IRGCN Trys to Lose Some Small Boats

By Bull Nav

Over the weekend, there was some excitement in the Straits of Hormuz according to CNN:

CNN) -- The U.S. military reported Monday on a "significant" confrontation involving five Iranian Revolutionary Guard boats that "harassed and provoked" three U.S. naval ships in international waters over the weekend.
U.S. military officials said the incident occurred early Sunday morning in the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping channel leading in and out of the Persian Gulf.
The five Iranian ships made "threatening" moves -- in one case coming within 200 yards of a U.S. ship, the U.S. officials said.
In one radio transmission, the Iranians told the U.S. Navy: "I am coming at you. You will explode in a couple of minutes," the U.S. military officials told CNN.

It sounds like the un-named US Warships maintained extraordinary fire discipline.

When the U.S. ships heard that radio transmission, they took up their gun positions and officers were "in the process" of giving the order to fire when the Iranians abruptly turned away, the U.S. officials said.

The SOH transit is usually a high-stress, very well-planned event. Everyone is usually on their toes and ready to go.

It will be interesting to see what comes of this, especially since the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps took over Persian Gulf naval responsibilities for Iran.

Fox News has it, too.

Also, Galrahn and Spook86 have posted on this incident.

January 7, 2008 08:13 AM Iran ~ Navy

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Comments

Is this just a test or an aborted suicide attack?

Mark E. · January 7, 2008 09:33 AM

Perhaps the Iranian Navy is suffering from poor memory. Let me refresh it with two words... "Preying Mantis".

Joel · January 7, 2008 10:16 AM

I am really hoping that this was a onetime incident, and I hope that they were not trying to start something, but it seems as though they might be trying to provoke us.

mindy abraham · January 7, 2008 12:10 PM

Some attempt at Sigint by Iranians?

possum · January 7, 2008 12:16 PM

Navy's not having the greatest day over in the Gulf.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-7205269,00.html

All 3 pilots ejected safely.

Maggie · January 7, 2008 12:49 PM

Earlier last year, some pundit, and I don't remember who, postulated that Ahmadinejad's support at home was eroding, and that he was saber-rattling in order to provoke an attack from the US. This would provide him with an external enemy to focus all of the unrest on, and solidify his position.

More of the same, perhaps?

It always irks me when we don't engage enemies aggressively, but I won't pretend to have all of the facts either.

Mike · January 8, 2008 07:14 AM

Mike - there is speculation that this event was scheduled to coincide with President Bush's trip to the Middle East.

bullnav · January 8, 2008 08:58 AM

Should have lit them up just to send the message, "don't mess with Uncle Sam".

Lugo · January 8, 2008 10:41 AM

2 more words the Iranians should remember: "Nimble Archer". Four Destroyers took out an oil platform and numerous other small targets in response to an Iranian missle attack on a U.S. flagged Kuwaiti tanker. We refered to situations like these as target rich environments. The Iranians are much better at shouting slogans than naval tactics.

Tom Cogbill · January 8, 2008 12:26 PM

Bullnav-

That wouldn't surprise me. But that might still play into the overall goal of goading us into an attack which would allow Ahmadinejad to focus internal unrest abroad.

Or perhaps I'm reading too much into this. Maybe the little midget is trying to see how far he can push, and our boat captain didn't fire because he was afraid of being blamed for escalating tensions.

Mike · January 8, 2008 12:34 PM