Pentagon says Chinese vessels harassed U.S. ship

[Enigma]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/...ina/index.html

A Pentagon spokesman called the incident "one of the most aggressive actions we've seen in some time. We will certainly let Chinese officials know of our displeasure at this reckless and dangerous maneuver."
He said the Chinese crew members used poles to try to snag the Impeccable's acoustic equipment in the water.

Cheeky bastards.

As an aside, I've never seen such a ship as the Impeccable. That's quite a ship!

[A Very Super Market]

Man, China is getting more paranoid by the second.

[Hunter]

Actualy, USN vessels with aqustic equipment could hardly expect warm welcome at Chineese nuclear submarine playground.

[JALU3]

When did they release those photos?

Enigma, you should have looked before you posted, and posted in the correct forum. Now we have two threads on the same event.

Mods, can you merge the two threads together?

[Hunter]

I have found them on some Russian naval news pages But originaly they were released at www.navy.mil

[JALU3]

Here's another one from navy.mil


Description: A crewmember on a Chinese trawler uses a grapple hook in an apparent attempt to snag the towed acoustic array of the military Sealift Command ocean surveillance ship USNS Impeccable (T-AGOS-23).

[goldorak]

Originally Posted by A Very Super Market

Man, China is getting more paranoid by the second.

Paranoid no, realistic yes.
Americans don't like foreign surveillance ships going around in the gulf of mexico. Why do you think China would accept something like this in its own backyard ?

[JALU3]

Originally Posted by goldorak

Paranoid no, realistic yes.
Americans don't like foreign surveillance ships going around in the gulf of mexico. Why do you think China would accept something like this in its own backyard ?

Just cause we don't like it does not mean that we almost ram ships when it happens, or make and obviously purposeful attempt to destroy their equipment, as in what is scene in the photo I posted.

The idea of China protesting ships operating in International Waters is laughable. :rotfl:

[goldorak]

Originally Posted by JALU3

Just cause we don't like it does not mean that we almost ram ships when it happens, or make and obviously purposeful attempt to destroy their equipment, as in what is scene in the photo I posted.

The idea of China protesting ships operating in International Waters is laughable. :rotfl:

C'mon be serious.
History has shown time and again that the USA doesn't care one bit about international laws when its supremacy is questioned (and this is true of every superpower in the 20th century, and colonial empires in the 19th century).
Cuba is not in american territorial waters is it not ? But some missiles installed on the island 50 years ago prompted a planned invasion, a maritime blocus and god forbid even a nuclear confrontation (this one didn't come to pass fortunately) .
Central America is not american territory, nontheless its considered america's backyard.
China is a regional superpower and still growing, and you bet all you want we are going to see more and more incidents like this one. You can't fault China for doing what its doing in its own backyard. It may displease america, but what are americans going to do ?

[JALU3]

Originally Posted by goldorak

It may displease america, but what are americans going to do ?

Probably the same thing, ships will bump, diplomatic protest and telegrams will be sent both ways, and it'll be business as usual.

[Hunter]

The only question here is why civil trawlers but not coast guard or naval patrol, if China wanted to prevent US vessel from continuing its surway in the area? Reminds me 1988 accident when US ships were ramed by Border guards from Soviet waters on Black sea, as well as old joke about Soviet agricultural tractors (Chineese trawlers) capable to wanish the Kingdom of Belgia with rare gunfire (as their numerous flags on masts look like old fashioned combat flags.

[Kaye T. Bai]

This whole thing reminds me of the 2008 incident between the U.S. Navy and the Iranian "maritime force."

Here is something somebody said on an Iranian "news" website. It is paraphrased, but the main message is still there.

"All armchair warriors think the U.S. Navy is the most powerful Navy. The truth is that China and Russia are unstoppable. Russia and China are easily capable of sinking all ships in the U.S. Navy, at a fraction of the cost. They are at least two generations ahead of the U.S. in missile technology and they intend to easily destroy the U.S. Navy. When the time comes, they will do it."

What do you guys think about the above statement? I personally think it's ridiculous and absurd.

[goldorak]

Missiles ahead 2 generations beyond what americans have I doubt it.
The question is whether the us navy has anti-missile capabilities against these threats. Can they intercept a mach 2+ sea skimming missile when its launched from very near.
Historically US navy vessels have been hit by missiles. Wasn't the Stark hit by 2 exocets ? And those missiles are no where near the performance of the new russian antiship missiles.

[Hunter]

Although, the style the message is too pothetic its meaning isn't far from truth.
Here is a good reference on Russian/Soviet naval messiles. USN got used to relay on air power rather than cruise missiles and don't have anything like Sovet surface-to surface messiles engeneered for attacking CV groops from distances beyond their effective air defence range (for CV armed with F-18 it is eprox.300 km now). Harpoon and Tomahawk which can't reach supersonic speed, change direction and altitude while at range, as well as act automaticaly in groups are weaker.
http://www.dtig.org/docs/Russian-Sov...20Missiles.pdf

[Kaye T. Bai]

Originally Posted by goldorak

Wasn't the USS Stark hit by two Exocets?

Well, the USS Stark's Phalanx CIWS was not armed at the time.

If it were, it would've had a chance of shooting down the Exocet missiles.