Russian warship ‘threatens to ram’ US destroyer

A Russian warship has allegedly threatened to ram a US destroyer during a rare naval standoff between the two countries in the waters off Russia’s Pacific coast.

Russia said on Tuesday that the Admiral Vinogradov, a destroyer, threatened the USS John S McCain, a US navy guided-missile destroyer, for “operating illegally” in its territorial waters in the Sea of Japan.

The US Navy said its vessel had been in international waters as it carried out a “freedom of navigation” operation to assert its rights and challenge what it said were Russia’s excessive maritime claims. The US ship retreated to neutral waters, Moscow claimed.

Russian warship ‘threatens to ram’ US destroyer

This just happened today.

On one hand Russua reports that the Destroyer USS John S McCain was performing illegal operations in their back yard off the coast of Japan...

Russia said its Pacific Fleet warship had been tracking the American destroyer in the Peter the Great Gulf, and that the US vessel had violated Russia’s territorial waters at 0317 GMT by going 2km beyond the sea border.

On the other hand the US Navy claims no such discretion took place...

“The Russian Federation’s statement about this mission is false,” he said. “USS John S McCain was not ‘expelled’ from any nation’s territory.”

Usually we hear of Russian aircraft buzzing restricted airspace and intercepting US aircraft (I believe the US does the same back), possibly to test the reactions, something the US feels is unsafe. (We often hear of Russian aircraft entering our air space here in blighty).

This is a bit different, we don't often hear of ships doing it, yet here we are.

Of course one important question would be, is this Russia testing the US? The timing seems a but convenient, at the near conclusion of one of the most messy and divisive elections ever to take place on US soil. Will we see more of this kind of thing from Russia?

Only time will tell.

Lt Joe Keiley, 7th Fleet spokesperson, made a fairly robust statement on the matter...

“… the US will never bow in intimidation or be coerced into accepting illegitimate maritime claims, such as those made by the Russian Federation,”

I, for one, would not like to see tensions rise between these two nations.

What say you ATS?

a reply to: djz3ro

Just the Russians rattling sabers.

If the Americans want do go into Russian territory they would probably use a submarine.

a reply to: djz3ro

What a nice day to exit the Open Skies treaty...

wallstreet journal

Peace

a reply to: Bluntone22

If the election steal goes through,Russia will probably nuke us.

I expect this to be the new normal.

originally posted by: mamabeth
a reply to: Bluntone22

If the election steal goes through,Russia will probably nuke us.

Russia would nuke the US if Trump steals the election?

I thought they kinda liked him?

originally posted by: operation mindcrime
a reply to: djz3ro

What a nice day to exit the Open Skies treaty...

wallstreet journal

Peace

Do you think the exiting of the treaty may have been the trigger for this event?

The US is right to keep up with freedom of navigation sorties to challenge states who unilaterally declere territory as belonging to them. Russia can claim the Peter the Great Gulf, but it is just a claim. Just like the Chinese claiming the South China Sea.

a reply to: paraphi

This is a very good point.

originally posted by: VictorVonDoom
Obviously, the US is at fault here. We weren't social distancing. We probably weren't wearing masks, either.

No they thought John mccain was on board and was trying to impress him.

a reply to: Bluntone22

My money goes to China buying out the Biden family,
not Russia!

The main problem is the name USS John S McCain... that ship is doomed.