Russian Flyby of USS Donald Cook in Baltic Sea Alarms Experts

[CountDeMoney]

Real Navy types say otherwise.

This is why the Navy didn't shoot down Russian jets
Meghann Myers, Navy Times
2:31 p.m. EDT April 14, 2016


Russian pilots rattled nerves aboard the destroyer Donald Cook, buzzing within yards of the ship in the Baltic Sea. Provocative, sure. But they weren't a credible threat.

So concludes a retired Navy commanding officer, who reviewed photos and videos from the run-ins on Monday and Tuesday, when unarmed Sukhoi Su-24 fighters flew within 1,000 feet of the ship — once coming as close as 30 feet in what U.S. officials called "simulated attacks."  On Monday, a low-flying Russian Ka-27 Helix helicopter also appeared to take photos of the ship.

This was definitely provocative, but it doesn't amount to a threat, said the retired frigate and cruiser CO.

"Well, we're not at war with Russia," Capt. Rick Hoffman said. "It would be one thing to be operating and have a threatening attack profile from someone who might not recognize me — that's not the case here."

If you have visual identification of the jet, can see it isn't carrying weapons, and don't detect any electronic emissions suggesting there was a missile lock on the ship, there's nothing to be done.

And ultimately, the the rules of engagement put the CO in charge of how to respond.

"You don't get to kill people just because they're being annoying," [ #FuckingLanguish] said Hoffman, who commanded frigate DeWert and cruiser Hue City. Cruisers are the fleet's foremost air defense platform and are tasked with guarding flattops from incoming threats.

There's a possibility that the "simulated attack" might violate a 1973 treaty between the U.S. and Russia that deals with this behavior.

Otherwise, Hoffman added, it just amounts to showboating.

"Only in 'Top Gun' does a war suddenly break out between two airplanes that is completely not related to something going on ashore," he said.

To be sure, the rules might be different in another situation. The Baltic Sea is not a contested area of responsibility.

"We would probably not have accepted that from an Iranian aircraft in the Persian Gulf, although we've seen it," Hoffman said.

Or if it had been a civilian aircraft, he added, the CO would have been more on guard for a potential suicide mission. But the likelihood that a rogue Russian pilot would take a shot at an American ship and then try to fly home through the airspace of multiple NATO partners is very low.

It's more likely that the stunt will end up as a public relations tool for Russian President Vladimir Putin, showing force against the Americans operating in his backyard.

"It would be real interesting to see what shows up in the Russian papers in the morning, how they play it," Hoffman said. "It's not that different from North Korea. He does something and then he plays it domestically however he needs to play it for the purposes of getting his people energized."

[MadImmortalMan]

"You don't get to kill people just because they're being annoying,"

Aw damn. 

[derspiess]

Wouldn't have thought Seedy would go all soft on the Russians. Even when his boy Kerry says we could have shot it down.

[Razgovory]

Wouldn't have thought Seedy would go all soft on the Russians. Even when his boy Kerry says we could have shot it down.

George W. Bowed and scraped and said he was sorry when an American plane had the audacity to be crashed into by a Chinese plane.

[CountDeMoney]

Wouldn't have thought Seedy would go all soft on the Russians. Even when his boy Kerry says we could have shot it down.

Attention-starved Russian revanchists popping wheelies don't bother me.  Now, if this were the South China Sea, where things are actually important...

[derspiess]

Wouldn't have thought Seedy would go all soft on the Russians. Even when his boy Kerry says we could have shot it down.

George W. Bowed and scraped and said he was sorry when an American plane had the audacity to be crashed into by a Chinese plane.

Yeah, I wasn't happy about that either.  SEE I CAN CRITICIZE MY GUY

[MadBurgerMaker]

Meh.  Just give them enough time and those Su-24s will crash on their own.

[derspiess]

Hopefully not into one of our ships.

[dps]

FWIW, I tend to agree with CdM on this one.

[CountDeMoney]

George W. Bowed and scraped and said he was sorry when an American plane had the audacity to be crashed into by a Chinese plane.

Yeah, I wasn't happy about that either.  SEE I CAN CRITICIZE MY GUY

Then I know you're relieved that Hillary Clinton is the only candidate remaining that not only gives a shit about actual foreign policy but is the only one with any experience in it, and that she can count on your support this November.

[The Brain]

Time to hit the reset button again.

[Razgovory]

George W. Bowed and scraped and said he was sorry when an American plane had the audacity to be crashed into by a Chinese plane.

Yeah, I wasn't happy about that either.  SEE I CAN CRITICIZE MY GUY

Then I know you're relieved that Hillary Clinton is the only candidate remaining that not only gives a shit about actual foreign policy but is the only one with any experience in it, and that she can count on your support this November.

He'd vote for Putin if he could.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

read that as donald duck the first time

[derspiess]

Then I know you're relieved that Hillary Clinton is the only candidate remaining that not only gives a shit about actual foreign policy but is the only one with any experience in it, and that she can count on your support this November.

Yeah, no thanks.  She's a bit too interventionist for my tastes. 

[derspiess]

He'd vote for Putin if he could.

Hey, at least we'd have a decisive non-effete leader that would get some things done.