Page:Iran Air Flight 655 investigation.djvu/124

 VINCENNES reported hearing what might have been small arms rounds impacting the starboard bow area.

w. 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.

x. 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.

y. 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's MT52.

z. 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).

aa. At 0651Z, "GS", in a transmission to both USS VINCENNES and USS SIDES ordered USS VINCENNES to take tactical control of USS SIDES.

bb. The foul bore in MT51 caused the TAO to maneuver the ship radically, using 30 degrees rudder at 30 KTS ship's speed, in order to keep MT52 pointed at the most threatening of the surface contacts.

cc. The high speed, large rudder angle turn caused books, publications and loose equipment to fall from desks and consoles in CIC.

dd. At 0703Z USS VINCENNES ceased firing on the small boats. A total of 72 rounds of 5"/54 ammunition was expended.

ee. At 0706Z USS MONTGOMERY reported confirmed kill on TN 4456. USS MONTGOMERY expended a total of 47 rounds of 5"/54 ammunition.

ff. [] gg. Captain Rogers considered [] before requesting permission to engage the small boats. Those criteria included:

(1) The small boats had already committed a hostile act against his unit by firing on OCEAN LORD 25.

(2) He had positive identification of the small boats as those that had committed the hostile act against OCEAN LORD 25.

(3) He was initially prepared to disengage from the