Combat Footage from CARNEY (DDG-64)...

[MikeKozlowski]

...I am so damned proud of these guys.

https://twitter.com/USNavy/status/1733634409813713254

Mike

[jemhouston]

Where's the closest point they can reload the VLS?

[MikeKozlowski]

Where's the closest point they can reload the VLS?

Jem,

IIRC they've just recently 'proof-of-concept' loaded from a tender in port -https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2023/ ... 20at%20sea. - but other than that they'd have to get back to a port.

Mike

[Micael]

A French frigate shot down two drones off Yemen too:
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... off-yemen/

[Micael]

The Houthis hit a Norwegian owned chemical tanker with a missile:

A missile strikes Norwegian-flagged tanker off Yemen in an apparent expansion of rebel attacks


BY JON GAMBRELL
Updated 8:22 AM CET, December 12, 2023
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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A missile fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels slammed into a Norwegian-flagged tanker in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen near a key maritime chokepoint, the rebels and authorities said Tuesday.

The assault on the oil and chemical tanker Strinda expands a campaign by the Iranian-backed rebels targeting ships close to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait into apparently now striking those that have no clear ties to Israel. That potentially imperils cargo and energy shipments coming through the Suez Canal and further widens the international impact of the Israel-Hamas war now raging in the Gaza Strip.

Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree issued a video statement saying the rebels only fired on the vessel when it “rejected all warning calls.”

The U.S. military’s Central Command issued a statement Tuesday saying an anti-ship cruise missile “launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen” hit the Strinda.


“There were no U.S. ships in the vicinity at the time of the attack, but the USS Mason responded … and is currently rendering assistance,” Central Command said. The Mason is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer that has been involved in several of the recent incidents off Yemen.

The private intelligence firms Ambrey and Dryad Global had earlier confirmed the attack happened near the crucial Bab el-Mandeb Strait separating East Africa from the Arabian Peninsula.

Geir Belsnes, the CEO of the Strinda’s operator, J. Ludwig Mowinckels Rederi, also confirmed the attack took place.

[Micael]

Might have to do something about these guys.

Houthi spokesperson Yahia Sarea says the Norwegian tanker Strinda was hit because it was going to an Israeli port and refused to heed warnings. He says other ships obeyed orders to turn around, and repeats that all ships headed to Israel may be targeted.

French frigate Languedoc came to the aid of Strinda, engaged a drone and escorted the ship out of combat range.

[MikeKozlowski]

Might have to do something about these guys.

Houthi spokesperson Yahia Sarea says the Norwegian tanker Strinda was hit because it was going to an Israeli port and refused to heed warnings. He says other ships obeyed orders to turn around, and repeats that all ships headed to Israel may be targeted.

French frigate Languedoc came to the aid of Strinda, engaged a drone and escorted the ship out of combat range.

...It's nonsense like this why ARCLIGHT is still a viable frag order.

Mike

[Poohbah]

Might have to do something about these guys.

Houthi spokesperson Yahia Sarea says the Norwegian tanker Strinda was hit because it was going to an Israeli port and refused to heed warnings. He says other ships obeyed orders to turn around, and repeats that all ships headed to Israel may be targeted.

French frigate Languedoc came to the aid of Strinda, engaged a drone and escorted the ship out of combat range.

...It's nonsense like this why ARCLIGHT is still a viable frag order.

Mike

If I were POTUS, I'd have state issue a new map.

Yemen would be marked: "Southwest Asia Proving Grounds (Property of the United States Department of Energy)."

[jemhouston]

Official the reason is the US doesn't want to screw up the Houthi / Saudi ceasefire. I'm wondering if the real reason isn't the fact the Biden Admin is still hoping to get a deal with Iran.

I'll admit ARC-Heavy is starting to look good.

[kdahm]

Arc-Heavy is grossly too much for what are essentially bandits. Arc-Light may be too much. Maybe just a single Buff obliterating everything within 1/4 mile of the launch site, until they start putting launch sites in villages.

The problem is that it's playing whack-a-mole or Scud-Hunt. The financiers and weapons providers don't care, and would welcome martyrs among the Houthis. The people doing it don't care and just want to strike back at whoever their mullahs say is at fault. And we can't go scorched earth, because it would cost us more in international credibility than this minor nuisance is causing.

