They may escalate to sea drones. They seem to be effective

Iran has more than just MANPADS. They have S-300, Hawk, Rapier, etc which can certainly reach far enough to deny airspace in the Strait and protect their naval bases. Thus this was the main reason for the F-35 deployment I suspect. They have a large variety of anti-ship cruise missiles and other surface to surface missiles. They have really armed up in recent years.

IRGC is way more than just a bunch of pirates motoring about in little boats with AKs and RPGs.

There are reasons that the commercial ships don't arm themselves against pirates, denial of insurance coverage, and denial of port entry probably the most significant. I am not at all sure that these would not continue to be a factor if the personnel were military.

They are more than just pirates but they aren’t even close to any kind of match to a real navy. Which our Navy is. I think the last time we engaged them for real we knocked the shit out of everything they sortied. (After Samuel B Roberts hit Iranian mine)

The Iranian Navy only exists at the pleasure of the US Navy. That isn’t hyperbole.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: pedropcola, August 04, 2023 03:45 PM

I dont think American troops, wearing American flag patches on their uniforms, should be providing armed security to private shipping companies.

Now, if a private security contractor, maybe an American version of Wagner, were to step in and provide the service, then go right ahead. The Navy can even sell that company some heavy weapons and missiles and cannons for all I care.

quote:

Originally posted by bubbatime:
I dont think American troops, wearing American flag patches on their uniforms, should be providing armed security to private shipping companies.

Now, if a private security contractor, maybe an American version of Wagner, were to step in and provide the service, then go right ahead. The Navy can even sell that company some heavy weapons and missiles and cannons for all I care.

There are private American security companies that provide this service. My older son had some leave coming to him after his latest deployment and was asked if he wanted to take a couple of weeks and make some serious coin. He seriously thought about it but in the end declined to spend time with his family.

This was off the coast of Somalia and they were going to be provided with .50 cals. I’m sure the tactic to defend from a more formidable force like Iran would change the dynamics quite a bit.

If staged on the ships themselves, a bunch of Javelin or Tow systems would probably be the way to go. We have a bunch of spares right now, right?

Or we could just bomb, bomb, bomb - bombbomb Iran...

quote:

Originally posted by Voshterkoff:
If staged on the ships themselves, a bunch of Javelin or Tow systems would probably be the way to go. We have a bunch of spares right now, right?

That was going to be my question. Surface to surface shoulder or mounted system.

A) Does anyone know if Iran is publicly supporting these acts of piracy, or are they keeping a fig leaf of deniability?

B) The ROE on pirates should be quite clear. I don’t think those standards have changed since Rome.

quote:

Originally posted by Aglifter:
A) Does anyone know if Iran is publicly supporting these acts of piracy, or are they keeping a fig leaf of deniability?

B) The ROE on pirates should be quite clear. I don’t think those standards have changed since Rome.

These aren't pirates nor the Iranian Navy but, the IRGC.

quote:

Originally posted by Aglifter:
A) Does anyone know if Iran is publicly supporting these acts of piracy, or are they keeping a fig leaf of deniability?

B) The ROE on pirates should be quite clear. I don’t think those standards have changed since Rome.

They haven't, except to be more-or-less formalized. "Enemies of all mankind." Any nation encountering them can deal with them as they see fit.

Problem, as others have noted, is that the Iranians probably don't meet the definition of "pirates."

Sal as always, provides some historical background and perspective.
I agree with his position: you want protection, change the flag of your vessel to the US, then we can talk about some active defense.