The ship strike story has finally been reported by the BBC!
The most striking part of it, is just how it avoids actually telling you anything remotely useful.
I do love the idea of a ship in Battleship grey, with military style markings and with a file photograph of being tested by the US Navy as "Civilian".
It was not a US Navy combat ship operated by Naval personnel. That would be a "USS" designation.
I was basically leased as a test for the fast transport concept, and was operated as a USNS vessel operated by the Merchant Marine, but available to transport US military personnel and equipment.
If necessary there would be a military security detachment aboard depending on the threat level they would be armed with anything from small arms to MANPADs.
The Spearhead Class USNS (again not operated by the US Navy) developed from the experience with this ship.
I would like to see a icture in daylight after the attack to be able to assess the damage. If the video shown is the actual video, I would say that it was a C-802 type missile and the damage was pretty severe.
The longer it goes without seeing ANY picture, the more people are going to come to the conclusion that it sank. I would be surprised if that was the case...but depending on thje damage control training of the crew and where it was hit, it is possible.
It did not look like a waterline or even near waterline strike...but if there were secondary events that blew out section to eet the sea in...it could have gone down.
That's why we need to see pictures of the ship now.
