Reply #58: I was an OS on a U.S.S. Guided Missile Destroyer for 2 Persian Gulf Cruses [View All]

[puerco-bellies]

There are conditions in the Persian Gulf that can clutter a radar screen. I manned hundreds of hours on AAW and SSW radar scopes and have seen a great deal of clutter in that area. Normal aircraft are quite detectable but remember drones are often constructed using balsa wood or plastic material airframes which are HARD to detect. Couple that with the clutter generated by the sand based dust that is always prevalent in the persian gulf and it is easy to fly a small drone undetected for some time near any fleet asset.

During the Iranian hostage crisis we were overflown daily by an Iranian P-3, which we would take pictures of, and fax to the Pentagon. We were concerned with the "hard-points" which would be switched between intel gathering and harpoon launching almost on a daily basis. Rules of engagement do not allow anyone to shoot down an aircraft in international airspace. A "hot-dog" skipper shot down an Iranian passenger plane during that time period, killing innocent men women and children.