SECRET NOFORN
U
p. (S) At 0620Z USS VINCENNES was directed by “GS” to take tactical control of USS MONTGOMERY. USS VINCENNES assumed tactical control and positioned MONTGOMERY 8,000 yards off her port quarter. (IO Exhibits 130, 172).
U
q. (S) At 0639Z USS VINCENNES requested permission by “GS” and “GB” to engage the small boats (TN 4667) with 5″/54 guns. (IO Exhibits 130, 172).
U
r. (S) At 0639Z "GB" requested USS VINCENNES to verify the small boats were not departing. USS VINCENNES reported the boats were closing the USS VINCENNES and the USS MONTGOMERY. (IO Exhibits 130, p. 794, p. 47).
U
s. (S) At 0641Z “GS” gave permission to engage the small boats with gunfire. (IO Exhibit 130).
t. (U) At 0643Z USS VINCENNES and USS MONTGOMERY opened fire on two closing groups of Iranian small boats, including the group of small boats which had fired on OCEAN LORD 25. (IO Exhibits 172, p. 48).
u. (U) CO MONTGOMERY reported that two small boats maneuvered erratically and appeared to close USS MONTGOMERY and USS VINCENNES. CO USS MONTGOMERY also stated his lookouts reported small arms fire coming from the small boats. ( p. 47 and p. 50).
v. (U) Crew members topside on USS VINCENNES reported small arms fire from the boats, and Repair Locker 2 personnel in USS VINCENNES reported hearing what might have been small arms rounds impacting the starboard bow area. (IO Exhibits 224, 225, Rogers p. 837).
w. (U) CO USS VINCENNES stated that the post-action analysis indicated that shrapnel, and/or spent bullets, impacted the starboard bow of the ship and the ablative coating behind the forward missile launcher. (Rogers p.838).
x. (U) At approximately 0646Z, USS MONTGOMERY opened fire with her 5″/54 at the two westernmost contacts of the group of four. This is the group USS VINCENNES initially engaged. (IO Exhibit 172, p. 48).
U
y. (S) At 0649Z one group of small boats (TN 4456), 027 degrees true from USS VINCENNES, was reported inbound and was taken under fire by USS VINCENNES MT52. (IO Exhibit 172).
U
z. (S) At 0650Z USS VINCENNES suffered a gun casualty to MT51 resulting in a foul bore (chambered round in the gun that could not be fired). (IO Exhibit 172, p.796).
38
SECRET NOFORN
