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Case Study: USS Vincennes. Events Leading to the Vincennes Incident. Iran-Iraq War Iraq F-1 Mirage attack on the USS Stark The hitting of a mine in an Iranian Minefield- 1988 by the USS Samuel B. Roberts. Rules of Engagement (ROE) Changes in the Persian Gulf.
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Events Leading to the Vincennes Incident • Iran-Iraq War • Iraq F-1 Mirage attack on the USS Stark • The hitting of a mine in an Iranian Minefield- 1988 by the USS Samuel B. Roberts
Rules of Engagement (ROE) Changes in the Persian Gulf • Commanding Officers were authorized to take positive protective measures • U.S. warships no longer take the first hit • U.S. assets required positive ID and description of intentions from all aircraft and ships operating in those waters
Law of Armed Conflict • Necessary action • Proportional action • Do not escalate the engagement!
Why did the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff think changes in the ROE were Necessary? • Responsibility for American lives • Responsibility for the U.S. reputation • Responsibility for foreign lives
Use of Force Prior to the Downing of the Airbus Surface Conflict with Iranian Gunboats
Protection of Merchant Vessels • USS Montgomery reported many Iranian Gunboats in the Straits of Hormuz. • Several gunboats maneuvering around Liberian tanker, German cargo vessel, and Pakistani merchant vessel in a common harassment tactic. • Was there a request for assistance by the merchant vessels? • Were the actions of the Vincennes appropriate?
Capabilities and Weapons of Vessels Involved • USS Vincennes • Aegis Command and Control System • Standard SM-2 missiles, 5”/54 gun mounts • Phalanx, ASROC, Harpoon, Mark 45 guns • Iranian Gunboats • 107mm rockets • 50 caliber machine guns • Grenade launchers
Discussion of Captain Rogers’ Decisions • Control of airspace with the extended range of SH-60F LAMPS helicopter. • Use of force under the ROE • Use of force under the Law of Armed conflict • Necessary Action • Proportional Response • Escalation of the event
Time Constraints • Missile had to be fired before aircraft closed within 10 miles of Vincennes • CO Vincennes had approximately four minutes from the time he was notified of the threat to react, while also dealing with the gunboats • Could anything have been done to give Captain Rogers more time?
Technology • Capabilities of Aegis system and the role humans play • Altitude discrepancy of Airbus as reported by crew and what was recorded by Aegis system • Identification of Airbus • Was this mission an appropriate use of the USS Vincennes’s technology?
CO’s Motivation • Defend the crew • Memories of the USS Stark incident • Follow the ROE • Improve the Navy’s image • Improve America’s image • As a warning to other nations • In the eyes of the U.S. public • Inaction = Court Martial (Stark)
Responsibility • Commanding officer of the USS Vincennes • Commanding officer of the USSSides • Other members of the two crews • How could this incident have been avoided? • Who could have prevented these deaths? • Who was accountable for the deaths?
Leadership Traits • Honor • Commitment • Courage
Decision Making • Clarify the issue to ensure you understand the parameters • Identify applicable goals • Identify authoritative rules and laws • Collect and organize information • Develop and analyze potential solutions • Consult with others • Ethics check