Maritime experts were given a rare glimpse of the underlying capabilities of the Chinese navy on Sunday, when crewmen involved in a stand-off with a US surveillance ship in the South China Sea revealed the fleet’s previously hidden firepower.
The exposure came as the American vessel USNS Impeccable was attempting to defend itself against what the Pentagon claimed was co-ordinated harassment and aggression from five Chinese ships. Being unarmed, the Impeccable turned its fire water hoses against two of the Chinese vessels that had come within 50 feet in a threatening posture.
Then, the Pentagon records in the admirably restrained language of international diplomacy, “the Chinese crew members disrobed to their underwear and continued closing to within 25 feet.”
In the annals of great naval battles, the contretemps may not rank alongside Trafalgar or Jutland. But it must be a contender for this year’s award for naked aggression.
Ed Pilkington
March 10, 2009
In New York, The Guardian
Stand-off shows Chinese navy’s secret tactics
[I just hope the sailors on the Impeccable got lots of pictures of all that “previously hidden firepower”. I’m sure there is a market for that somewhere outside of the Pentagon. Maybe some magazines would be interested.–Joe]
Speaking as someone who has been pegged with a water hose while wearing coveralls (yay for Crossing the Line!), I can kind of understand where they are coming from, what with the added weight and chill factor. That said, this was just frikking wierd.
Interesting, i wonder how much it will cost to settle the sexual harrassment suit?
Lets see; the caliber of a ship’s gun is expressed as the quotient of length/bore, right?