And...the numbers of drone and missile launches have been significantly reduced since the beginning of the war as well.

Erm, have they started chopping up HMS Lancaster yet in Bahrain? Just asking for some geezer in No 10! :ok:

Interesting, is it nor the case that states are legally responsible for the safety of ships registered with the state- UNCLOS?

Depending on how you read it, it isn't just ensuring they follow safety rules/laws etc.
Its also protecting them.
How does that work for flag of convience states!

Hopefully the US stops all oil leaving Iran if the regime does not open the Straight of Hormuz to all traffic. No Iranian oil should be allowed to leave at all. I am sure China won't like this, they can then put pressure on the regime to open the Straight of Hormuz to all ships. The question is would it be better to take Kharg Island and occupy it, destroy it or simply use the US Navy to impose a naval blockade on Iran. Maybe Iranian oil tankers could simply be taken, the US/others get the oil free of charge and a free oil tanker, to be returned to a new Iranian government post regime change.

Trashing a Kilo in Banda Abass, nearly 2 weeks into a tiff that involves the closure of the Straits of Hormuz, seems good, but late. No Iranian sub should have existed after the first shots were fired. At the same time, having destroyed 100% of Irans military capability and with active blockading of the said straits... surprising to see grey skimmers in the same image that aren't sitting with big holes in their centers and needing plimsoll lines around their radar masts too.

"Plus Trump"

​​​​​​​LB, good to know that you have no TDS symptoms, congratulations. Personally, I am left wondering if the rat cunning plan being conducted here is to confuse the Iranians to the point they go and visit their psychologists and get fitted for straight jackets as they have every right to be scratching their head as to whether they are part of a war, an excursion, insider trading, being assisted by Russia while Russia smiles on F-troop giving Vlad a windfall profit from the spike in oil prices, and then lifting sanctions on that very commodity. Vlad has true friends showing the largesse of the WH adding to Vlad's pension fund. Catch-22.

Tricky one this. On the one hand, we have Trump pleading with China (amongst others) to send ships to secure the Straits, whose own vessels currently transit unhindered. And on the other, we have the US threatening to take Kharg Island and stop exports of oil to...primarily China.

To describe the US's plan to re-open the Straits as muddled would be generous.

On the radio-BBC so about half here will say its a subversive organsiation - they were talking about how Ukraine is benefiting from this because the Gulf states are buying expertise from UKraine on drones because they have far more experienc e with them than any one else . Which certainly makes sense and good luck to them too they need some positives

I think Ukraine is the world's expert in warfare these days and will have a queue out the door of hardware and know how customers. Not only that but they should get paid for in theatre testing of many countries war materials.

That’s the pilot!

Mog

Are you making an assumption that it was just sunk? As to the timing, are you privy to target selection data? Why on day one would a sub that may not have been sea worthy need to be sent to the bottom oppossed to another target selection?

It's not easy to be a planner, everyone with access to pprune is going to criticize, absent the data to do so, but thankfully armed with snippets from X.

First KC-135 crew member named by family - Major Alex Klinner of Birmingham, AL

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....e6c675656d.png

KC-135 Co-pilot 1st Lt Ariana A Bouche


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HDZE9Hnb...jpg&name=large

This is why you don't get involved in wars needlessly. Every life matters. Thank you for your service.

Boom Operator TSgt Tyler Simmons

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HDXy5oUW...jpg&name=small

I think it was Curtis Lemay that said "When you engage the enemy you have to pay an admission price".
Not engaging the enemy directly but on `Ops`. I hope the price is worth it.
RIP.

Heroes all of them. RIP.

Puts It all into perspective...

Video

Are there actually any available Royal Navy ships to send?! Britain was not involved in war against the regime in Tehran but they have stopped our oil, I noted one of the first ships attacked was from Thailand, certainly a neutral country if there is one. If could understand the regime attempting to halt US and Israeli ships but that is about it. Basically it is an illegitimate criminal regime targeting any neutral country it can.

