Case Study: USS Vincennes

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Case Study USS Vincennes
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Events Leading to the Vincennes Incident

• Iran-Iraq War
• Attack on the USS Stark
• The hitting of a mine in an Iranian Minefield-
  1988 by the USS Samuel B. Roberts

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Rules of Engagement (ROE) Changes in the Persian
Gulf

• Commanding Officers were authorized to take
  positive protective measures
• U.S. warships did not have to wait for the enemy
  to fire first
• U.S. assets required positive identification and
  description of intentions from all aircraft and
  ships operating in those waters

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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

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Use of Force Prior to the Downing of the Airbus

• Surface Conflict with Iranian Gunboats

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Protection of Merchant Vessels

• USS Montgomery reported many Iranian Gunboats in
  the Strait 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?

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Capabilities and Weapons of Vessels Involved

• USS Vincennes
• Aegis Command and Control System
• Standard SM-2 missiles
• Phalanx, ASROC, Harpoon, Mark 45 guns
• Iranian Gunboats
• 107mm rockets
• 50 caliber machine guns
• Grenade launchers

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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
• Ethical

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Events Leading up to the Downing of the Iranian
Airbus
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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?

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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
  Vincenness technology?

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Leadership Considerations
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COs Motivation

• Defend the crew
• Memories of the USS Stark incident
• Follow the ROE
• Improve the Navys image
• Improve Americas image
• As a warning to other nations
• In the eyes of the U.S. public

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Responsibility

• Commanding officer of the USS Vincennes
• Commanding officer of the USS Sides
• 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?

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Leadership Traits

• Loyalty
• Honor
• Integrity
• Courage

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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

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HOMEWORK
Read Chapter 12, Military Explosives and Chapter
13, Warheads