US Navy fires warning flare at Iran vessel in Persian Gulf
Source: ABC News
By JON GAMBRELL, ASSOCIATED PRESS
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Apr 26, 2017, 6:57 AM ET
A U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer fired a warning flare toward an Iranian Revolutionary Guard vessel coming near it in the Persian Gulf, an American official said on Wednesday, the latest tense naval encounter between the two countries.
The incident happened Monday as the vessel attempted to draw closer to the USS Mahan despite the destroyer trying to turn away from it, said Lt. Ian McConnaughey, a spokesman for the Bahrain-based 5th Fleet.
The "Mahan made several attempts to contact the Iranian vessel by bridge-to-bridge radio, issuing warning messages and twice sounding the internationally recognized danger signal of five short blasts with the ship's whistle, as well as deploying a flare to determine the Iranian vessel's intentions," McConnaughey said in a statement to The Associated Press.
The Iranian vessel came within 1,000 meters (1,100 yards) of the Mahan during the incident, the lieutenant said. The vessel later turned and sailed away.
Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/us-navy-fires-warning-flare-iran-vessel-persian-47022854
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A captains first requirement is the safety of his/her crew. A warning flare is just that, a warning to back off.
To take action when another ship is sailing on a collision course. Our ships should sail in a straight line at a constant speed to make it easier in case they do actually want to collide.
