Houthis Force US-Escorted Convoy to Retreat

[Timber Rattler]

https://redstate.com/streiff/2024/01/25/houthis-force-us-escorted-convoy-to-retreat-n2169210

Two US-flagged container ships under the protection of the US Navy were forced to retreat from a passage of the Red Sea after coming under fire from Houthi terrorists on Wednesday.

The US-flagged container ships Maersk Detroit and Maersk Chesapeake were supposed to enter the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and transit the Red Sea under the protection of the US Navy. The US Navy has done this once before. On January 10, a convoy of four US-flagged ships carrying military cargo passed through the Red Sea. It came under a complex attack of 18 suicide drones, two anti-ship cruise missiles, and one anti-ship ballistic missile. The convoy was successfully completed without damage or casualties.

This time, the story had a different ending.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=766176732223976&set=a.312187507622903&type=3&ref=embed_post

Let's recap.

The two US ships were engaged well outside the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. They were under the air defense protection of the USS Gravely. The USS Gravely is part of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group and has been operating in the Red Sea. It appears to have been detached to escort the two container ships through the Strait. This map shows the approximate position of the ships at the time of the engagement.

https://twitter.com/mercoglianos/status/1750603546901516469/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1750603546901516469%7Ctwgr%5E6cf64a4dff675b1c532f364c90bc5fcb275ba672%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fredstate.com%2Fstreiff%2F2024%2F01%2F25%2Fhouthis-force-us-escorted-convoy-to-retreat-n2169210

The Houthis fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles. The USS Gravely shot down two of them. The third impacted just a few hundred meters from the Maersk Detroit. The Navy ordered the two ships to return to a safe holding area off Oman. Rather than continue the transit, Maersk ordered its ships to pack it in.

This entire exercise borders on disastrous given the history of the US-led (lol) Operation Prosperity Guardian and Operation Poseidon Archer.

The Iranians have moved their intelligence ship, MV Behshad, from inside the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Given the Houthis' target acquisition capabilities, Iran almost certainly provided the targeting information on the Maersk Detroit. At some point, this ship needs to suffer an unfortunate accident.

EXCERPT

This is a disgrace.  The U.S. Navy is so weak and over extended that it can't even protect our own merchantmen anymore!

[ChemEngrMBA]

These missiles and drones used by Houthi primitives undoubtedly came from Iran.
Until the U.S. sends in some missiles to Teheran to kill the terrorist mullahs, this insanity will continue.

[Free Vulcan]

Apparently being coordinated by an Iranian vessel in the area, so why hasn't it been blown out of the water?

[Timber Rattler]

Apparently being coordinated by an Iranian vessel in the area, so why hasn't it been blown out of the water?

Exactly!  It should have sprung an unfortunate leak in the bottom of its hull and hit the bottom of the Indian Ocean last week!