Reading about the Iranian speed boats swarming a US Navy convoy steaming in the Gulf (http://www.cgblog.org/2008/01/terror-boat-tactics-swarming-works.html) got me thinking about the 110 patrol boats in the region. Do our cutters have the firepower (and manpower) to defend against such an attack? The A and B class have three machine guns and the C class has 5. If the Iranians decide to actually attack instead of just test their limits and they get a dozen little speed boats to gang up on a 110, especially in a choke point like the Strait of Hormuz, I don't really see how an Island class could defend itself. I hope I'm wrong but given the choice between a heavily Navy convoy or a CG 110, if the Iranians were looking to attack instead of get publicity, I think they would logically pick the 110. Does anyone else have any insight on the topic? Thanks
My insight on this is that now the terrorist know what to attack. Hell if I were the Iranians reading your post I would definatly go after a 110!! Be careful what you post people!
AtonBM, I thought about that as well, but because I was easily able to get the information from a google search, I figured Iranian intelligence (however competent they may be) probably figured it out too. I read from this blog:
that right at the bend in the strait, the Iranians have a naval base that houses at least 3 of their subs and tons of missiles. Seems like a little cold war is in progress.
As someone who has been there, (one year, eight days), yes. They are ready. For obvious reasons, we can't get into the specifics here. But there is a reason why the Brits and Aussies and USN all get harrassed.
Discussing this today at the station, we think this incident may have been attempted suicide by Navy warship to incite an international incident. Kind of like pulling a cell phone on a cop to get him to shoot, so some idiot has a lawsuit--except in this situation, you have a reason to try to get the Muslim-extremist world to declare war on us. If these idiots had wanted to blow up another Navy ship, they'd have just done it instead of warning the ship they were going to blow up.
This is not the first time the Iranian Rep. Guard go fast and the US Navy have had close encounters. It happens in the NAG a lot. There were a few Mexican stand offs there and they routinely committed a lot of incredibly provocative acts including taking British Navy Sailors hostage on two separate occasions. I am betting they will eventually push this too far and learn a hard lesson.
Given the fanatical mindset of the people there and the element of suprise, the guy with the smallest slingshot on the block has a decided advantage. Look what's happening on the land side of the war.
I'm sure the rules of engagement have changed since my time. Our biggest problem was overlapping commands,left hand not knowing what the right hand was doing. Hopefully that has all changed with new technology.
Except for the 25mm gun the equiptment is the same as it was 40 years ago. Our biggest fear was that sneaky little slope on the river bank with a B-40 rocket fired out of a stove pipe. Working off shore as they are I would think the element of surprise is greatly reduced. I say that not knowing what their op areas are like. There also seems to be a larger naval presence offshore than we had.
All the training in the world can't prepare you to fight the "pucker factor". The first time the rounds are headed your way and the "pucker factor" kicks in hopefully that's when all those GQ drills pay off.
To even hint at the fact that they may not be ready is doing them a disservice. As I stated earlier, they are ready.
CBP use to send us up from Clearwater and Ft. Myers (2 Midnight Express boats) up to Panama City, FL area to work with the Naval Support Activities (NSA). We'd assist them in training the Navy ships for events like what just happened with the Iranian gunboats.
Coast Guard Station Destin allowed us to dock at their station.
My insight on this is that now the terrorist know what to attack. Hell if I were the Iranians reading your post I would definatly go after a 110!! Be careful what you post people!
The info on what the CG has and what every other Navy in the world has is easily found. Check this site:
All the training in the world can't prepare you to fight the "pucker factor". The first time the rounds are headed your way and the "pucker factor" kicks in hopefully that's when all those GQ drills pay off.
To even hint at the fact that they may not be ready is doing them a disservice. As I stated earlier, they are ready.
Ready for what? Escorting tankers? Thay are. Defending themselves from a speedboat threat? Come on now, a 110 isnt ready for anything when it comes to that. Human nature dictates that.
The Cutters have to be prepared for anything,the question was are they ready to be swarmed,if thats all the speedboats do is swarm,then yes they are ready,if they are attacked by speed boats they have to defend themselves.
Having been there I will agree with rescuewkr and cgrscot stated. The IRG is nothing but a bunch of Jacka$$s who have trying to provoke an incident for a long time. They have been pushing their luck for a long time as well and I have a feeling it is about to run out. This latest incident and the Iranian Govts. reaction to it is just another straw closer to breaking the proverbial camels back. The 110’s are more than prepared and ready to handle these (the IRG) Jacka$$es. While I do feel the Iranian Navy is a more professional organization that ain’t saying a whole lot.
Yes escorting tankers could put you to sleep. Watching the videos the only thing these jerks had on their side was speed. If you noted their stability,it didn't offer much of a stable gun/rpg platform.
Put in a life threatening situation and your survival instincts/training kicks in your mind and body do some amazing things. Nobody said war was easy. No you don't want to bring a knife to a gun fight but it seems the 110's are well equipted to handle themselfs in this situation.
