First Sea Lord:
When I was a lad I served a term
As office boy to an Attorney’s firm.
I cleaned the windows and I swept the floor,
And I polished up the handle of the big front door.
Chorus.
He polished up the handle of the big front door.
Sir Joseph.
I polished up that handle so carefullee
That now I am the Ruler of the Queen’s Navee!
Chorus.
He polished up that handle so carefullee,
That now he is the ruler of the Queen’s Navee!
Sir Joseph.
As office boy I made such a mark
That they gave me the post of a junior clerk.
I served the writs with a smile so bland,
And I copied all the letters in a big round hand.
Chorus.
He copied all the letters in a big round hand.
Sir Joseph.
I copied all the letters in a hand so free,
That now I am the Ruler of the Queen’s Navee!
Chorus.
He copied all the letters in a hand so free,
That now he is the Ruler of the Queen’s Navee!
Sir Joseph.
In serving writs I made such a name
That an articled clerk I soon became;
I wore clean collars and a brand-new suit
For the pass examination at the Institute.
Chorus.
For the pass examination at the Institute.
Sir Joseph.
That pass examination did so well for me,
That now I am the Ruler of the Queen’s Navee!
Chorus.
That pass examination did so well for he,
That now he is the Ruler of the Queen’s Navee!
Sir Joseph.
Of legal knowledge I acquired such a grip
That they took me into the partnership.
And that junior partnership, I ween,
Was the only ship that I ever had seen.
Chorus.
Was the only ship that he ever had seen.
Sir Joseph.
But that kind of ship so suited me,
That now I am the ruler of the Queen’s Navee!
Chorus.
But that kind of ship so suited he,
That now he is the ruler of the Queen’s Navee!
Sir Joseph.
I grew so rich that I was sent
By a pocket borough into Parliament.
I always voted at my party’s call,
And I never thought of thinking for myself at all.
Chorus.
He never thought of thinking for himself at all.
Sir Joseph.
I thought so little, they rewarded me
By making me the Ruler of the Queen’s Navee!
Chorus.
He thought so little, they rewarded he
By making him the Ruler of the Queen’s Navee!
Sir Joseph.
Now landsmen all, whoever you may be,
If you want to rise to the top of the tree,
If your soul isn’t fettered to an office stool,
Be careful to be guided by this golden rule.
Chorus.
Be careful to be guided by this golden rule.
Sir Joseph.
Stick close to your desks and never go to sea,
And you all may be rulers of the Queen’s Navee!
Nothing has much changed since that was written in 1878?
Florida Jim says
Muslims everywhere push and push until they have what they want A Caliphate and no freedom anywhere.Stop them at once and make them live only with other muslims they deserve one another.
Tom Davis says
I would not be too concerned about the “unsafe and unprofessional” line. It’s been used with Russia and China also. It’s what the Navy always says until ordered to shoot. Don’t take it as signs of a pacifistic mindset