How could the Navy ships captured by Iran both lose navigation and communication capabilities at the same time?

SFC Clark Adams — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 04:02:55 -0500

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jan 16 at 2016 4:04 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 04:04:44 -0500

Early reports are rarely accurate.

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Jan 16 at 2016 7:49 AM

Capt Tom Brown — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 07:49:13 -0500

Anything is possible but this seems to be highly improbable and amounts to no more than a cover story to feed the general public and press. It seems the gvt could have come up with a more believable story or even say the reasons were classified for military reasons, etc. Trying to BS the public with a lame story like this leaves many shaking their heads.

Response by Capt Walter Miller made Jan 16 at 2016 7:59 AM

Capt Walter Miller — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 07:59:26 -0500

It was reported last night that the Navy boats were taking a short cut across the Iranians territorial waters. Oops. Then the USS Truman launched search helos that also encroached on Iranian space.

No doubt a brilliant feat of diplomacy by the Obama administration to defuse it so quickly.

Walt

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2016 2:36 PM

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 14:36:48 -0500

The 2 ships that were captured weapon system capabilities are just ridiculous...the weapon systems alone could defend off THE ENTIRE IRANIAN NAVY! How and why would they not have fail safe equipment (gyroscope?) Or whatever they used pre modern era?? I find it hard to believe eyes in the sky lost track of 2 ships this important...they also never said if all weapon systems we're even returned safely...or all sensitive items...ffs wake up people hoax/propaganda

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2016 2:39 PM

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 14:39:03 -0500

Who gave the order to surrender???

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jan 16 at 2016 2:57 PM

SN Greg Wright — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 14:57:24 -0500

SFC Clark Adams Firstly, these aren't ships. They're boats with a crew of 6. Secondly, we don't know the whole story yet, the media just runs with any hint of a scrap of a possibility. Finally, it's likely that one experienced problems, and the other did not, but stopped to help.

Response by SCPO Joshua I made Jan 16 at 2016 3:50 PM

SCPO Joshua I — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 15:50:55 -0500

Short answer, they didn't.

They either deliberately cut across Iran's territorial waters or they simply didn't know where they were.

Response by PO3 Rod Arnold made Jan 16 at 2016 6:33 PM

PO3 Rod Arnold — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 18:33:12 -0500

It must have been caused by the Arabian Triangle!!!

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Jan 16 at 2016 9:09 PM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 21:09:23 -0500

First off, I don't know why everyone is calling them ships; they're boats.

Secondly, it appears one boat had a failure; the other stayed with it for protection - comfort in numbers and all that... leave no-one behind. Why they surrendered to the Iranians, when they were on a loaded gun boat? That's another question.

There are lots of questions for the inquiry; we really need to wait until all the investigations are done and reported on...

Response by PO1 Matthew Murdock made Jan 17 at 2016 8:21 AM

PO1 Matthew Murdock — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 08:21:46 -0500

Losing comm happens all the time especially if you have a crap comma guys. The same with nav, but with that they should have had charts on board so they had a back up. I was not in a Riverine Unit, but I was with the SBT guys for a few years and yes these things happened all the time

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Jan 20 at 2016 5:47 PM

SFC Pete Kain — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 17:47:59 -0500

I blame the lowest bidder, that built the gear. As it ever was

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2016 3:37 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 15:37:19 -0500

There has been so much discussion on this event, and I myself have been unable to avoid it...I guess none of us want to believe our people did anything less than their best. After reviewing what little information we have, it seems to me that there's only two possible scenarios that make any sense; One-a malfunction of some sort, whether mechanical or navigational, led them into Iranian waters and they were ordered to act as they did...or Two-something else went on that if we all knew full details upon, would explain everything. Personally, I can't imagine there isn't a significant amount of training/SOP to deal with exactly such an incident for these units...but given that we're actually arguing about whether or not we should be "Seapersons"...not much surprises me. In any event, I think the Skipper would've had to pursue any alternative course of action by first disobeying direct orders of some kind (and maybe the release of US citizens by Iran days later is directly related). I say that because it has been indicated they were in communication with other assets and a 'rescue' was being planned. Someone above made a call...I'd love to know who and under what circumstances. All that said, order or no orders...I can't see apologizing on Iranian television-ever.

Response by CPO Curtiss Hill made Jan 30 at 2016 9:38 PM

CPO Curtiss Hill — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 21:38:13 -0500

One of two boats experiencing engine and navigation failure, I can understand. Two boats, on the same patrol, experiencing both engine and navigation failure at the same time is uncommon. In order to me to be convinced of this, the maintenance logs for the boats would have to be made public.