"US Warships Move to Block Iranian Weapons to Yemen" Topic

Looks like we are seeking to block any more Iranian naval resupply of the Yemeni rebels, in concert with the Saudis:

link

Apparently, the Iranians have nine vessels on the move to the region, after they offloaded scores of tons of weapons from that other cargo ship, a week, or two ago.

From what I've read, Egyptian Naval vessels are in the area as well, and supposedly they've fired on some of the Houthis in one of the port cities.

Saw it on CNN … it could get real interesting. Remember what Kirk Douglas said in that movie, "In Harm's Way". Something like, "We've got a gutbust'n mother lov'n Navy War !" …

I think the Egyptians and parts of the Yemeni navy (if it still exists, and is loyal to the old government) might be a good matchup for the Iranians.

With the USN involved, I imagine they'll be way overmatched.

Of course, that doesn't mean they'll choose the rational path, based upon historical incidents.

Ha! That'll be interesting. Iran will call their bluff though.

Dan

The USN TF includes a CVN. If need be those USN strike aircraft would probably make short work of the Persian ships/boats. Let's hope it does not come to that.

Yeah, it's the Teddy Roosevelt. Walk softly and carry a big missile load!

Works for me !

As formidable as the USN is, they might still be ordered to stand down.

Dan

They probably will … why change tactics now ?

The gaming possibilities are many, Don. A US Naval TF vs. a Persian Convoy, etc., etc. …

The Egyptians, Saudis and UAE are enforcing a blockade.
The Iranians are escorting the supply convoy in.

Only question is, what is the USN going to do?

POTUS has all but dropped alliances with Egypt and the Saudis and has been seen as desperate for a deal with Iran.
Will he sacrifice sailors to stop a war between Iran and the Saudis?

Tune in tomorrow for an answer, as this is way over the blue fez line to speculate.

Funny I should have no problem gaming moderns such as Iraq or Afghanistan yet I would think this too touchy??? That's me I suppose, now back to the little lead men side of the house.

Lucky for Iran that they recently wargamed totally annihilating a papier-mache mock-up of a US carrier. There'll be no stopping them now. Anyone know where I can find a leather version of the Roosevelt? I always wanted a leather teddy!

A leather teddy?

Not sure if they come in leather:

Dan

Shipwreck, or Bulldogs for the gunboat, missile boat, and escort actions. You can combine helos and aircraft into the mix too.

Egypt has some new missile boats, which are a bit larger, so I suspect they may be the ones off Yemen, to help keep the straits open, and enforce the blockade.

Not sure if the Yemeni missile boats and gunboats are operational, and/or under governmental control. I guess some could be under the control of both sides, which would make for interesting scenarios, especially if they are only pretending to be on the side of the government, enforcing the blockade against the Iranian vessels, and then their commander(s) suddenly switch sides, and decide to fire on "the enemy".

1/700th or 1/1250th for the vessels. 1/300th or 1/600th for the aircraft.

I'm with Mako, leave the USN out except to provide intel as that is there stated involvement. So convoy game, limited Air, sneak some mine laying and non combatant shipping in to complicate matters and away you go. I like the variable loyalty of ships, add in so that disagree with the ROE and the game becomes more chaotic

A leather teddy?

Shouldn't that be on Blue Fez ? That pic and teddies have more to do with politics than naval ops … generally …

naval or navel?

Your call !

Looks like the news reports from last night were incorrect.

Official position today is that the Carrier Group is just there to ensure "freedom of navigation" and "freedom of commerce" in the region, so it does look like the Egyptians, Saudis, and Yemeni loyalists are on their own.

On the plus side, from a gaming standpoint, that makes the scenarios a lot more balanced.

Wonder if those Iranian minisubs, and home-build subs have the range to get to the area of operations?

That would certainly add another twist to the "freedom of navigation and commerce" mission.

No reason that some of the merchant ship s might not be mothers for limpit mini subs if you want them in the game.

Seems like just about anyone can make their own primitive mini-sub, if given the proper incentive. Check out these "Coke Cans":

link

lootofariot.com/?p=677

link

link

Though I'm sure that getting someone to ride inside one of those requires some serious motivational skills.

link

You've gotta admit this one is just too cute …

Dan

Legion4: "That pic and teddies have more to do with politics than naval ops …"

Politics?

Dan

For those who want US involvement – then freedom of navigation would cover mine hunting – but that may be a little quiet if the game is hot.

It's clear that moving a carrier to the area is all about "sending a message" and nothing practical, because a carrier can't stop and frisk dhows.

That said, what would be the best kind of ship in the U.S. Navy to conduct a blockade mission requiring frequent "stop and search" of dhows and small craft?

Would this be appropriate for a USCG cutter, or a CG team?

A carrier could support choppers which can carry troops who can frisk dhows for her.

Sadly, this is really the job for a light warship like a frigate or corvette. Maybe we should have Iran build a few of their "destroyers" for us since we can't seem to build them for ourselves!

Now, now, Tgunner, those Little Crappy Ships we have, aka LCS' could be assigned the job, since they have been redesignated as "frigates".

Though of course, they're probably outgunned, so we'd need to worry about boarding actions by the Iranians, and having them take more hostages.

Does the navy still provide training with the cutlass (serious question)?

Perhaps for officers, but for all navy personnel?

I suspect that may have gone out of favor, much like the RN's daily rum ration.

