I was there through the start of Ernest Will to Operation Preying Mantis. It was an interesting time.

All true.

The ship being buzzed is an Aegis equipped destroyer with SPY-1 radar - or a newer variant. These are extremely capable ships and I would imagine had everything ready to go should the SU-24 have painted the USS Cook in a particular manner.

The SU-24 is about as stealthy as the Queen Mary and about as much of a threat. The Cook wasn't unaware.

Quick sea story.

I was the Air Boss on the USS La Salle (and the COMIDEASTFOR Air Officer) during the first Persian Gulf War.

During the run up to the ground was we spent a lot of time at sea in the Gulf. The CO of the La Salle was an F-14 pilot who was doing his deep draft ship tour prior to getting his carrier. He would go on to command a carrier, carrier strike group and eventually rise to become the Vice Commander of Naval Operations, a four star billet, second dude in charge.

We became good friends and he was very helpful in my career.

While underway after an import period in Dubai, the CO and I were chatting on the flight deck. It was a fairly nice day for the Gulf and we were yapping.

He is facing aft and I am facing forward in relation to the ship. I spot an air contact about 3/4 miles in front of the ship - it looks like a P-3.

He turns with me as the P-3 does a port pass on the ship at about a 100 ft in both altitude and separation from the ship. I can see the pilot in the left seat, Ray-bans.

We can also see the roundel on the tail of the P-3: Iranian Air force.

The CO looks at me, I look at him, we do a little Bluto dance on the flight deck and he starts running for CIC.

What a goat rope: The La Salle was an ancient ship with a lot of upgrades but had Helen Keller air search radar. The Iranian P-3 was an F-117 to us, which made it clear that I was on a ship bringing a paint ball gun to a missile fight.

Eek.

Edit: BTW, the amount of Nautical Grab A%% that goes on in international waters would surprise most.

Hilarious to read all the hand-wringing in this thread! You guys don't think this stuff goes on continually? Its just a way for various countries to practice and have a bit of fun at the same time. I would imagine that the US crew even enjoys it a bit, seeing some cool hardware buzz their ship from time to time. They may even be a bit jealous - perhaps US crew are not allowed to do that. After all, we are a very, very aggressive country.

Also, Putin likes doing things like this, and the pursuant media coverage, to shore up support at home. That is very important to his administration. And, for all we know, the US administration supports Putin - as opposed to someone else who may be more hawkish.

At the end of the day, there is no threat. Just some gamesmanship and a good way to make sure the ship is functioning properly in a near real life scenario.

Paul - Love hearing your stories :)

Putin is in a dire situation. $30-40 oil has blown a giant hole in his budget. He is bleeding foreign reserves, raiding pension funds, the Russian economy is in a deep recession. Workers are staying to strike, the people are growing angry. His reliable button to boost public support is to create an external threat. A US shootdown of an unarmed Russian plane would be exactly what he wants. Yes, the plane was unarmed - no missiles on the pylons. The US is smart enough to not give him what he wants. The world is a complicated and subtle place. Try not to get played.

From the CNN article
"Pentagon is asking $10 billion for new fighters..."

You don't suppose they sent a few cases of vodka over to the ruskies to help with their lobbying?

Does the Pentagon really want $10 billion for new fighters, or just the people angling for a nice lobbying job with Lockheed? Seems like the recent fighters have been nothing but problems.

It's like the schoolyard. The little kid acting big. Sure, the big kid could totally end him, but doesn't. Does that make the big kid weak? No, that makes the big kid wise. A lot of posters in this thread want the big kid to haul off and give the little snot a bloody nose. Except that only makes the big kid look like a bully.

Talking a tough game on the internet is easy. Being in the actual situation isn't. People sleep easy in their beds because cooler heads prevail in every situation. After a great night's sleep, the internet heroes can pound out whatever nonsense fills their heads, and the next night the rest of us will still sleep easy, because their advice was not followed. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall inherit the Earth.

To all those who have BTDT, thank you for courage and wisdom.

Wow, the OP's article went to aol.com. Didn't realize that site still existed.

I must have missed all the so called tough talk here. What I see is our Navy being played with because Putin knows he can. He knows we have a limp wrist in the White House and shows it every chance he gets. He has no respect for the current President of the United States and it shows. This isn't about this week, it's about the last eight years of bowing to anyone and backing away from anything.
Now back to the leftist Putin worship.

F14s have been out of the system for about a decade now.

If you want to post like an idiot, go do it in PARF. Those of us that have been there and done that know that this is nothing new and the USN acted correctly in this situ. It has nothing to do with who's in office unless you are deluded enough to think this has started within the last eight years. Its like you'd sell your own mother if it allowed you to blame
Obama.

Considering this kind of stuff has been going on for thirty-plus years, what's your point? Last I checked, the current POTUS has only had this gig for 7.5 years. The other 22.5 years (and even before that) what was the excuse?

Gorbachev? :confused:

I don't know. It happened while Regean was president - I guess he was weak and did too much apologizing too? Maybe some of the folks here just plain don't remember the actual Cold War? For those of us who lived through it, it wasn't too much fun.

Really? I remember when Gary Francis Powers was shot down over Russia in a U2, I remember the Cuban Missile problem, I remember when the Pueblo was taken by North Korea without a shot but I don't remember so many Russian planes buzzing American Navy ships like this. Maybe you mean the Tom Cruise movie.

Then you haven't been listening to the Navy veterans who have been telling you that it's not any different than it's been. I noticed that you never gave an answer for what you would have done if you had been sitting in the Big Chair. Maybe that's above your pay grade?

leftists always axe hypothetical questions and never listen to the answer. but go ahead, when was the last time Russian jets buzzed and American Navy ship like this.

I didn't know you were a leftist. Thanks for clearing that up.

If that's for real then Holy ****!

Blame Canada

Easy to identify the Trump supporter on here; G-d help us all.