An embarked security team aboard the USNS Rappahannock fired upon a small motor vessel after it disregarded warnings and rapidly approached the U.S. ship near Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates
today.
In accordance with Navy force protection procedures, the sailors on the Rappahannock used a series of non-lethal, preplanned responses to
warn the vessel before resorting to lethal force.
The U.S. crew repeatedly attempted to warn the vessel's operators to turn away from their deliberate approach.
When those efforts failed to deter the approaching vessel, the security team on the Rappahannock fired rounds from a .50-caliber machine gun.
The incident is under investigation.
