OT: US Navy ship attacked twice this week

Submitted by StephenRKass on October 12th, 2016 at 10:38 PM

This week, for the first time in history, a US Navy Destroyer, DDG87, the Mason, was attacked with ballistic missiles. They were fired by Houthi rebels from a land-based site in Yemen. The first attack of two missiles took place around noon ET Sunday, the second attack with two more missiles took place today. I know that there was at least one hard kill (incoming attacking missile taken out with a countermeasure defensive missile from the Mason.) The ship continues under heightened alert as it patrols the Red Sea. The Pentagon has vowed retaliation, and this has been confirmed. There are two other ships in the area:  Destroyer USS Nitze and US Ponce, a ship that transports special forces.

This post is completely offtopic to the board . . . but is relevant to me because my daughter is an Aegis Computer Network Technician on this ship. Her job is to maintain and repair the network of computers controlling the Aegis Radar and Missile weapons system. That is precisely what protected the ship. My daughter wrote via FB, "We heard (the code for) "incoming missile attack, all hands stand by." She then added, "I just can't describe the feeling of knowing you could all possibly die in a matter of seconds."

Retaliation was planned prior to this morning's attack. With this second missile launch, a military response is virtually dictated from the US Navy. Follow the story, if of interest to you.

Now, back to our regularly programmed wife day and football posts.

EDIT:  latest news from Washington Post as of 11:15pm EST, Wed. Oct. 12:  Navy launches Tomahawk Missiles at Rebel Sites in Yemen after attacks on U.S. Ships.

According to the article 3 remote radar sites on the Yemen coast were hit by US missiles launched from the USS Nitze. This is close to real time:  the missiles were launched about 4am local time Thurs. morning (8pm EST Wed. night). It appears they were specifically not targeting any heavily populated area.

EDIT 2:  FTR, all information in this post came from public media sources (with the exception of my daughter's personal emotions when under attack.) Do a Google News Search on "USS Mason" to find dozens of news sources.

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Comments

AnthonyThomas

October 12th, 2016 at 11:34 PM ^

It's worth knowing the context of this attack.

Saudi Arabian jets triple-tapped (they bombed a target, they bombed those trying to administer aid after the first bombing, then they did it again a third time) a funeral in Sana'a, Yemen this past week and killed hundreds of people. The Saudis fly jets and use munitions bought from the US and their fighters are routinely refueled by American planes during bombing missions such as the one in Sana'a. These attacks haven't just occurred in a vacuum.

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Rasmus

October 13th, 2016 at 4:13 AM ^

The US response to this attack is a major incident, front page NYT and so on. So it is politics, though for SRK it's not. Anyhow, here's an antidote to Cromulent's hyperbole, from Michigan's own Juan Cole:

http://www.juancole.com/2016/10/houthis-yemen-openly.html

I'd suggest anyone really wanting to discuss the politics of US involvement on the Arabian penisula do it there. Since this (the response) broke overnight, you can still be the first poster!

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03 Blue 07

October 13th, 2016 at 4:10 PM ^

What if I don't support fracking near water supplies for Americans and/or don't support fracking on a level which leads to Oklahoma now having more earthquakes than any other state in the U.S.? Point being, there's a middle ground, and it's definitely not "if you're anti-fracking, you're pro Iran and Saudi." I'm, personally, anti-fracking in areas of high human population, but not against it in more remote areas. There's a cost-benefit analysis that has to be undertaken, and I worry that it too often gets lost in the debate over whether fracking is "good" or "bad,"; I think it's good if it doesn't hurt a lot of people, but sometimes it seems like fracking in certain areas does harm the local populace. 

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Cromulent

October 13th, 2016 at 8:50 PM ^

But fracking is good. Real good. Its environmentally sound and really cheap. Your objections don't have a leg to stand on and are increasingly limited to fringe fruitcakes like Bill McKibben & the 350 crowd.

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StephenRKass

October 13th, 2016 at 8:36 AM ^

This is a complicated question. Our daughter joined, as I alluded to in the thread somewhere, partially for the educational benefits. That is to say, the GI Bill would allow her to go to college mostly debt free. She also can take classes while in the Navy for free (albeit online classes.)

However, what I came to realize is that in the enlisted forces in the Navy, there are a few areas where there are highly technical skills that need years of training. Those working with nuclear reactors, in avionics, as computer network technicians, in some language areas, have abilities and skill sets far beyond many enlisted sailors. The Navy pays out significant bonuses for those who reenlist in these areas, because they can't find and retain enough sailors. This won't apply to her because it is unlikely she will reenlist. Her compensation, so to speak, is having the "free" training which enables her to do her job, and the experience which will open doors to certain jobs when finished with the Navy. I'm glad my daughter joined, but I wouldn't really say she is "well compensated." She certainly isn't dumb as a brick.

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mGrowOld

October 12th, 2016 at 11:40 PM ^

Tell her thank you for her service and may God keep her safe as she protects others.  Thank you for sharing this - I had no idea this had happened.

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GoBlueNorth

October 12th, 2016 at 11:45 PM ^

Thoughts, prayers and thanks to your daughter an all service men and women who serve in the United States and Canadian Forces.  

I've had the honour of knowing so many who have served. My late father, Canadian Army, 27 years, served in Korea.  My brother in law, a reservist in the Canadian Army, lost both legs and an arm on his second tour in Afghanistan. Countless friends who have served multiple times overseas.  I have spent my whole life grateful for their service.

I know how proud you must be of your daughter and am sure that you worry about her.  I'll remember her, the crew of the Mason and your family in my prayers.

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ElBictors

October 13th, 2016 at 12:29 AM ^

Thank you to your daughter for her service, along with my niece who is a deployed Navy Corpman and her husband, the same.  While I don't subscribe to the notion that my freedom to choose vanilla or chocolate is dependent upon military operating globally, I would never and do not downplay the most serious role that these brave members of the military play.

 

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DC Wolverine

October 13th, 2016 at 12:56 AM ^

Please thank your daughter for her service to our nation. We are all grateful to sleep under the blanket of freedom she and our other brave soldiers and sailors provide. I pray that she and her shipmates remain safe from harm.

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uminks

October 13th, 2016 at 1:08 AM ^

only the radars in rural areas were targeted in northern Yemen. Iran has been supplying the Houthis with cruise missiles. If your firing on ships within the main shipping lane in international waters, then something needs to be done and since the USS Mason was targeted earlier Today, the US had to take out their radar system. 
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-missiles-idUSKCN12C294

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HenneGivenSunday

October 13th, 2016 at 1:20 AM ^

Glad your daughter is OK. I'll keep her in my prayers. My dad is a retired Master Chief Fire Contolman on the Aegis class destroyers as well. He was in the Burke along with the Mahan and Bainbridge. Now, whoever fired those missiles will quickly find out that the picked a fight with the wrong ship.

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BlowGoo

October 13th, 2016 at 1:23 AM ^

Genuinely glad your daughter is okay.

I wish I had more confidence that our foreign policy was worthy of our servicemen and servicewomen.

I do not approve of how our ally, Saudi Arabia, is conducting warfare in Yemen, even if Iran has a role, and thereby putting OUR soldiers at risk by association. I think a large number of civilian casualties and war atrocities attributable to the Houthis and Saudis is literally criminal.

I hope your daughter and all the rest of our soldiers stay safe in protecting our country. I hope we give them quality leaders who deserve the privilege of their sworn loyalty in our defense.

I also hope that the strikes that occurred literally just a few minutes ago against Yemeni radar sites, appropriate military targets, help keep our Navy safe.

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