Did the USS Mason use its Phalanx to shoot down the incoming missiles?

[Meatwad]

A B-52 would cover that area nicely

[DaveBB]

Lets just state the objective facts about the weapons systems involved in this incident.  Keep that other mumbo jumbo out.

[Gman]

The incoming missiles had to have been close enough to represent a threat, ie their tracks pointing close towards USS Mason in order for them to release weapons x3 + decoys and likely ECM, over at We Are The Mighty one article has statements from USN people saying the incoming missiles weren't struck by the SM2/ESSMs, but the incoming missiles were defeated by other methods, ie ECM/decoys primarily and splashed before the USN missiles could intercept.

I wonder what the ROE are in the area, I would think they would be tracking the incoming missiles from their own radar systems on Mason, plus all the other ISR/sat assets the US has in the area, right from their launching point, and as AckAck said, why weren't there counter battery missions launched to stop any further potential threats/launches?  Maybe there were and we just haven't heard about it, it would seem to be a pretty sound tactic to flatten the launch area/launchers to a: stop any more immediate potential launches, but also b: to take out those responsible, and remove some trained/experienced crew threats from the board as well. 

[EskimoJoe]

The incoming missiles had to have been close enough to represent a threat, ie their tracks pointing close towards USS Mason in order for them to release weapons x3 + decoys and likely ECM, over at We Are The Mighty one article has statements from USN people saying the incoming missiles weren't struck by the SM2/ESSMs, but the incoming missiles were defeated by other methods, ie ECM/decoys primarily and splashed before the USN missiles could intercept.

I wonder what the ROE are in the area, I would think they would be tracking the incoming missiles from their own radar systems on Mason, plus all the other ISR/sat assets the US has in the area, right from their launching point, and as AckAck said, why weren't there counter battery missions launched to stop any further potential threats/launches?  Maybe there were and we just haven't heard about it, it would seem to be a pretty sound tactic to flatten the launch area/launchers to a: stop any more immediate potential launches, but also b: to take out those responsible, and remove some trained/experienced crew threats from the board as well.

It's all about civilian considerations in the modern battlefield. If there was any remote chance that even a single goat herder could have been nearby the point of origin, they probably couldn't just launch a counter-battery. They would likely need 1) positive ID with eyes on an actual target and 2) an actual target. It's likely that they couldn't get that in time to launch a counter-battery. Plus, it's navy. They've been in the news in a bad light recently already, and I'm sure they didn't want to 'start' another international incident.

[Zimme83]

Launcher is truck mounted, there will not be anything left to shoot at by the time you have figured out the launch position.

[zack1234]

https://news.usni.org/2016/10/11/uss-mason-fired-3-missiles-to-defend-from-yemen-cruise-missiles-attack

Iran is now a friend of the US

Is this story true?

[Serenity]

Rounds DID go back the other way. No details, but apparently a good friend of mine was there, and I quote "Don't worry, we hit 'em back good!"

[Zimme83]

5 or more Tomahawks were fired against 3 Yemeni radar sites, all reported destroyed.

Edit: seems like the radar sites were already out of action prior to the attack. Reports claims that they have already been bombed by the Saudis.

[flyndung]

i heard they was shot down by anti-missile missiles RIM-162

new news

According to the United States Naval Institute’s blog, the Mason fired three missiles, two RIM-66 Standard SM-2 missiles and a single RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile, during the engagement north of the Bab el Mandab. The destroyer was escorting US Ponce (ASFB(I)-15) at the time of the attack and also used a Nulka decoy during the engagement. This marks the first use of the RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile in combat, and the first time the SM-2 was used for its intended purpose of air defense.

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2016/10/12/new-details-on-failed-attack-on-uss-mason/#ixzz4MzkFlfjQ

[NatCigg]

Iran is now a friend of the US

Is this story true?

I read they got some boats headed that way.  Maybe for tea?    but we don't drink tea. 

[zack1234]

See Rule #14

[Rich46yo]

Well I'd like to know if the missiles actually hit anything because this wally mart AShM is about as low end a threat as the USN will go up against AShM-wise and the SM, and especially the ESSM, will have to be able to perform against much more dangerous threats. I'd also like to know if it was two SM-2s or SM-6s.

A good argument for rail guns or Lasers. Both these missiles cost a fortune tho I guess they are cheaper then a new Destroyer.

[FLOOB]

I heard Zach got banned.

[Gman]

Good Floob, he'll have more time to bake pies then.

Rich is right, the slow Silkworm types are a pretty slow target compared to some of the Mach2/3 plus missiles that are potential threats.  Some of them have pretty nasty flight paths too now, coming in from high alt at very high mach numbers, and then attacking from an almost vertical profile once overhead of the ship it is targeting.  A combination of those missiles as well as very low altitude sea skimming mach 2/3 missiles presents a very difficult problem for USN defenses to solve.  Great articles out recently about this, I'll find them and link them here, interesting reading about just how lethal some of these anti ship missiles have become. 

[zack1234]