Can Iranian planes attack US and British ships as Argentina did in 1982?

Question

Scores of Welsh guards were doasted in RFA Sir Galahad.

Excelent video of the burning ship and victims.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BwU4Jw-Irw&mode=related&search=

Answer 1

With success? No

Answer 2

Is it possible, always. Likely - No Some mention the CIWS (20mm chain gun) but that hardly ever works and the ship Captains always have it in manual permissive rather than automatic - See USS STARK. The CIWS is being replaced by RAM - Rolling airframe missile, but it is unproven. There was an incident in the Gulf War that a British ship shot down a anti-ship missile aimed at USS MISSOURI - this is the main reason that it is unlikely. A carrier does not go out without escourts (3-4 AEGIS DDG's or Cruisers, 2-3 FFG's and at least one sub for the combatants). The key is catching the missiles early, RAM and CIWS are close in weapons. The AEGIS and SM-2 does a pretty good job at this. The other key is the CAP aircraft, if there are inbound aircraft to the carrier, they would be identified by radar early and then vector aircraft to intercept. These aircraft would most likely be already in the air, but the alert aircraft can be launched also. Final note: The Iranian F-14's are far inferior to the F-14 we think of today and replacement parts are non-existant. It is very unlikely that this fleet is even operational. If I remember correctly, the F-14 model that they have is an A version with Iranian sensor modifications. They can not fire the AIM-54 missile and the F-14 was never built to fire Anti-ship missiles anyway.

Answer 3

Iranian planes do have the capability to attach ships. However, the U.S. practices what's called Air Supremecy, which means nothing flies unless we want it to, so this capability is not an issue. The shore to ship missile sites would be taken with air strikes or cruise missiles if they became a threat.

Also the British Navy at that time had missiles and the early warning radar on separate ships which were too far apart. The U.S. does not make this mistake.

Iranian planes may take off but they would not be more than a fireball in the sky much longer after that.

Answer 4

Can they Yes anything is possible. Yet why would Iran do it they know if they did any support that they had with the other countries of the world would be over. Also any attacking planes would be hit by any of the planes assigned to the five Naval Fighter attack aircraft 2 Marine and 1 Royal Navy Harrier Fighter Bomber Squadrons assigned to the four US Naval Carriers 2 Marine LHA's and 1 Royal Navy CVL s deployed into the combat zone.

Answer 5

The Royal Navy, as a budgetary matter, gave up on the idea of a full-fledged carrier ages ago. Though most of the technology is British in concept, the US carriers (with escorts) are the ones that are built to handle pretty well anything. It's possible to pick off a detached destroyer, but suicide to attack a carrier group. The Harriers available to the RN in 1982 were not in the same class.

Answer 6

They could since some of their aircraft are American, like the F-4 Phantom and the F-14 Tomcat, whcih were sold to Iran during the time of the Shah; these aircraft have been backward reengineered and upgraded using parts made in country as well as parts bought through third parties that purchased surplus parts from the US itself.

As for them striking one of our ships, it is not out of the realm of possibility; however, once that happens, then it will mean that we will retaliate with several Tomahawk strikes on militarty bases inside Iran and the IIAF (Islamic Iranian Air Forces) would be destroyed on the ground.

I mean, where would they fly their planes to hide them from US satellites and missiles? Syria? Jordan?

Answer 7

I clicked on your link, way to go trust the ffffffffing germans to be sick enough to have the BURNING of British troops. Amazing how maybe in a few years we can all sit and watch the bedheading of USA citizens and it will be OK cos it makes an EXCELLENT video........you tosser sh*t eating little prick !!!!!!

Sorry bit of a sore point as both lost MANY friends on the Sheffield and my brother was also in the Falklands.

And to actually answer your question I doubt it but then with any luck the French will not be helping them as they did with the Argies.

Answer 8

No, they can't. The Brits fought thousands of miles away from home with woefully inadequate air cover. The US navy isn't at that disadvantage. With Iran nothing would stay airborne more than 5 minutes unless we want it to stay airborne.

Further, the US navy's basic point missile defense is light-years ahead of what the Brits had in the Falklands.

Answer 9

Yes, they can attack them. Some might even land hits.

And a few days later the Iranian air force no longer has any planes left to carry out another attack.

Answer 10

They could have before they captured those British sailors in Iraqi waters. Now they have no surprise ability because anything Iranian in Iraqi waters or around any allied ship would probably be attacked.

Answer 11

No.
They have old and outdated US aircraft, kept since the Shah regime.
Russia will never sell them newest weaponry.

However, their primary target will be US aircraft carriers in the Persian gulf, and they do have something unavoidable: new rocket torpedoes.