July 16th, 2012
12:19 PM ET

U.S. military ship fires on small boat in Persian Gulf; 1 killed

A U.S. military supply ship fired at a small boat in the Persian Gulf on Monday after it came too close to the ship, apparently killing one person on board, two U.S. officials said.

The incident happened near Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates.

The crew of the USNS Rappahannock verbally warned the small boat and fired at least one warning shot before the boat, described as a small white pleasure craft, was targeted with .50-caliber machine gun fire, the Navy said.

 

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Filed under: Military • Uncategorized • United Arab Emirates • World
soundoff (87 Responses)
  1. Sylvie Boujon (@sibou56)

    I'm seeing my email address. Put it off, thnak you.

    July 16, 2012 at 12:44 pm | Report abuse |
  2. shannon brewington

    As a former petty officer of a embarked security detachment for the navy, I can only say, keep up the good work. If warning shots won't keep them away, they obviously have less than friendly intentions.

    July 16, 2012 at 12:45 pm | Report abuse |
  3. fuzzy math?

    Good for the Navy. Our folks can't take any chances out there. I wonder if this was an attempt to probe our defenses, or maybe these guys were just that stupid. Oh well.

    July 16, 2012 at 12:46 pm | Report abuse |
  4. just eye

    Gator face, are you stupid enough to not question everything the government does? They do work for us afterall.

    July 16, 2012 at 12:49 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Portland tony

    A small pleasure craft in navy speak can be pretty big....and could put more than a dent in a thin hulled cargo vessel.

    July 16, 2012 at 12:54 pm | Report abuse |
    • Portland tony

      I stand corrected. Official Navy sources indicated the boat was a Zodiac which appears to be a small rubber inflatable craft powered by an outboard motor. So who knows?

      July 16, 2012 at 1:21 pm | Report abuse |
  6. AE3(aw) cook

    all I know is that our military follows the rules of war! the iranians do this stuff all the time to provoke the US navy to open fire! then they cry or threaten the US navy saying we were in the wrong! I know when I was deployed to that part of the world they relieved warns from the helos and verbally! but the ship that relieved us open fire!

    July 16, 2012 at 12:56 pm | Report abuse |
    • saywhat

      Nothing to do with Iranians. A pleasure craft in Jabel Ali – UAE.

      July 16, 2012 at 1:16 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Billy Bushey

    Rappahannock is not a regular navy vessel. It is Military Sealift Command Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force ship manned by a civilian crew, with civilian officers and Master. Navy security detachment on board.

    July 16, 2012 at 1:00 pm | Report abuse |
    • Portland tony

      She's also an oiler.

      July 16, 2012 at 1:24 pm | Report abuse |
  8. AE3(aw) cook

    as far as these waters not being ours neither is the waters off the coast of any part of the US! but we aren't over there because its our waters! we're over there for the trade and a show of force! if you had any brain you'd know that! I served back to back deployments in 06 and 07! we not only protected troops on the ground but we kept the waters safe for all travelers!

    July 16, 2012 at 1:03 pm | Report abuse |
  9. HIDE BEHIND

    Excuse me but in International waters the act of attacking another craft that had not demonstrated. any hostile offence is an act of piracy.

    July 16, 2012 at 1:05 pm | Report abuse |
  10. saywhat

    Agree @ Hide behind.
    @AE (aw) cook
    "We are there for trade and show of force" lol.
    We have been there to invade and occupy and that continues.

    July 16, 2012 at 1:13 pm | Report abuse |
  11. tunc

    hide behind! the rules of the waters in a military hand book will allow the other boat or ship to get within 100 yards after that its an act of war!

    July 16, 2012 at 1:14 pm | Report abuse |
  12. AE3 (AW) COOK

    hidebehind is a perfect name for you! if you've ever served you'd understand! but like you and most of the anti-americans have been given your rights for the cost of others! and you take for granite your freedoms! the point when we stop our show of force your peaceful little life won't be so peaceful anymore!!!

    July 16, 2012 at 1:18 pm | Report abuse |
  13. Chris

    Since when have our enemies in Persian Gulf followed "rules of engagement, rules of war", does anyone remember the USS Cole?

    July 16, 2012 at 1:21 pm | Report abuse |
  14. AE3 (AW) COOK

    I'd love you people to travel on 1 US ship the travel into and from the gulf! your opinions will change!

    July 16, 2012 at 1:21 pm | Report abuse |
  15. saywhat

    Oh! For Chrissake. This mutated thinking has landed us where we are today. Bankrupt , geo-politically isolated, whole regions turned hostile, our freedom , credibility , respect and admiration we earned after WW2 seriously compromised.
    Other power centers emerging. Countries like China, Russia and India benefiting from our follies and arrogance.
    This latest urge for another misadventiure in the M.east would prove disastrous.

    July 16, 2012 at 1:25 pm | Report abuse |
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