Everyone getting wrapped up in the rights, and wrongs of us striking back. They attacked our ships. Isn't that good enough?

Not sure it is. Return fire, knock out the bogey but beyond that, surely it depends on the ROE in force?

mog

you can take a shot in mil if the bird is below 43,000 ( or there abouts ) and need max if above. There where some issues with fan stalls back in the day and you where advised not to go to ab as it would clear. Not sure of the score now

China isn't the only trading partner in that part of the world. Japan, South Korea, India, Indonesia, Singapore, etc. etc. etc.
Yes, China is the biggest, but they are far from being alone.

Is not "shoot the archer not the arrow" the current mantra? And cheaper in the long run.

Not quite first hand
 

Surprised you still need a reply Mog so here goes. Live near one of the two Master Jet bases so not current F18. The view seems to be when a G is not also in buddy-buddy refuelling fit (S-3 Viking role) ie. just Growler work, dry take-off from carriers is OK; it’s a question of fuel v number of jammers reqd. More FAA pilots than RAF on F18 now but it would appear the F/A 18E/F/G (all USN) is more than just a replacement for the grand Tomcat

Not necessarily in these enlightened times. ROE are as much political as practical and often quite complex. Shooting the arrow removes the immediate threat, killing the archer may provoke a wider conflict and requires a decision above the Commanding Officer’s pay grade.

China has a PLA(N) base in Djibouti, but keeps out of the whole affair.

Really not sure what the strategy is here.

The US and UK are painted as taking this action in isolation. Why should they protect the shipping routes for Italy, France, Germany etc? Also, the intention to strike was telegraphed to the media in advance, giving the Houthis time to prepare, so this doesn't seem like a serious effort to me?

IIRC they did intervene on the piracy off Somalia

Wouldn't this be some UN business? Does this mean no more UN action to protect global trade routes? Will the security council be unable to act anywhere due to Russia's war with Ukraine?

The Security Council can only act if they agree - or more likely no-one objects. Russia will almost certainly object

.......followed by waiting for them to do it again ?

That;s pretty much what they were doing before the recent raids and probably what they are doing now,

And then we will hit them again.....hard as we can. I believe that several nations support the action taken by the US and UK. Nay pussy foot allowed.
Maybe we share out the costs of this little visit just like a layover meal down route. OK who had the Blooming Onion and extra beers?

The difference is that those sponsoring and launching the attacks on shipping now have new information:
The attacks can and will be detected and the missiles destroyed.
The launch facilities can and will be destroyed.
The retaliatory strikes mounted so far amount to little more than a firepower demonstration.
There is nothing they can do to prevent them.
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We were discussing the situation from the Captains' point of view and the possibility of shooting back. If you are in a naval vessel on the receiving end, not that much has changed tactically - still on the look out for incoming and engaging it before it can hit its target. Hopefully, from their point of view, the enemy has less intelligence on the course and speed of potential targets and perhaps less ammunition at his disposal.

It’s far cheaper to drop a couple of Paveway IV bombs at $30K a shot to destroy xx number of drones or SRBM at once than to later use $1M+ Aster missiles to intercept them one at a time….

Indeed it is, but foreign policy is not necessarily conducted by accountants and the consequences of dropping said Paveway(s) may be far more costly than the price of the bomb or a shipload of missiles.

So perhaps don’t tell them what hit them?

Mog