Monday 27 April 2015

NIMITZ CVN 68 MOCKUP, NINTH GREAT PROPHET EXERCISE, IRAN

 
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Iran's major naval port of Bandar Abbas in Jan 2015 housed a NIMITZ mockup complete with mockup aircraft. The following images show the NIMIZ mockup before and after it use in the NINTH GREAT PROPHET naval exercise.




The explosion is likely the result of the attack on the mockup and some rigged explosives for the effect.

The rigged explosion pealed back the flight deck, and reveals no hull below, which could indicate it was designed for the effects see in image 3. The two possible battle damage through deck strikes didn't have the same effects as the port side explosion. Had they exploded like real weapons (instead of making holes) the mockup could have lost its bottom and sunk.

Comment: The provocation of simulating an attack on a copy of a US Aircraft Carrier could not be more plain.