To be found on Not a Pound for Air to Ground's You Tube Channel (Can't post a link)

"The Tanker War: Iran vs Usa vs Iraq.."

seems pertinent.....

There are very few us or israeli tankers anywhere in the world.

There are almost none that belong directly to any first world companies. 95% are regustered as flags of covenience in places like Palau.

They are ownded and run behind networks of shell companies and accounts.

Needless to say, none of the countries of registration have any military forces at all.

Why we should help them is a good question

IDF reports 5 waves of Iranian missiles launched in nine hours overnight. Methinks someone is not being completely truthful with the analysis of destruction of Iranian capabilities.

Iranian regime fat cats have left with their families for Oman - doubtless they have equally fat bank accounts in Switzerland and elsewhere.

Translation:

Surely that is problem for Thailand to resolve? I heard on the BBC yesterday that Indian vessels are passing through the Strait by agreeing passage with the Iranian authorities.

Bsij and IRGC security forces moving their bases into primary schools to protect themselves from attack.

Video

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https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....669572be1b.png
​​​​​​​

Presumably moving onward to a base further east after an overnight stop.

Mmmmm, I wonder what Oman will make of things when Mossad operatives arrive on the scene to "welcome" the new Iranian guests?

I do think certain people in the US were rather banking on a similar Iranian reaction to their (lack of) reaction after the US bombing of the Iranian nuclear sites last Summer. Whoops!

As Captain Alberto Bertorelli often says in that classic Brit sitcom "Allo! Allo!", "Whad-a mistake-a to make-a!"! :ok:

An A400M, ZM412, seems to have had an eventful flight yesterday. Departed Akrotiri and routed over Saudi for Iraq. Then, on its return, squawked 7700 and appeared to divert to Larnaca.

Oman? Isn't Salalah, the port with the added extra smoke screen from Iranian largesse down the RHS of Oman???

x'lent welcome to y'all there, here's the bill for the naked aggression of the country you have supported and profited from for the last... 2026-1979 = ... 47 years?

Back in the mid or late '80s I attended some interesting training at the Royal Military College of Science. One - or perhaps a series - of lectures involved Asymmetric Warfare, at that time a hot topic. The lecture started by placing the subject in an historical context: the Scythians robust defence against the Persian Empire and, as I recall ended with the French v Viet Minh in the First Indo China War.

This conflict in the Middle East is an example of asymmetric warfare and it is worthwhile examining Iran's defensive strategy and doctrine in this light. Mosaic Defence and Fourth Successor models go a long way to explain the situation we find ourselves in.

For those who may be interested, the articles give some background and may help in understanding:

https://ummid.com/news/2026/3/14/ira...or-models.html


https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2026/03/1...osaic-defense/

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/front...-doctrine.html

Interesting stuff there Lars and looks like the Iranians are simply playing out their 2010-era strategy to the letter! Maybe updated slightly in terms of drone technology but, as you say, essentially the same overall strategy.

One assumes this was all well-known in the Pentagon but, presumably, was dismissed by the White House.

It strikes me that this is turning into a US version of a certain country's SMO. And the 2 leaders are both from the same mould re backing down. And, for the same reason as Ukraine, understandably, Iran seems quite determined to fight on.

I suspect that this will run for some while yet.:uhoh:

…………….

B-1B Lancer on Flightradar24


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....b59266bc89.jpg

Update from CENTCOM

Apologies for repeating others but I counted 18 USAF tankers and one Bone between the Gulf and Cyprus just now.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....4b96656a99.jpg

Fascinating to watch the B1 getting refuelled South West of Cyprus right now! (FR24)

Yes, I watched that too. Remarkable that it's broadcast in real time.

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I see that various newspapers are reporting that Starmer is "resisting" calls from Trump to send UK warships to help keep the Straits of Hormuz open....

I was under the impression we didn't have anything available to send? If that is the case, resisting the call isn't a principled stand but rather a practical reality.