US says Russian planes buzzed Navy ship in Baltic Sea

[webfact]

US says Russian planes buzzed Navy ship in Baltic Sea
By ROBERT BURNS

WASHINGTON (AP) — Russian attack planes buzzed a U.S. Navy destroyer in the Baltic Sea multiple times Monday and Tuesday, coming as close as an estimated 30 feet from the ship and twice passing below the ship's navigation bridge, U.S. officials said Wednesday.

The Russian Su-24 planes appeared unarmed but on Tuesday flew what the commander of the USS Donald Cook deemed to be a simulated attack profile. The Cook's commander judged the actions unsafe and unprofessional, but the ship took no action beyond trying unsuccessfully to communicate with the aircraft by radio, according to a statement by U.S. European Command.

The U.S. European Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in that area, said the Cook was conducting deck landing drills with an allied military helicopter when two Su-24s made numerous close-range and low-altitude passes Monday afternoon. One pass occurred while the helicopter was refueling on the Cook's deck.

"As a safety precaution, flight operations were suspended until the Su-24s departed the area," it said.

European Command did not identify the ally involved but other officials said the helicopter was Polish.

It was unclear when or if the U.S. government would formally protest the Russian actions, which come at a time of tensions between Washington and Moscow over Russia's annexation of Crimea, its military intervention in eastern Ukraine and fears among former Soviet states in eastern Europe that Russian aggression could threaten their independence.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest said the incident was part of a pattern of unsafe Russian aircraft action.

"This incident ... is entirely inconsistent with the professional norms of militaries operating in proximity to each other in international waters and international airspace," Earnest said.

"There have been repeated incidents over the last year where the Russian military, including Russian military aircraft, have come close enough to each other or have come close enough to other air and sea traffic to raise serious safety concerns. We continue to be concerned about this behavior," he said.

European Command released a Navy photo showing one Su-24 soaring past the Cook at close range.

A Navy video clip shows another low-altitude pass with a U.S. sailor shouting, "Below the bridge wing," meaning the Russian plane was flying below the level of the Cook's navigation bridge.

"We have deep concerns about the unsafe and unprofessional Russian flight maneuvers," European Command said in its written statement. "These actions have the potential to unnecessarily escalate tensions between countries, and could result in a miscalculation or accident that could cause serious injury or death."

It said U.S. officials are using diplomatic channels to address the matter. The incidents also are under review by the Navy.

The incident began Monday with a pair of Russian Su-24 planes making 20 close passes over the Cook, coming as close as 1,000 yards at an altitude of about 100 feet, according to a U.S. defense official. The official was not authorized to discuss some details by name and so spoke on condition of anonymity.

On Tuesday a Russian KA-26 submarine-hunting helicopter circled the Cook at low altitude seven times, taking photographs, the official said. About 40 minutes later, another pair of Su-24 attack planes, apparently unarmed, buzzed the Cook 11 times, the European Command statement said. At one point, at least one of the planes came within 30 feet of the ship, according to a Pentagon spokeswoman, Lt. Col. Michelle L. Baldanza.

The U.S. believes the Russian actions may have violated a 1970s agreement meant to prevent unsafe incidents at sea. The agreement was between the U.S. and the former Soviet Union but remains in force with Russia.

Officials said the Cook was operating in international waters 70 nautical miles off the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. It had departed the Polish port of Gdynia on Monday. In April 2014 the Cook reported what it considered provocative actions by an apparently unarmed Russian Su-24 jet that made numerous low passes near the ship in the Black Sea near Romania.


-- (c) Associated Press 2016-04-14

[Kerryd]

Good thing the Russians were flying jet fighters and not passenger planes or the ship may have shot them down "just in case". I mean, it wouldn't be the first time they did that now, would it ?

[HLover]

Seems they did over a dozen fly by's.

Good thing the planes didn't have bad intentions.

[Pakboong]

A small part of the Baltic borders Russia to include St. Petersburg. A long way from the US.

[RIJoe]

I like the top down wars. I think it was George Carlin who suggested that any country wanting war send their president/whoever is the top leader to fight. When it gets to me, let's have a drink.

[connda]

Yeah, the US has never engaged in that type of 'play' with Russian ships, Lol

[Lamphen]

Freezing cold - or scorching hot?

[Ulic]

I am left scratching my head (in all seriousness) If the US ship was operating in

international waters, does that mean the Russian air-craft was flying in international

airspace. Besides being and flying like a dick, was he doing anything illegal under

international law. Do they have agreements that military aircraft and military ships

have to maintain a certain distance apart to avoid an international incident or is it

all just one big game of chicken. Yes I know all about the US ship shooting down the

Iranian passenger airliner while it was sailing in Iranian waters (with zero consequences

for the Captain, he even received a medal) But what happens in this case. Anything ?

Is it basically a free fire zone which can then escalate or are there any "International"

laws or agreements ? UN stuff.

[ThailandLOS]

1) What business has USS Donald Cook at Russia's border?

2) Why is this ship still in operation? It was incapacitated by Russian jamming devices already in the 2014 incident in the Black Sea, as noted in the article.

Go home Yankee, go home. Nobody wants you in the Baltic Sea. Just like nobody in the US wants Russian war ships in the Mexican Gulf.

Edited April 14, 2016 by ThailandLOS

[KMartinHandyman]

It should have been shot down.

[HLover]

Dumb War Mongers

[copa8]

1) What business has USS Donald Cook at Russia's border?

I'm guessing the same type of business US naval ships have at China's border? No one is bitching about that, though.

[uksomchai]

It should have been shot down.

