Navigation Error by US sailors in Iran?

Does anyone here believe SecDef Ashton Carter's latest explanation as to why those two Riverine craft were caught in Iranian waters? Navigation errors? Were they plotting a course on paper charts using compass dividers, compass, and a watch? No, they were using GPS as all Navy ships do. Did the GPS on BOTH vessels fail? Not likely. Let's face it. We are being lied to, again, just like the Gulf of Tonkin story. Those sailors were on a mission and got caught.

As for the Navy relying on GPS as we all do? Yes, they do. A number of years ago I had the good fortune of participating on a Tiger Cruise aboard my son's frigate. I spent three nights and four days transiting from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to San Diego at the end of their deployment. One day I spent an hour on the bridge. The guests aboard had full access to the ships spaces except the engineering spaces (engine room). Anyway, I asked the lieutenant who was in command on the bridge about the fact that he was plotting the ship's course on a paper chart. During the course of a 45-minute conversation, he explained that the Navy uses three methods of navigation, paper charts, civilian GPS signals, and military GPS signals, all at the same, redundancy. My point is the Navy uses GPS. There was no navigation error. Those sailors knew exactly where they were.

My son is still in the Navy, eleven years now. He made Chief Petty Officer last September. He is on sea duty aboard a destroyer (USS Gridley) out of San Diego.

I hate it when "my employees" lie to me.

The whole thing stinks.

Depends on the type of GPS they used, but they can be spoofed or jammed. If it was, then it was an intentional act. More to follow I'm sure.

I would also be real interested to know how they seized two boats. Those boys could have called support quicker than the sand navy could seize them. Something does not make sense...at least not with the facts we have.

Well, I agree that we don't have all of the facts, but we never will. It may have just been stupidity. Like Occam said, the simplest reason is often the real one.


David

It is also being questioned as highly irregular that two small ships would travel 300nm un-escorted, especially in those waters.

MYTraveler said:

It is also being questioned as highly irregular that two small ships would travel 300nm un-escorted, especially in those waters.

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Not to mention that these craft have a range of only 125 nautical miles. It's doubtful that this was just a routine movement of these vessels from Point A to Point B. So, tell us Sec. Carter, why were these boats being moved and where would they be refueled along the way, TWICE!?

I believe that it was an intentional ploy to "test" the new military co-operation between Iran and US that has been formed over the last year while fighting as allies in Iraq.

Good thing nothing is "Published" regarding 99.99% of military ops, the media can really make a mess of things.

Makes no sense at all. On that trip you're never out of site of land. You would not even need gps or charts
John

West said:

I believe that it was an intentional ploy to "test" the new military co-operation between Iran and US that has been formed over the last year while fighting as allies in Iraq.

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I think it was that but for a different more dubious reason. I think the admin calculated that the sailors would be released and ordered them to stray into irans waters.

Nothing like a bit of back slapping diplomacy before the big deal.

what_barnacles said:

I think it was that but for a different more dubious reason. I think the admin calculated that the sailors would be released and ordered them to stray into irans waters.

Nothing like a bit of back slapping diplomacy before the big deal.

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4 more hostages released today as well. Wont be long now before we have package tours to a Caspian resort.
As they say ... the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

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