Yemen.....2
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
"A Saudi Patriot battery shot down six Houthi ballistic missiles in 48 sec.. According to officials, battery commanders launched an undisclosed number of Patriots to intercept the incoming missiles, with one missile being launched every six seconds".
https://t.co/R0rwiHZos7
https://t.co/R0rwiHZos7
"A Saudi Patriot battery shot down six Houthi ballistic missiles in 48 sec.. According to officials, battery commanders launched an undisclosed number of Patriots to intercept the incoming missiles, with one missile being launched every six seconds".
https://t.co/R0rwiHZos7
https://t.co/R0rwiHZos7
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Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Yemen's Houthi rebels have assured Russia and China that their ships can safely travel through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, according to a Bloomberg report.
In return, both China and Russia have promised to provide some "political support" to the Shia militant group.
The exact nature of the help has not been detailed, but it may include backing them in international institutions, such as by blocking resolutions aimed at the Houthis in the United Nations Security Council, Bloomberg reported.
In January, the Security Council adopted a resolution condemning Houthi attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea; China and Russia abstained during that vote.
In return, both China and Russia have promised to provide some "political support" to the Shia militant group.
The exact nature of the help has not been detailed, but it may include backing them in international institutions, such as by blocking resolutions aimed at the Houthis in the United Nations Security Council, Bloomberg reported.
In January, the Security Council adopted a resolution condemning Houthi attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea; China and Russia abstained during that vote.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Hmm, the dog that didn’t bark….
Nite that no attempt seems to have been made to intercept the ballistic missiles……
CENTCOM:
MARCH 23 RED SEA UPDATE
From 2:50 to 4:30 a.m. (Sanaa time) March 23, the Iranian-backed Houthis launched four anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM) into the Red Sea in the vicinity of M/V Huang Pu, a Panamanian-flagged, Chinese-owned, Chinese-operated oil tanker.
At 4:25 p.m. (Sanaa time), a fifth ballistic missile was detected as fired toward M/V Huang Pu. The ship issued a distress call but did not request assistance.
M/V Huang Pu suffered minimal damage, and a fire on board was extinguished within 30 minutes. No casualties were reported, and the vessel resumed its course. The Houthis attacked the MV Huang despite previously stating they would not attack Chinese vessels.
Between 6:50 and 9:50 a.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. forces, including USS Carney (DDG 64), engaged six Houthi unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) over the southern Red Sea. Five crashed into the Red Sea, and one flew inland into Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
It was determined these UAVs presented an imminent threat to U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels in the region. These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S, coalition, and merchant vessels.
Nite that no attempt seems to have been made to intercept the ballistic missiles……
CENTCOM:
MARCH 23 RED SEA UPDATE
From 2:50 to 4:30 a.m. (Sanaa time) March 23, the Iranian-backed Houthis launched four anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM) into the Red Sea in the vicinity of M/V Huang Pu, a Panamanian-flagged, Chinese-owned, Chinese-operated oil tanker.
At 4:25 p.m. (Sanaa time), a fifth ballistic missile was detected as fired toward M/V Huang Pu. The ship issued a distress call but did not request assistance.
M/V Huang Pu suffered minimal damage, and a fire on board was extinguished within 30 minutes. No casualties were reported, and the vessel resumed its course. The Houthis attacked the MV Huang despite previously stating they would not attack Chinese vessels.
Between 6:50 and 9:50 a.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. forces, including USS Carney (DDG 64), engaged six Houthi unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) over the southern Red Sea. Five crashed into the Red Sea, and one flew inland into Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
It was determined these UAVs presented an imminent threat to U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels in the region. These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S, coalition, and merchant vessels.
Is the M/V Huang Pu definitely Chinese and not Taiwanese owned?
In a related article, in Telegraph, a (retired) Captain Tom Sharpe offered this up after discussing the attack on M/V Huang Pu
Actually, we foresaw it about 40 years ago. (FWIW out at MAWTS they had hung Sidewinders on Cobras well before that).
We were patrolling the Eastern Med a bit after the suicide bomb barracks attacks in Lebanon. We had a variety of things to go out and look for on a daily basis.
One of the threats we trained for was the small, light commercial aircraft (think Cessna or similar) non-squawker. Tight RoE.
The SH-2F could comfortably run about at 135 knots. Our ASAC/Controller ran a variety of intercept exercises with us on known fixed wing air contacts, and any number of unknowns. (He used to be on an AAW ship, so we were his "slow Tomcat"
)
We sometimes used friendly helicopters who would pose as the non-squawker light aircraft. (Assumed suicide attackers).
Not sure about Captain Sharpe's lack of imagination, but we didn't share it. (We had a few things to sort out as regards mounting an M-60 in the SH-2F's door area ...that's a while back)
In the early 90's I added these kinds of drills on my SH-60B detachment. On the bright side, how to mount an M-60 to an SH-60B had already been sorted out in the Persian Guld in the 80's, although much of that was in aid of anti-mine warfare.
People have been using helicopters for Air to Air from the backs of ships for a bit longer than Captain Sharp imagines.
Also: tip-of-the cap to the German and French aircrews who got the drones. Well done.
On 20 March a French Navy helicopter was directed onto a Samad drone and engaged it successfully with gunfire. Given that the two aircraft have comparable top speeds, this is a remarkable piece of airmanship and then marksmanship. Not to be outdone, German frigate Hessen’s Lynx helicopter armed with a .50 cal machine gun did the same a few days later. Speaking as a former warship captain, anything that adds layers and improves the stand-off distance at which enemy weapons can be knocked down is to be welcomed – as is anything that allows you to keep back precious missiles to use against faster, more difficult cruise or ballistic missiles. As a method though, this should not be relied upon. Small helicopters flown from frigates and destroyers have short legs, particularly in the heat, and can only fly for so many hours in a day before rest and maintenance become obligatory. You would also have to be very quick to get one launched in response to an incoming drone, whilst the act of launching makes you less manoeuvrable at a time when you want your moves the most. It also makes you more vulnerable if there is a follow-on missile attack. But if the aircraft are up already, and the ships are sharp, then this is a remarkable development. Nobody would have foreseen the use of humble helicopters as air-to-air interceptors.
We were patrolling the Eastern Med a bit after the suicide bomb barracks attacks in Lebanon. We had a variety of things to go out and look for on a daily basis.
One of the threats we trained for was the small, light commercial aircraft (think Cessna or similar) non-squawker. Tight RoE.
The SH-2F could comfortably run about at 135 knots. Our ASAC/Controller ran a variety of intercept exercises with us on known fixed wing air contacts, and any number of unknowns. (He used to be on an AAW ship, so we were his "slow Tomcat"
) We sometimes used friendly helicopters who would pose as the non-squawker light aircraft. (Assumed suicide attackers).
Not sure about Captain Sharpe's lack of imagination, but we didn't share it. (We had a few things to sort out as regards mounting an M-60 in the SH-2F's door area ...that's a while back)
In the early 90's I added these kinds of drills on my SH-60B detachment. On the bright side, how to mount an M-60 to an SH-60B had already been sorted out in the Persian Guld in the 80's, although much of that was in aid of anti-mine warfare.
People have been using helicopters for Air to Air from the backs of ships for a bit longer than Captain Sharp imagines.
Also: tip-of-the cap to the German and French aircrews who got the drones. Well done.