They were trying but the jets were too low and too fast for them

As said why does the AMERICAN NAVY feel the need to be sailing within close range of a Russian naval base and thousands of miles from their own territorial waters ?

The world would be a far more safer and peaceful place if they took all their troops back home and sorted out all the problems they have back there instead of messing in other countries affairs.

[HLover]

Sage advice that could have been followed since VE day.

[jesimps]

Go the Spams! Give Shrek a bloody nose.

[Jingthing]

Putin acting up again.

He's not through with his aggression in the region.

[Jingthing]

... Go home Yankee, go home. Nobody wants you in the Baltic Sea. ...

That simply is not true. But fun for you to indulge in some cheap America bashing.

Edited April 14, 2016 by Jingthing

[Yahooka]

1) What business has USS Donald Cook at Russia's border?

2) Why is this ship still in operation? It was incapacitated by Russian jamming devices already in the 2014 incident in the Black Sea, as noted in the article.

Go home Yankee, go home. Nobody wants you in the Baltic Sea. Just like nobody in the US wants Russian war ships in the Mexican Gulf.

Im sure most people in the Baltics and Poland are very happy for the US and NATO presence in that area. Compared to the keyboard warriors of the West, these people have felt the influence of the disgusting Communist oppression. Even 25 years after gaining their freedom, only mentioning the word russian will make them cringe !!

Edited April 14, 2016 by Yahooka

[Stargeezr]

I saw the video of this occurrence, and indeed these Russian pilots were

buzzing very low. When a fighter flies so close to the ocean that it

kicks up a wake, it is way less than a second of becoming a multi-million

dollar piece of debris on the ocean. It was a lucky day for the Russians in

that they did not have a couple of dead pilots and an SU-24 jet lost at sea.

Pretty childish activity of these pilots, who are heroes now, to someone, since they did not crash.

Geezer

[mopar71]

A small part of the Baltic borders Russia to include St. Petersburg. A long way from the US.

NATO member Estonia is on the Baltic Sea and the US is a member of NATO.

Now, about Russian subs off Stockholm or Russian bombers in the English Channel...

[slipperylobster]

yeah...so what

2000 us sailors krapped in their swimming water.

skol

[mopar71]

Go home Yankee, go home. Nobody wants you in the Baltic Sea. Just like nobody in the US wants Russian war ships in the Mexican Gulf.

Clueless quote of the decade. The Baltic countries are extremely happy to have the US and other NATO countries in the Baltic Sea and on land. Take a poll of people in the region and the unanimous decision would be for Russia to get the hell out. Even Kaliningrad (Russian exclaveon the Baltic sea by Lithuania and Poland) would ditch Mother Russia given the chance.

[mopar71]

Pilot got lucky, the Russians aren't as good of pilots as the Soviets once were. They probably had to throw away his flight suit after he landed.

[mopar71]

A small part of the Baltic borders Russia to include St. Petersburg. A long way from the US.

NATO member Estonia is on the Baltic Sea and the US is a member of NATO.

Now, about Russian subs off Stockholm or Russian bombers in the English Channel...

I was commenting based on your St Petersburg remark when I singled out Estonia...but seeing now where the incident took place, further south than Estonia and closer to other NATO countries like Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and even Germany. Russian needs to finish what they started on Aug 31, 1994 and leave Kaliningrad.

[kamahele]

1) What business has USS Donald Cook at Russia's border?

2) Why is this ship still in operation? It was incapacitated by Russian jamming devices already in the 2014 incident in the Black Sea, as noted in the article.

Go home Yankee, go home. Nobody wants you in the Baltic Sea. Just like nobody in the US wants Russian war ships in the Mexican Gulf.

Actually, the former Soviet Republics in the Baltics, want the US in the Baltic so you are apparently incorrect.

[Thorgal]

Khibiny (L-175V) (Хибины) (Л-175В) is Soviet / Russian aircraft electronic countermeasures (ECM) system.

The system is designed for radio direction-finding and probing signal source irradiation allowing it to distort reflected signal parameters.

This helps to Su-34 with ECM modules "Khibiny" on the wing tips

Delay aircraft detection;

Mask the true subject against false reflections;

Cause range finding difficulties, namely in speed and angular positions;

Degrading Maintenance Mode "on the aisle" when scanning antenna beam radar;

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khibiny_(electronic_countermeasures_system)

In short, it made the USS Tho as Cook blind and deaf for a while...

Edited April 15, 2016 by Thorgal

[Thorgal]

It should have been shot down.

With what ?

The USS Thomas Cook Aegis radar system was jammed for a while.

[HLover]

US, buzz a Russian ship; curious to see the difference in reactions.

[ThailandLOS]

... Go home Yankee, go home. Nobody wants you in the Baltic Sea. ...

That simply is not true. But fun for you to indulge in some cheap America bashing.

And just how would you know that? Are you from any of the Baltic countries and have an idea about the public sentiment on the matter? (note: public, not the US/NATO bought puppet politicians). You would be surprised how many people in Europe are starting to realize who is the actual aggressor here. It's your corrupt government JIng, and not Russia or China.

[2fishin2]

... Go home Yankee, go home. Nobody wants you in the Baltic Sea. ...

That simply is not true. But fun for you to indulge in some cheap America bashing.

And just how would you know that? Are you from any of the Baltic countries and have an idea about the public sentiment on the matter? (note: public, not the US/NATO bought puppet politicians). You would be surprised how many people in Europe are starting to realize who is the actual aggressor here. It's your corrupt government JIng, and not Russia or China.

Bruhahahah no UNTRUER words have ever been spoken. Is that why we have US acft back on a permanent basis in Iceland or Poland?

Crawl out from under your rock and see what is going on in the real world. [emoji4]