Iran Reiterates Threat To Close Strait of Hormuz If Attacked

**Dreadnought** · 06 Jan 12,, 16:53

Despite tensions, US rescues 13 Iranian seamen from piratesBy NBC's Jim Miklaszewski and msnbc.com staff

Casting aside current tensions between the U.S. and Iran, the U.S. Navy on Friday rescued 13 Iranian seamen who were being held captive by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Oman.

A Navy helicopter from the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis, responding to a distress call from a merchant ship under attack by pirates, chased the pirates to their "mother ship," an Iranian-flagged dhow that had earlier been hijacked.

A heavily-armed counter-piracy team from the Navy destroyer USS Kidd met little resistance when they boarded the dhow where they found 15 armed pirates and the 13 Iranians who were being held hostage. The pirates were taken into custody. The Iranians were set free in their dhow.

•STORY: Iran warns US carrier to stay out of Persian Gulf
It came less than two days after Iran threatened never to allow the USS John C. Stennis back to the Persian gulf following its departure last week for the Gulf of Oman and North Arabian Sea.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100) responds to a distress call from the master of the Iranian-flagged fishing dhow Al Molai, who claimed he was being held captive by pirates.
An Iranian surveillance plane last week video-recorded and photographed the vessel near the Strait of Hormuz, in a bid to cast its navy as having a powerful role in the region's waters.

•STORY: Iran tracks US aircraft carrier amid Strait of Hormuz tension
Iran has threatened to close the route in possible retaliation to new U.S. and European economic sanctions, a tactic the U.S. already has said it would not tolerate.

About one-sixth of the world's oil passes on tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, and analysts have warned the price of Brent crude could temporarily jump to as high as $210 if the strait is closed.

U.S. officials have said the Navy's Fifth Fleet, based in nearby Bahrain, is prepared to defend the shipping route.

White House officials said Iran's threat showed Tehran was increasingly isolated internationally, faced economic problems from to sanctions and wants to divert attention from its deepening problems.

"It reflects the fact that Iran is in a position of weakness," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters Tuesday.

•STORY: Iran oil standoff could mean higher gas prices
State news agency IRNA quoted Iranian army chief Ataollah Salehi as saying: "Iran will not repeat its warning ... the enemy's carrier has been moved to the Sea of Oman because of our drill. I recommend and emphasize to the American carrier not to return to the Persian Gulf.

The USS John C. Stennis, pictured as it allegedly went "inside the maneuver zone" where Iranian ships were conducting war games in the Gulf, according to Iranian officials who supplied the image.

"I advise, recommend and warn them (the Americans) over the return of this carrier to the Persian Gulf because we are not in the habit of warning more than once," he said.

UK warns Iran over oil threat

Britain's defense secretary warned Iran Thursday that any attempt to block the key global oil passageway the Strait of Hormuz would be illegal and unsuccessful — hinting at a robust international response.

During his first visit to the Pentagon for talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, Philip Hammond told the Atlantic Council in Washington that the presence of British and American naval ships in the Persian Gulf would ensure the route is kept open for trade.

World News - Despite tensions, US rescues 13 Iranian seamen from pirates

**Dreadnought** · 06 Jan 12,, 22:07

Absolutely love this line of bullshit from the morons on Post #236:

The news agency, which has ties to Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard Corps, asserted that the carrier USS John C. Stennis, which steamed out of the Persian Gulf last week, had escaped while being “chased by Iranian warships.”

Chased huh? So in other words what the Iranians were looking at while "chasing" the Stennis were one of these no matter which side they approached from and this is the old version , not whats aboard Stennis.

:

Yeah, you were chasing it ok....

**Pedicabby** · 06 Jan 12,, 22:11

3000 rounds per minute? Wow!

**Dreadnought** · 06 Jan 12,, 22:13

Originally Posted by rickshaw92

3000 rounds per minute? Wow!

The newer versions are closer to 5,000 rpm and three times more capable. Depleted uranium tipped.

**Tanker** · 06 Jan 12,, 22:29

Originally Posted by Dreadnought

Despite tensions, US rescues 13 Iranian seamen from piratesBy NBC's Jim Miklaszewski and msnbc.com staff

Casting aside current tensions between the U.S. and Iran, the U.S. Navy on Friday rescued 13 Iranian seamen who were being held captive by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Oman.

