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Originally posted by StarValleyWyDefenses are great, but you don't run into a machine gun nest screaming just because you have a bulletproof vest. Can the missile ships handle that many missiles from such short range?
If you don't think that a battle fleet can handle ANY attack that Iran could mount, you are missing the point of the Aegis class destroyer. It's main job is to defend against missile attack. It DEFENDS the carriers and other ships from missiles. If it can't do it in the straits of Hormuz then it would be good to find out now.
I would bet on the Aegis.
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Originally posted by AThousandYoungNo. The destroyers and cruisers with Aegis are neat and the Phalaynx systems are neat too, but they're not going to stop a lot of imcoming at once from close range. Expecially smaller weapons like RPGs.
Defenses are great, but you don't run into a machine gun nest screaming just because you have a bulletproof vest. Can the missile ships handle that many missiles from such short range?
This story gets more interesesting.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080111/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_us_navy_63
CAIRO, Egypt - The U.S. Navy said Friday that one of its ships fired warning shots at a small Iranian boat in the Strait of Hormuz in December during one of two serious encounters that month.
The USS Whidbey Island fired the warning shots on Dec. 19 in response to a small Iranian boat that was rapidly approaching it, said a U.S. Navy official.
"One small (Iranian) craft was coming toward it, and it stopped after the Whidbey Island fired warning shots," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
In the second incident that month, the USS Carr encountered three small Iranian craft on Dec. 22, two of which were armed, said the official. The USS Carr did not fire warning shots, but sent warning blasts on the ships whistle, which caused the boats to turn around.
The reports come a day after the United States lodged a formal diplomatic protest with Iran over an incident Sunday in which Iranian speedboats harassed U.S. warships in the Persian Gulf.
Adm. William J. Fallon, the top U.S. military commander in the Mideast, said Friday that Iran runs the risk of triggering an unintended conflict if its boats continue to harass U.S. warships in
Originally posted by AThousandYoungThat is kind of classified. The design specs for the Aegis would have to include the MAXIMUM threat that was expected to be faced by a carrier task force. That would include sea-launched fast torpedos, land based missiles, air-launched missiles etc. I don't think that ALL of Irans "might"... (giggle, giggle) would be much of a challenge.
Defenses are great, but you don't run into a machine gun nest screaming just because you have a bulletproof vest. Can the missile ships handle that many missiles from such short range?
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Originally posted by StarValleyWyNo problem. It's not that they can't stop a fair amount of incoming, it's just that they can't stop everything. If Iran threw several dozen ant-ship missiles at U.S. ships, the systems are going to be overwhelmed. There's just no way to target, track and destroy that many objects in that short a time span.
Sorry Merk
I didn't mean to post over your most excellent post. I got on the phone for a few minutes and well... sorry.
And if we talk about something shoulder launched from a couple hundred yards away, there's not much of anything that can be done.
Originally posted by MerkI'll bet that if I were captain of an Aegis... I could think of SOMETHING to do with water-ski boats. Mind you... I'm not trained in seamanship and naval war tactics... but as captain, how difficult would it be to yell "Kill the little F*&^ers!" ???
No problem. It's not that they can't stop a fair amount of incoming, it's just that they can't stop everything. If Iran threw several dozen ant-ship missiles at U.S. ships, the systems are going to be overwhelmed. There's just no way to target, track and destroy that many objects in that short a time span.
And if we talk about something shoulder launched from a couple hundred yards away, there's not much of anything that can be done.
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Originally posted by StarValleyWyBut this wasn't a carrier task force on the open sea. This was only three ships, and they were in a bottleneck.
That is kind of classified. The design specs for the Aegis would have to include the MAXIMUM threat that was expected to be faced by a carrier task force. That would include sea-launched fast torpedos, land based missiles, air-launched missiles etc. I don't think that ALL of Irans [b]"might"... (giggle, giggle) would be much of a challenge.[/b]
Besides...even if the best weapons can penetrate the best armor, you still make armor for things like shrapnel, shortbow arrows, and other small threats.
If you look at the geography there, the ships have to turn, and Iran controls land in three directions.
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Originally posted by StarValleyWyThose ships can't have THAT many machine guns and assault rifles on board. They're missile ships, even if there was a frigate and a destroyer there.
I'll bet that if I were captain of an Aegis... I could think of SOMETHING to do with water-ski boats. Mind you... I'm not trained in seamanship and naval war tactics... but as captain, how difficult would it be to yell "Kill the little F*&^ers!" ???
Originally posted by AThousandYoungWhich is more difficult? Defending a Carrier Task Force? Or defending yourself?
But this wasn't a carrier task force on the open sea. This was only three ships, and they were in a bottleneck.
Besides...even if the best weapons can penetrate the best armor, you still make armor for things like shrapnel, daggers, and other small threats.
Again... I'm not a military genius, but I think that standing alone against the unimaginable power of a mighty rogue nation like Iran.. with it's immense fleet of ski-boats and shotguns MIGHT be easier to do than to defend big mama and her kids.
Originally posted by AThousandYounglol
Those ships can't have THAT many machine guns and assault rifles on board. They're missile ships, even if there was a frigate and a destroyer there.
Which part of "super genius computer controlled gattling guns with stand-alone ability to engage and destroy up to fifty enemies per second" is so difficult? If you've seen a hundred incoming exocets and conquored them all, you have a REAL good chance against ski-boats full of virgin-seeking nuts with hand grenades.
Originally posted by StarValleyWyI think you're trying to insult me, but I can't tell because you are so poor at communicating in English.
Which is more difficult? Defending a Carrier Task Force? Or defending yourself?
Again... I'm not a military genius, but I think that standing alone against the unimaginable power of a mighty rogue nation like Iran.. with it's immense fleet of ski-boats and shotguns MIGHT be easier to do than to defend big mama and her kids.
Merk's a hawk, and so am I. I think you're being overconfident. It's not like you're abusing pacifists. I'm half a liberal, so I can see you bashing me, but why Merk?
Originally posted by AThousandYounglol
I think you're trying to insult me, but I can't tell because you are so poor at communicating in English.
Merk's a hawk, and so am I. I think you're being overconfident. It's not like you're abusing pacifists. I'm half a liberal, so I can see you bashing me, but why Merk?
I'm just having fun. I like to try to get people to laugh. I'm sorry if I have offended. I didn't mean to. It's just that the idea of those funny little ski-boats and that Aegis ... just makes me want to fall over laughing. It's me, not you. Sorry.
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Originally posted by StarValleyWyMost certainly. Guns on board a ship are stabilized, but hitting a small moving target, 200 yards out is no simple task. Most people with any experience with those have all said pretty much the same thing. The only thing you can reliablely hit with one of those is water.
I'll bet that if I were captain of an Aegis... I could think of SOMETHING to do with water-ski boats. Mind you... I'm not trained in seamanship and naval war tactics... but as captain, how difficult would it be to yell "Kill the little F*&^ers!" ???
And that's if you fire first. If a lone Iranian boat is cruising around, the US Navy isn't just going to blow it out of the water. The only chance is if they see the RPG etc, with enough time to act before the Iranian fires.
After that, sure, every Iranian on the water gets wet.