USS Vincennes Case Study "Seven Minutes that Stunned the Navy" LESSON 21 CRISIS DECISION MAKING "USS STARK INCIDENT" (MAY 87) IRAQI F-1 LAUNCHES (2) EXOCET MISSILES ("Pilot Error") 37 DEATHS, 21 INJURED, CO RELIED FOR CAUSE.
USS Vincennes Case Study "Seven Minutes that Stunned the Navy" LESSON 21 CRISIS DECISION MAKING "USS STARK INCIDENT" (MAY 87) IRAQI F-1 LAUNCHES (2) EXOCET MISSILES ("Pilot Error") 37 DEATHS, 21 INJURED, CO RELIED FOR CAUSE.
USS Vincennes Case Study "Seven Minutes that Stunned the Navy" LESSON 21 CRISIS DECISION MAKING "USS STARK INCIDENT" (MAY 87) IRAQI F-1 LAUNCHES (2) EXOCET MISSILES ("Pilot Error") 37 DEATHS, 21 INJURED, CO RELIED FOR CAUSE.
USS Vincennes Case Study USS Vincennes Case Study Historical Background THE LINGERING THREAT IN THE MIDDLE EAST SHAH OVERTHROWN - 62 AMERICANS TAKEN HOSTAGE (1979) IRAN/IRAQ WAR COMMENCES (SEP 1980) BEIRUT EMBASSY BOMBING (1983) TANKER WAR ESCALATES (1984) USS STARK INCIDENT (MAY 87) IRAQI F-1 LAUNCHES (2) EXOCET MISSILES (Pilot Error) 37 DEATHS, 21 INJURED, CO RELIEVED FOR CAUSE U.S. REFLAGS KUWAITI TANKERS (1987) OPERATION: EARNEST WI LL - U.S. REFLAGS 11 TANKERS (JUL) M/V BRIDGETON STRIKES A MINE (as did two other vessels) IRAN AJR CAUGHT LAYING MINES (SEP 87) USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS STRIKES MINE (APR 88) OPERATION: PRAYI NG MANTI S - Response against the Iranian Navy USS Vincennes Incident Seven Minutes that Stunned the Navy USS Stark Incident Historical Background (Review) USS Vincennes (CG-49) Combat Information Center Commander, Joint Task Force, Middle East Chain of Command USS Sides Cdr Carlson, CO (FFG-14) . USS Montgomery (FF-1082) "GW" - AAWC Capt Rodgers, USN CO, USS Vincennes (CG-49) "GS" - ASUWC COMDESRON 25 Capt. Dick McKenna USS John Hancock "GX", "GP", "GQ" Other Warfare Commanders (ASWC, Strike, C2WC) "GB" - COMJTFME RADM A. Less, USN Embarked, USS CORONADO Pierside Bahrain USCENTCOM General Crist, USAF McDill Air Force Base Florida CJCS ADM William J. Crowe Joint Chiefs of Staff Washington, DC Combatant Commander (COCOM) **** Component Commander (OPCON) * Warfare Commanders (TACON) O-6 USS Vincennes Case Study Air Warfare PID Criteria Kinematics (course, speed, altitude , CPA) Point of origin Composition (Quantity) ESM IFF Position relative to COMAIR routes Published AOG Flight Schedules Intel Reports (Indications and Warnings) Voice comms (Queries and Warnings) USS Vincennes Case Study Peacetime Rules of Engagement (ROE) INHERENT RIGHT OF SELF DEFENSE - permits the use of force in self-defense against armed attack or threat of imminent armed attack subject to the following:
NECESSITY - use of force must be IRT a hostile act or demonstration of hostile intent. PROPORTIONALITY - use of force must be limited in intensity, duration, and scope.
HOSTILE ACT - deliberate attacks by opposing forces. Examples: actual attacks, laying mines in international waters, etc.
