Iran sending warships to the Gulf Of Mexico

originally posted by: visitedbythem
a reply to: TinfoilTP

That's the one kind of problem where throwing money at it doesn't fix it

Most sane people and Courts would call that direct support.

Be a good time to clandestinely attach a bunch of limpet like mines arranged to go off when they are in the middle of their sail home. Accident out in the middle of the ocean with no one around, no witnesses survival and wreckage too deep to examine or salvage.

Good time to tweet power projection is for big boys.

Iran could try to blockade the ports to cut off supplies...

originally posted by: pheonix358
a reply to: Irishhaf

Peeps in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

How many crashes have there been recently involving the US Navy. Running into container ships ... because ... crew failures.

And yet ... you want to demean Iran's Navy ... such as it is.

LOL

P

Meh think of how often since WW2 our navy has criss crossed the globe, blue water sailing is way different than the pond they normally sail in, heck look at the trouble the Russian Carrier had getting to Syria.

The amusement portion is just that amusement...but go ahead and get hurt on their behalf I am sure Iran appreciates it.

originally posted by: ShadowChatter
Iran could try to blockade the ports to cut off supplies...

Lol, look at the toy boats, deploy the rubber duckies to defend the Gulf.

a reply to: pheonix358

I wasn't even aware they had a navy past speed boats. One destroyer could most likely take out their entire navy.

I hope they visit during hurricane season.

They might be planning to invade the Cayman Islands !!

originally posted by: Crumbles
a reply to: pheonix358

I wasn't even aware they had a navy past speed boats. One destroyer could most likely take out their entire navy.

Nah, One P-8 with harpoons will take care of everything

Having heard about this, the following can be stated:

Overconfidence is not something that should be taken so lightly. Before the USS Cole attack, the very idea of a small fast motor boat doing damage against a warship was unthinkable, but it was done and pulled off.
A bit of research has shown that the Iran is working and up grading their navy, as are many other countries, like China. And they are working to move towards a more viable military force.
Now there are 2 reasons why Iran is doing this, the first is that they are wanting to show that they have a military force, and that if need be, though it may be a bit more difficult for them, that they can move and go into areas that they could not years ago. The logistics for a deployment all boils down to fuel and food. Fuel may be easier for them to get, as they are oil producing country, with allies that are well placed in different parts of the world, while few, still can give them assistance. If they are serious, the first step would be to sail from Iran and around the Arabian Peninsula, and up through the Suez Canal. Then through the Mediterranean, and out to the Atlantic, that is 2 days there. And then about a week to sail to the Caribbean sea, and their first port of call. I would say that the first place that they stop would be Venezuela. And I would guess there would not only be the port of call, but a place there they could resupply and stay while in the area, including for repairs and for those seeking shore leave.
I would also say that while in the area, they may make calls on various other countries, getting permission to stop and visit, in the area. Any ideas on what countries may decide to open up ports to welcome them in for a visit? There are several countries in the area that may do just that as a point just to honk off the USA, even offering refuge to said ships to shield them from the USA. They show up, the USA counters, they retreat into national waters, of a host country, and when the USA is not looking back out again to further irritate the USA.

originally posted by: FredT
Iran is sailing a flotilla of vessels through the Gulf Of Mexico part of a tour of South America. It will be interesting to see how well this goes. That's Blue water navy territory and UNREPS are really only practiced by a few navies. There are only 5-6 true blue water navies in the world and it can get lonely out there is things go wrong.

That being said they will no doubt have some quiet undersea escorts courtesy of the USN along with the usual suspects on the surface and air.


www.newsweek.com...

The Florida straights in-bound is only 90 miles from Key West to Havana, and a bit wider south in the Caribbean Islands. Thats a midway point of 45 miles to maybe 150 south across the middle in Caribbeans...WAAAAAAAAY too close to Florida (45 miles at the midway!)

Thats the bad thing. Entering the Gulf is like pulling into a carved out USA. Other than the Panama Canal...thats just one way in. Like letting them park in our backyards...

originally posted by: xuenchen
They might be planning to invade the Cayman Islands !!

As long as they steer clear of Puerto Rico!

I think it is just an idle threat to show they can. Other countries, including the US and Russia do this all the time if they want to make a statement.

a reply to: FredT Total joke and a repeat of Iranian Propoganda from 2014. It's 9,708 nautical miles from the main Iranian Naval base to Miami Florida (I just picked that as a reference point). It's further to South American Countries. The trip one way would take nearly 40-45 days.

A Iranian Kilo class sub has a max range of 6,000 nm plus limits on supplies. It carries supplies for 45 days. Iran has only one Supply Oiler which is a British built class oiler. It's max range is 10,000nm (means it could in theory reach the USA w/o refueling). Largest current surface ships are 1500 ton frigates not designed for open water excursions of this length.

The Iranian nonsense of Freedom of navigation would allow them to come within 3 nm of the US Coast line is in error. It's a 12 nm limit and we do enforce it as the Russian Navy and Aircraft has always stayed outside the 12nm distance. We do not sail Navy ships within 12 nm of Iran. However offshore islands beyond that distance we will do sail past. Example is Socratra island that belong to Yemen. It's a well south of Yemen and east of the Horn of Africa. We actually sailed by while at General Quarters (just in case).

Here's link to sea miles map. ports.com...

Basically it's all Iranian Propoganda without any factual basis in being able to perform said mission.

a reply to: mysterioustranger
If they can make it it's a big so what? Russian Navy has for decades been traveling from the northern Russian Naval bases and either flying or sailing down the US coastline (beyond 12 miles) an stopping in Cuba before doing the reverse tack back to Russia. The US and Canada always provides a standoff escort to keep tabs on them (they always do the same to us when we operate near them.

Ha-ha-ha: everybody is joking and laughing at the Iranian navy.
Ever think it might be a ruse, to escort a nuclear missile armed NorKo sub, right into Amerika's soft underbelly?

originally posted by: visitedbythem
That's ok! We walk softly and carry a big stick

Remember Cuba in 1962 ? If Any of those Iranian Ships are Armed with advanced Weapons Systems , then Uncle Sam just Might Stop them at Sea and take a Closer Look.........

a reply to: ShadowChatter

What about all our cruise ships? That could be very alarming. Hostages? Are they copying Somali pirates? I don't like this.

Why the gulf of Mexico?

How hard would it be for them to sabotage oil rigs?



On the other hand-

Do they have a refueling support with them?

I mean if they intend to kick us in the shin- why don't we kick them in the knee?

I guess we caught this item on the pre end rather than the post end huh?

I guess I'm just naive, I like Persians in the way that they were born too, so they deserve the same right to life that I enjoy myself.
Cooperation used to be taught in school when I attended.

They are not going to sabotage anything, the US Navy will keep a close eye on them as will the coast guard.

Every step along the way will be monitored partly for security, and partly they are a shallow water navy taking on the big blue, them losing a ship and all hands especially if people could have assisted would not play well on the international stage.