A Navy helicopter from the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis, responding to a distress call from a merchant ship under attack by pirates, chased the pirates to their "mother ship," an Iranian-flagged dhow that had earlier been hijacked.

A heavily-armed counter-piracy team from the Navy destroyer USS Kidd met little resistance when they boarded the dhow where they found 15 armed pirates and the 13 Iranians who were being held hostage. The pirates were taken into custody. The Iranians were set free in their dhow.

•STORY: Iran warns US carrier to stay out of Persian Gulf
It came less than two days after Iran threatened never to allow the USS John C. Stennis back to the Persian gulf following its departure last week for the Gulf of Oman and North Arabian Sea.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100) responds to a distress call from the master of the Iranian-flagged fishing dhow Al Molai, who claimed he was being held captive by pirates.
An Iranian surveillance plane last week video-recorded and photographed the vessel near the Strait of Hormuz, in a bid to cast its navy as having a powerful role in the region's waters.

•STORY: Iran tracks US aircraft carrier amid Strait of Hormuz tension
Iran has threatened to close the route in possible retaliation to new U.S. and European economic sanctions, a tactic the U.S. already has said it would not tolerate.

About one-sixth of the world's oil passes on tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, and analysts have warned the price of Brent crude could temporarily jump to as high as $210 if the strait is closed.

U.S. officials have said the Navy's Fifth Fleet, based in nearby Bahrain, is prepared to defend the shipping route.

White House officials said Iran's threat showed Tehran was increasingly isolated internationally, faced economic problems from to sanctions and wants to divert attention from its deepening problems.

"It reflects the fact that Iran is in a position of weakness," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters Tuesday.

•STORY: Iran oil standoff could mean higher gas prices
State news agency IRNA quoted Iranian army chief Ataollah Salehi as saying: "Iran will not repeat its warning ... the enemy's carrier has been moved to the Sea of Oman because of our drill. I recommend and emphasize to the American carrier not to return to the Persian Gulf.

The USS John C. Stennis, pictured as it allegedly went "inside the maneuver zone" where Iranian ships were conducting war games in the Gulf, according to Iranian officials who supplied the image.

"I advise, recommend and warn them (the Americans) over the return of this carrier to the Persian Gulf because we are not in the habit of warning more than once," he said.

UK warns Iran over oil threat

Britain's defense secretary warned Iran Thursday that any attempt to block the key global oil passageway the Strait of Hormuz would be illegal and unsuccessful — hinting at a robust international response.

During his first visit to the Pentagon for talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, Philip Hammond told the Atlantic Council in Washington that the presence of British and American naval ships in the Persian Gulf would ensure the route is kept open for trade.

World News - Despite tensions, US rescues 13 Iranian seamen from pirates

In one of the Iranian Defense Forums they are calling it propaganda...

**YellowFever** · 06 Jan 12,, 23:10

Originally Posted by Dreadnought

The newer versions are closer to 5,000 rpm and three times more capable. Depleted uranium tipped.

What would warrant DU rounds on the seas?

**Tanker** · 06 Jan 12,, 23:19

Originally Posted by YellowFever

What would warrant DU rounds on the seas?

Iranian speedboats....

**Dreadnought** · 07 Jan 12,, 01:44

Originally Posted by Tanker

In one of the Iranian Defense Forums they are calling it propaganda...

Hahahahahaha, a battle fleet is not about propaghanda. They are about deeds. Contrary to bullshit as I have mentioned before all countries have the right to sail and have protection under Maritime Law. Even the Iranians. Maybe they should be interviewed for the absolute truth before they reach shore and the religious "correctness" police. Somewhere I bet is video.

**Dreadnought** · 07 Jan 12,, 01:47

Originally Posted by YellowFever

What would warrant DU rounds on the seas?

DU rounds are meant to penetrate hardened guided missle warheads and their housings. No doubt a surplus of DU. They changed for sometime to other. Many you will see are Tungsten.

**Tanker** · 07 Jan 12,, 02:21

Originally Posted by Dreadnought

Hahahahahaha, a battle fleet is not about propaghanda. They are about deeds. Contrary to bullshit as I have mentioned before all countries have the right to sail and have protection under Maritime Law. Even the Iranians. Maybe they should be interviewed for the absolute truth before they reach shore and the religious "correctness" police. Somewhere I bet is video.

Oh trust me, I laugh it all off. It was one of the reasons why I was banned from the board. I would mock and laugh at all they thought was either great or the lousy Wests' doing...

