Gulf Of Oman Tanker Attack
6:12am - U.S Naval forces in the region receive a distress call from the Norwegian owned oil tanker the ‘Front Altair’
7:00am - A distress call is made from the Japanese owned tanker the Kokuka Courageous
8:09am - An IRGC Hendijan class patrol boat and multiple IRGC fast attack craft are seen approaching the position of the Front Altair
9:12am - U.S aircraft observe the IRGC fast attack craft pull a raft from the Front Altair from the water
9:26am - The Iranian ships requested that that the tanker ‘Hyundai Dubai’ ,which was the first ship on scene and rescued the sailors from the Front Altair, turn over the sailors to the Iranian fast attack boats. The Hyundai Dubai complied and handed over the sailors to the Iranian Fast Attack Boats.
11:05am - The Arleigh Burke destroyer the USS Bainbridge approaches the site of the Kokuka Courageous. The crew of the Kokuka Courageous has been rescued by the tug ‘Coastal Ace’ after an explosion on the ship led them to find an unexploded Limpet Mine on the starboard side of the ship.
An Iranian Patrol Boat attempted to get to the Coastal Ace before the USS Bainbridge but the sailors were transferred to the USS Bainbridge at the request of the captain of the Kokuka Courageous.
4:10pm - An Iranian Gashti Class Patrol Boat is seen approaching the Kokuka Courageous and was observed and recorded removing an Unexploded Limpet Mine from the Ship by a U.S Navy P-8.
The Damage to the starboard side was being assessed when the crew of the Kokuka Courageous spotted the unexploded Limpet Mine on the starboard side of the ship.
Iranian Fast Attack Craft
The US Navy released footage of what it claimed was an Iranian Navy fast attack craft removing the unexploded Limpet mine from the Starboard side of the Kokuka Courageous.
Upon closer inspection the boat being used is the same as a set of boats delivered to the IRGC in 2016.
The boats have some distinct similarities which confirms the U.S suspicions that the boat belonged to the IRGC. The original images were found in a news article from 2016 which shows the IRGC taking delivery of the boats
USS Bainbridge
At 0700 the USS Bainbridge received a distress call from the Kokuka Courageous, USS Bainbridge was within 30 nautical miles at the time of the call. Satellite imagery courtesy of Sentinel Hub captured the USS Bainbridge making a direct hairpin turn post distress call.
Imagery shows Front Altair ablaze, an Iranian Naji-10 Search and Rescue Vessel and the USS Bainbridge post hairpin maneuver.
USS Bainbridge analysis
14th June
Satellite Images show the Front Altair being extinguished, pollution can be seen in the surrounding area, possibly caused by the fire onboard the Front Altair.
The fire on the Front Altair was spotted being extinguished by another boat. Pollution can be seen in the surrounding area.
15th June
Satellite imagery from the 15th June show the Front Altair being towed by tug vessels after the fire onboard was extinguished, while another ship (Possibly an Iranian SAR vessel) monitors from a distance. Damage can visibly seen on the starboard side of the ship on the satellite images.
The Kokuka Courageous was also spotted on Satellite imagery , accompanied by 2 U.S Navy Ships while being towed back to port,
This article will continue to be updated as information continues to become available about the incident.
Article written by AuroraIntel and ConflictsW