[Johnnie Lyle]

Where's the closest point they can reload the VLS?

Jem,

IIRC they've just recently 'proof-of-concept' loaded from a tender in port -https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2023/ ... 20at%20sea. - but other than that they'd have to get back to a port.

Mike

There’s a decent French base in Djibouti.

[Poohbah]

Arc-Heavy is grossly too much for what are essentially bandits. Arc-Light may be too much. Maybe just a single Buff obliterating everything within 1/4 mile of the launch site, until they start putting launch sites in villages.

The problem is that it's playing whack-a-mole or Scud-Hunt. The financiers and weapons providers don't care, and would welcome martyrs among the Houthis. The people doing it don't care and just want to strike back at whoever their mullahs say is at fault. And we can't go scorched earth, because it would cost us more in international credibility than this minor nuisance is causing.

What if you glass the transshipment point in Iran?

[jemhouston]

I'm not sure how correct this, but Iran doesn't have that much refinery capability. Cyber-attacks to slow the importing of refined products and hit the internal refineries.

[Micael]

CENTCOM:

At approximately 0700, Dec. 15 (Sanaa time),  Houthi forces contacted the Motor Vessel MSC ALANYA, a Liberian flagged vessel that was traveling north in the southern part of the Red Sea and threatened to attack it. The Houthis directed the vessel to turn around and proceed south. Although there were no U.S. ships in the area, U.S. forces maintained direct communications with the vessel, and the ALANYA continued north.  It is believed to be traveling safely at this time.
At approximately 0900, Dec. 15 (Sanaa time), a UAV launched from Houthi held territory struck the Liberian flagged Motor Vessel AL JASRAH as it was travelling south in the Red Sea. The AL JASRAH immediately broadcast a mayday signal that said the crew was fighting a fire caused by the attack.
The fire has since been extinguished and the crew has since determined that no further assistance is needed.
Then, at approximately 1300, Dec. 15 (Sanaa time), Houthi forces launched two ballistic missiles towards the international shipping lanes in the Bab el-Mandeb strait. One of these missiles struck the Liberian flagged MV PALATIUM 3, which broadcast a mayday call and reported that the vessel was on fire. The USS MASON has responded to that request. The other missile likely missed any ships.
No injuries have been reported by any of the three ships attacked, but this latest round of attacks is yet another demonstration of the great risk to international shipping caused by these Houthi actions.

Maersk, one of the larger shipping lines, said that it is halting all of its ships planned to go through the Red Sea.

[jemhouston]

What keeps Egypt from acting? If Suez Canal gets used less that hurts Egypt.

[Poohbah]

What keeps Egypt from acting? If Suez Canal gets used less that hurts Egypt.

If 5th and 6th Fleets can't do the job, Egypt's navy sure can't.

[jemhouston]

What keeps Egypt from acting? If Suez Canal gets used less that hurts Egypt.

If 5th and 6th Fleets can't do the job, Egypt's navy sure can't.

Has the USN been told to take out the launch and support sites? Biden won't do it, so could Egypt's do it?

[Poohbah]

What keeps Egypt from acting? If Suez Canal gets used less that hurts Egypt.

If 5th and 6th Fleets can't do the job, Egypt's navy sure can't.

Has the USN been told to take out the launch and support sites? Biden won't do it, so could Egypt's do it?

Me, I'd just announce "We're withdrawing from the test ban treaties, and Houthi territory is now the Southwest Asia Proving Ground. Anyone need some fresh trinitite?"

[Micael]

CENTCOM again:

In the early morning hours of December 16 (Sanna time) the US Arliegh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS CARNEY (DDG 64), operating in the Red Sea, successfully engaged 14 unmanned aerial systems launched as a drone wave from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. The UAS were assessed to be one-way attack drones and were shot down with no damage to ships in the area or reported injuries. Regional Red Sea partners were alerted to the threat.

I think it would be best to do something decisively about this sooner rather than later.

[David Newton]

Sea Viper as launched from HMS Diamond has made its combat debut. For the first time since 1991 a Royal Navy warship has destroyed an enemy aerial target.