**Tanker** · 07 Jan 12,, 02:23

Originally Posted by Dreadnought

DU rounds are meant to penetrate hardened guided missle warheads and their housings. No doubt a surplus of DU. They changed for sometime to other. Many you will see are Tungsten.

Exactly, they would be used to destroy anti-ship missiles with hard noses...

**Stitch** · 07 Jan 12,, 02:37

Originally Posted by Dreadnought

The newer versions are closer to 5,000 rpm and three times more capable. Depleted uranium tipped.

Did they jack the cyclic rate up that high?

Actually, DU cores; the "tips" are the discarding plastic sabot. The DU round is actually "sub-caliber", probably about 10mm. The DU core is the same size as the current tungsten core, just a lot denser. And, yes, they've apparently switched all of the Phalanx ammo over (back?) to tungsten core since 1988.

Has anybody heard if we might be going for the Goalkeeper? Think of a Phalanx with the GAU-8/A Avenger cannon from the A-10. Or are we going with the SeaRAM?

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**Pedicabby** · 07 Jan 12,, 02:53

In one of the Iranian Defense Forums they are calling it propaganda...

I just had a quick look. Funny site.

**HKDan** · 07 Jan 12,, 03:04

Has anybody heard if we might be going for the Goalkeeper? Think of a Phalanx with the GAU-8/A Avenger cannon from the A-10. Or are we going with the SeaRAM?

Haven't seen anything about Goalkeeper for USN, but they have been quietly putting one Phalanx each on the Flight IIA Arleigh Burke Class that originally didn't have one. SeaRAM is found on LCS-2, but a large number of other USN ships have RAM.

Funny as hell about the pirates, I guess when you are really in trouble the unshaven guys in boghammers are not who you look to for help.

**HKDan** · 07 Jan 12,, 03:16

The Royal Navy Lives!!

Royal Navy sends its mightiest ship to take on the Iranian show of force in the Gulf - Telegraph

Iran has threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, which served as the conduit for 17 millions barrels of oil every day last year.

Naval commanders believe the deployment of HMS Daring, a Type 45 destroyer, will send a significant message to the Iranians because of the firepower and world-beating technology carried by the warship.

Philip Hammond, the Defence Secretary, has publicly warned Iran that any blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would be "illegal and unsuccessful".

The Daily Telegraph understands that HMS Daring has been fitted with new technology that will give it the ability to shoot down any missile in Iran's armoury. The £1 billion destroyer, which will leave Portsmouth next Wednesday, also carries the world's most sophisticated naval radar, capable of tracking multiple incoming threats from missiles to fighter jets.

Daring, with its crew of 190, will transit through the Suez Canal and enter the Gulf later this month to replace the Type 23 frigate currently on station.

Iran completed a 10-day naval exercise in the sensitive waters near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, staging manouevres which included firing three anti-ship missiles understood to be the Chinese-made C-802.

Yesterday, Tehran said that another exercise would be held in the same area next month. Admiral Ali Fadavi, commander of the naval branch of the Revolutionary Guard, warned that this would be "different" from the most recent one.

Speaking earlier, Mr Hammond said that "our joint naval presence in the Arabian Gulf" was "key to keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for international trade".

A Navy source has indicated that more British ships could be sent to the Gulf if required. The second Type 45, HMS Dauntless, will also be available to sail at short notice.

Daring's special software upgrades will significantly increase the ability of its Sampson radar and Sea Viper missiles to destroy incoming missiles.

During an intensive "swarm attack", the vessel could simultaneously track, engage and destroy more targets than five of it predecessor Type 42 destoyers.

The Sea Viper is also one of the world's most agile missiles equipped with its own radar that can allow it to hit a target a hundred miles away.

Lord West, the former First Sea Lord, described Daring as a "world beater", adding: "This warship has an unbelievably capable ability to track targets, spot the most dangerous and identify them for its missiles to take out. It's highly, highly capable. I would like to see the Type 45s show their potential in the region."

The 8,000 ton destroyer will carry 48 Sea Vipers that can also be used to shoot down fighters as well as sea skimming missiles. It will also carry a Lynx helicopter capable of carrying Sea Skua anti-ship missiles and is capable of embarking 60 special forces troops.

An MoD spokesman said: "While the newly operational Type 45 destroyer HMS Daring is more capable than earlier ships, her deployment East of Suez has been long planned, is entirely routine and replaces a frigate on station."