Gaza - Israel Conflict ~ Naval Aspects

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USN CARRIER STRIKE GROUPS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/p ... ear-israel

Meanwhile IRGC drone footage confirms USS Dwight D Eisenhower carrier strike group has transited the Strait of Hormuz and left the Persian Gulf.
Source Navy Lookout.

[Pelican]

Royal Navy destroyer HMS Diamond shoots down drone while escorting merchant ships in the Red Sea

HMS Diamond has shot down a suspected drone targeting merchant shipping in the Red Sea using a Sea Viper missile.


Diamond transited the Suez Canal on 14 December, deployed in response to increasing attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea. Having only just arrived in theatre, the MoD announced today she destroyed a drone using her Sea Viper/PAMMS system. The drone was presumably fired from Yemen by Houthi rebels who have carried out attacks on at least 10 merchant vessels since 19th November. This is the first use of an Aster missile (named Sea Viper by the RN) in combat by the Royal Navy, although the French frigate FS Languedoc also fired an Aster 15 missile at a similar target earlier this week.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: “The recent spate of illegal attacks represents a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security in the Red Sea. The UK remains committed to repelling these attacks to protect the free flow of global trade.” Yesterday two of the world’s major shipping lines, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd announced they would halt all voyages through the Red Sea as it had become too dangerous. It should be noted a sixth of the world’s commercial shipping passes through the Bab-al-Mandeb and Red Sea and interruptions to shipping has implications far beyond the conflict in Israel and Gaza.

The Type 45 destroyers are equipped with a 48-cell launcher for Aster missiles and usually carry a mix of Aster 15 and the longer ranger Aster 30. Aster 15 is being phased out of RN service as the ships are due to receive the Sea Ceptor system later this decade. Obviously protecting the target is the priority, but an Aster missile which costs between £1-2M and is a very expensive way to destroy cheap Iranian drone that probably cost around £20K. The Houthis have used ballistic and cruise missiles during the recent attacks but the MoD called the target destroyed in this instance a ‘drone’.

Source R.N.

More details to follow.

Also see - https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/british ... hant-ship/

[Pelican]

US Navy brags in game-day video a destroyer is 22-0 against the missiles and other threats Iran-backed rebels are throwing around

Army may have beaten Navy on Saturday, but the maritime service bragged one of its warships is 22-0 against another challenge.
USS Carney, deployed to the Middle East, has been forced to engage threats from Houthi rebels.
The Navy shared a video showing the Carney downing missiles and drones launched by the militants.

See - https://www.businessinsider.com/us-navy ... ?r=US&IR=T - LFT

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Navy Lookout

Escalating...

USS Carney has destroyed 14 drones launched in a mass wave from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

The UAS were assessed to be one-way attack drones and were shot down with no damage to ships in the area or reported injuries.

From: U.S. Central Command @CENTCOM
In the early morning hours of December 16 (Sanna time) the US Arliegh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS CARNEY (DDG 64), operating in the Red Sea, successfully engaged 14 unmanned aerial systems launched as a drone wave from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. The UAS were assessed to be one-way attack drones and were shot down with no damage to ships in the area or reported injuries. Regional Red Sea partners were alerted to the threat.

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First Sea Lord 4h

A sixth of the world's commercial shipping passes through the Bab-al-Mandeb and Red Sea. The RN is committed to upholding the right to free use of the oceans and we do not tolerate indiscriminate threats or attacks against those going about their lawful business on the high seas.

[Pelican]

Navy Lookout 23m

RFA Lyme Bay sailed from Limassol Cyprus this morning.
RFA Argus already at sea.

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U.S. Officials have stated that Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin is preparing to Announce a Major Multinational Mission named “Operation Prosperity Guardian” during his Visit to the Middle East this coming week, with the Goal of the Operation being to Counter the ongoing Drone and Missile Threat by the Houthi Terrorist Group against Commercial Shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

[Pelican]

Red Sea update

USS Dwight D Eisenhower Carrier Strike group now in the Gulf of Aden, well placed, should the White House decide to launch strikes on Houthis in Yemen.
US also considering an organised coalition of naval forces to escort commercial shipping through the Red Sea named Operation Prosperity Guardian.

Sir Humphrey

HMS DIAMOND has had a busy few days. Initial thoughts on what this means for the RN and why we should not speculate at any length on the tactics employed, weapons used or cost incurred of the drone shoot down.
See - https://thinpinstripedline.blogspot.com ... ughts.html

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HMS Duncan arrives In Rota Spain today. Believed to be heading home on completion of her extended Mediterranean mission.

Presumably not needed to escort RFA Argus and RFA Lyme Bay on a possible humanitarian aid mission to Gaza - mission likely scrapped as too risky/impractical?
Short video at - https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/ ... 6942243169

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Norwegian-owned Chemical tanker MT Swan Atlantic hit by an unidentified object in the Red Sea, one several projectiles fired at it from Yemen today.

No casualties amongst her Indian crew.
Vessel being assisted by the US Navy.
See - https://rieberson.no/category/english-news/