Might be useful to know how to use those against machete' wielding foes.

Legion4: "That pic and teddies have more to do with politics than naval ops …"

Politics?

Well we all know about the "Honey Pot" technique, etc. … And remember the Porfumo Affair > link

Lol.

Yes. I get it now … Bar, club or just plain dating and marriage … All the constant bedroom negotiations and diplomacy tactics. Tit for tat, right? Or is it the other way around?

Dan
PS. Wow, that "Profumo" situation has been imitated a lot!

PS. Wow, that "Profumo" situation has been imitated a lot!

You got that right !! If you ever watch the FX TV series, "The Americans" link . About Russian deep cover agents in the US during the Cold War. Both the female and male agents should have a plethora of social diseases by now !

You are mistaken

Exert from a news story link today:
The United Nations Security Council imposed an arms embargo on the Houthis, and the Saudi navy imposed a naval blockade around the country.

Mr Obama warned Iran on Tuesday not to send weapons to Yemen that could be used to threaten shipping traffic in the region.

"What we've said to them is that 'if there are weapons delivered to factions within Yemen that could threaten navigation, that's a problem'," he said.

I thought that OSchmidt was referring to his country escorting the Iranian ships and so was trying to work out if his country was Yemin (North) or some other nation allied to Iran. There I was thinking North Korean or similar which while implausible would make for more gaming variety in the Gulf.

Any more details about the convoy composition? I might have an excuse to buy some more ships from PTdockyard! :-)

Does the navy still provide training with the cutlass (serious question)?

Perhaps for officers, but for all navy personnel?

Not when I was in boot back in 2000, though apparently the recruit petty officer in charge's cutlass had been issued along with a 9mm to Sailors in boarding teams during Desert Storm.

I need to find an illustrated copy of the Navy Regs of 1859 or thereabouts for instructions on cutlass and dirk fighting. I already have the 1911 US Army regs for bayonet drill.

Iran's Naval Convoy To Yemen Has Turned Around

"Thursday after being followed by U.S. warships stationed in the area to prevent arms shipments, multiple sources in the Pentagon told Fox News.

The sources said the nine-ship convoy is south of Salalah, Oman, and now headed northeast in the Arabian Sea in the direction of home. The ships, which include seven freighters and two frigates, had sailed southwest along the coast of Yemen heading in the direction of Aden and the entrance to the Red Sea. They appeared to drop anchor in the north Arabian Sea, after the USS Theodore Roosevelt, the USS Normandy and a half-dozen other American ships arrived in the Arabian Sea on Monday, and U.S. officials said that they could intercept the convoy…"
Full article here
link

Amicalement
Armand

Damn, I failed morale and my fleet had to return to port! ;-(
OTOH good news in the real world (conflict avoided).
I ran a peace keeping game where the objective was to cause the other player to keep failing morale without shooting at them. Made for an intesting game.

Yep. I guess that means the U.S.-Iran deal won't happen any time soon?

Dan

Probably not …

Too bad we dont have any mothballed PT boats. They would make great little patrol vessels for searching fishing boats and other small craft. Enough firepower to shred most things. Have to be better then that sad little thing we are calling a frigate.

To be fair, that Iranian "destroyer" is just a corvette, so lots of hyperbolic names to go around.

I've seen pics of it mentioned along with the news of the movements towards Yemen, but don't know if those were real, or just stock news footage.

Last I'd heard, their "destroyer" was being deployed to guard the lake north of Iran. Apparently, using the river systems up there, it might be possible for them to move their little vessel elsewhere.

The Egyptians have some new missile boats, but not sure they are produced by anyone in miniature yet.

PT Boats would indeed be formidable, if updated with current guidance and sensor equipment!

Dan

Thanks Mako, the Iranian flotilla on its Northern lakes could also make for interesting small ship combats.

Dog boats more so than PTs. But I say! for Red Sea anti piracy you want the steam launch with 9 pounder and some jack tars by jingo!

Too bad we dont have any mothballed PT boats. They would make great little patrol vessels for searching fishing boats and other small craft.

The USN's PCF "Swift" Boats and PBRs would do well for that same mission, I'd think, in some cases. But they might not do well on the high seas ? I worked with USN PCFs in Panama in the early '80s. But AFAIK, many of the PBRs were left to the SVN. However, IIRC some were working further South when I was working with the PCFs in the '80s. And AFAIK today, the PFCs were replaced by better, newer, faster, more high-tech boats.

A shame we never built, or bought any of those nice little missile boats, like the Swedes, Germans, and others use.

They'd be perfect for this type of scenario.

Not sure the really expensive hydrofoil boats we bought are still serviceable.

I think those few hydrofoils were mothballed or sold for scrap ?

I'm not sure about the USN Pegasus class hydrofoils (FAH) – not sure that 8 harpoons and a 76mm with a reasonable small crew is optimal for stop and search missions. While a 76 would be persuasive, a 40 will do, more needed is a launch well for a semi rigid capable of a six to eight member inspection team or preferably two plus good sea keeping and reasonable endurance would be more mission focus. The problem is mission creep – soon the minimum "needed" is a corvette which means higher costs. One solution – patrol boats with strong mission focus backed up by dedicated warships and air support.

One solution – patrol boats with strong mission focus backed up by dedicated warships and air support.

That sounds very reasonable …

You have just jinxed the whole thing! If it sounds too reasonable, then chances are it won't be approved.

Dan