HOSTILE INTENT - the threat of imminent use of force by opposing forces. Examples: training weapons systems, energizing fire control radars, maneuvering to launch position. USS Vincennes Case Study Sequence of Events 03 J ul 88 Surface Engagement VINCENNES IN GULF ENROUTE PVST BAHRAIN 0711 MON hears reports of 5-7 explosions near a Liberian tanker MON directed by GS to proceed away from the tanker VIN directed to vector SH-60B to investigate 0742 OL25 observers gunboats circling a German cargo ship 0915 OL25 reports being fired upon by IRG gunboats 0939 VIN requests permission to engage gunboats 0941 GS gave permission to engage boghammers with guns 0942 Iranian gunboats turn inbound toward VIN 0943 VIN/MON commenced fire with 5in/54 guns 0945:30 IA655 launches from Bandar Abbas 1003 VIN/MON ceased fire (119 rounds expended) UNCLASSIFIED USS Vincennes Case Study Sequence of Events 03 J ul 88 Air Engagement 0945:30 IA655 launches from Bandar Abbas 0947 VIN gains radar contact (SPY-1A) (47 nm) 0949 VIN issues initial warning over MAD to TN 4131 (40 nm) Ten warnings given in next five minutes (3 IAD / 7 MAD) 0950 VIN reports inbound F-14 to GB (32 nm) 0951 VIN states that intentions are to engage contact at 20 nm if the contact does not turn away (now 30 nm) 0951 VIN forward 5in gun jams (MT51) - ship turns violently 0952 VIN issues several warnings to TN 4131 (25nm) 0952 VIN requests and receives permission to illuminate (20 nm) 0953 TN 4131 was at 16nm SPD 371 kts, ALT 11,230 ft 0954:05 VIN engages TN 4131 at 10 nm (salvo size two) UNCLASSIFIED USS Vincennes Case Study Artershocks Formal Board of Inquiry was convened by RADM Fogerty 13 Jul 88. Official parties to the inquiry: RADM Less (principal) CAPT Rodgers (principal) LCDR Scott Lustig (Air TAO) LCDR Vic Guillory (TAO) Findings: during the formal portion of the inquiry, the board found no grounds for disciplinary or punitive action. UNCLASSIFIED USS Vincennes Case Study Investigation - Synopsis of Facts IRAN AIR ACTUAL FLIGHT PROFILE Always ascending Only mode III IFF squawk Within airway Amber 59 Maximum air speed of 385 knots
AEGIS WEAPON SYSTEM PERFORMANCE No Aegis weapon system equipment deficiencies existed during the engagement. Link-11 was down for 28 seconds. PERSONNEL PERFORMANCE With little time and under combat stress during the surface engagement, watchstanders misinterpreted some tactical information. UNCLASSIFIED USS Vincennes Case Study Fundamental Considerations that the Vincennes Could Not Control ISSUES FACED BY CAPTAIN RODGERS: Ongoing surface engagement. The unidentified assumed hostile contact had taken off from a civilian-military airfield. Heading directly toward Vincennes, relentlessly closing. No definitive radar emissions. Unanswered warnings. Short decision window. No proof that the contact was not related to the ongoing surface fight. CRISIS LEADERSHIP Key Lessons MAINTAIN FLEXIBILITY be willing to show flexibility; do not be tied to inflexible policies of the past that may not apply to the fast-moving situations of the present. be open to suggestions on how to solve crises AVOID TASK FIXATION someone needs to be looking at the big picture AVOID SCENARIO FULFILLMENT BIASES dont neglect to search for disconfirmatory information. KEEP THINGS SIMPLE ask people to do things that they are already trained to do. USS Vincennes Case Study Epilogue CAPT Rodgers Completed remainder of scheduled deployment, returning to San Diego in 24 Oct 88. July 1989 assumed command of TACTRAGRUPAC Retired Aug 1991 and is now a consultant RADM Less Subsequently promoted to VADM and appointed COMNAVAIRPAC. LCDR Vic Guillory and LCDR Scott Lustig Both promoted to CDR and completed successful XO tours aboard new-construction Aegis Cruisers.
Operations of The 899th Tank Destroyer Battalion (Attached To The 4th Infantry Division) For The Period 2-18 June, 1944, On The Normandy Peninsula (Normandy Campaign)