USS Mason DDG-87
Reuters: US Navy ship targeted in failed missile attack from Yemen
A U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer was targeted on Sunday in a failed missile attack from territory in Yemen controlled by Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, a U.S. military spokesman told Reuters, saying the two missiles failed to hit the ship.
"USS Mason detected two inbound missiles over a 60-minute period while in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen. Both missiles impacted the water before reaching the ship," Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis said.
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Update: US Navy destroyer comes under missile attack off Yemen coast – Pentagon (RT)
WNU Editor: The missiles did not hit their targets, but it looks like the USS Mason was targeted. This is a breaking news story, and it will be updated early Monday morning.
14 comments:
http://angryarab.blogspot.ca/2016/10/yemen-not-civil-war.html?m=1
I notice there is no explanation of why the destroyer was that close to the coast or whether it was inside or outside of Yemeni territorial waters. Usually being in international waters is a big emphasis in these press releases. Curious.
USN assets are part of the Saudi/GCC starvation blockaide of Yemen.
Another undeclared war by my country. Glad we have a constitution to prevent that.
Yup, Constitutions are so useful.
B.Poster your thoughts on this potent missile most likley supplied by one of the worlds most powerful militaries? 😉
Nice snark!
Thanks
they didn't return fire, can you imagine a Russian or Chinese ship not retaliating after an attempted ASM strike?
Fazman
I haven't had a chance to fully read the article. First thoughts before seeing your comment: 1.) The US warshio and it's crew were extremely blessed this tine. Next time they may not be. 2.)This was a warning shot. In other words, the ship and crew are only alive because who ever fired the shot chose to allow it. 3.) Continue operating in these areas and it's only a matter of time before Russia or it's allies do sink one of these ships or more.
Russia is the most powerful military force on earth. Had we accordingly over the last 15 years or so we would likely be in a much better position right now.
Fazman,
Having now read the article my initial thoughts are unchanged. Normally I would read the articles before commenting but you seemed so interested in what I thought that I posted my initial thoughts with the idea that base upon a careful read of the article those could be subject to change.
Caecus,
Before returning fire one would need to know the exact location of where the missile came from. The crew of USS Mason probably has some idea of where the missile was sent from but probably does not have a presice enough location to be able to return fire except to do so blindly.
The chance of striking an Arleigh-Burke destroyer equipped with the Aegis system with only 2 ASM's is almost nil. The ship obviously detected them and would have intercepted them in time. A large volume would have to be fired from several angles to overwhelm the defense system.
Instant retaliation would discourage future attempts at striking US ships or aircraft in the region. I agree that they likely would not have the precise location of the launcher but they don't need to, they can fire a salvo of tomahawks at any other military targets in the area. Of course with Obama as CIC they probably have strict orders to go to the bottom rather than fire at anything.
Not to mention the quality of the missiles which were probably Iranian cardboard copies of Chinese copies of some ancient Soviet missile.
A single Iranian made Silkworm smoked a UAE ship last week off the coast of Yemen. Didn't fall into the sea, one little bit.
Al Quida and ISIS on the other hand, have been firing ATGM's at ships for a while now, with varied results.
Caecus, agree Ageis is no push over.
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