US jets dropped bombs on Great Barrier Reef

[cronus]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23394233

US jets dropped bombs on Great Barrier Reef

US fighter jets dropped inert bombs on the Great Barrier Reef off Australia's coast during a training exercise that went wrong, it has emerged.

The two planes jettisoned four bombs in more than 50m (165 ft) of water, away from coral, to minimise damage to the World Heritage Site, the US navy said.

The jets had intended to drop at a bombing range on a nearby island, but Tuesday's mission was aborted.

The AV-8B Harriers were low on fuel and could not land loaded, the navy added.

The emergency happened during the training exercise Talisman Saber, involving US and Australian military personnel.

The two jets had been instructed to target the bombing range on Townshend Island.

However, the mission was aborted when hazards were reported in the area.

The planes then dropped the bombs in the marine park off the coast of Queensland. None of the devices exploded.

Each bomb weighed 500lb (226kg), according to the US TV network NBC.

The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral structure rich in marine life.

(continued, bin ladens down there somewhere?)

[Gawdzilla Sama]

The damage would be confined to not much more than the size of the bomb, and the impact would be about 50 MPH at that depth. Big whoopee.

[Seth]

Meh. The reef's like 1500 miles long. Nobody will notice.

[Rum]

Pretty dismissive from the Merican lobby there. The reality may be minor damage but the of the Great Barrier Reef symbolises and is seen by many as a barometer of how little we seem to care for the environment we all inhabit and how willing we are to destroy it. The fact that it was Mericans who did it only adds to the bad press element.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Pretty dismissive from the Merican lobby there. The reality may be minor damage but the of the Great Barrier Reef symbolises and is seen by many as a barometer of how little we seem to care for the environment we all inhabit and how willing we are to destroy it. The fact that it was Mericans who did it only adds to the bad press element.

Not dismissive on my part, I just analyzed the actual damage based on information I'm familiar with. The question of effective depth of bombs came up in WWI and the studies are available if you dig deep enough.

[cronus]

Won't be happy until you've nuked them now. It's the only way to be sure. Death to life and all.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Won't be happy until you've nuked them now. It's the only way to be sure. Death to life and all.

The bombs had to go somewhere, else the Harriers would have had a very dangerous landing. If they could have dropped them in 3,000 feet of water I believe they would have. The fact that they maneuvered to avoid the coral is not to be forgotten, but probably will be.

[Rum]

I read the report and you are right. It looks like they had little or no choice. The damage is however done in terms of the impression it creates.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I read the report and you are right. It looks like they had little or no choice. The damage is however done in terms of the impression it creates.

Yep, it's an unfortunate event. You know my attitude toward nature, I think.

[Rum]

Of course - as do you mine on America - i.e. a great admirer in many ways. However there really does seem to be a lot of bad press around internationally and it is hard to know it can be combated. From Obama's so called 'drone war' to Guantanamo to ...well you name it.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Of course - as do you mine on America - i.e. a great admirer in many ways. However there really does seem to be a lot of bad press around internationally and it is hard to know it can be combated. From Obama's so called 'drone war' to Guantanamo to ...well you name it.

As a student of history I take the long view on this.

[mistermack]

This is a perfectly legitimate action in the war on terrapins.

The CIA has reliable information that the lobsters were planning a pincer attack on US assets in the region.

Three cheers for good old Uncle Sam, for saving us from the crabs.

[Rum]

This is a perfectly legitimate action in the war on terrapins.

The CIA has reliable information that the lobsters were planning a pincer attack on US assets in the region.

Three cheers for good old Uncle Sam, for saving us from the crabs.

'pincer attack'..

[Daedalus]

Pretty dismissive from the Merican lobby there. The reality may be minor damage but the of the Great Barrier Reef symbolises and is seen by many as a barometer of how little we seem to care for the environment we all inhabit and how willing we are to destroy it. The fact that it was Mericans who did it only adds to the bad press element.

The alternative seems to be crashing a couple of Harriers into the reef. I presume that the loss of lives, the machines, and pollutants from oil and fuel would NOT be preferable to a couple of inert bombs?

I mean, symbols can kiss my ass, lets be practical about practical issues and let the press be hysterical on its own time.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Pretty dismissive from the Merican lobby there. The reality may be minor damage but the of the Great Barrier Reef symbolises and is seen by many as a barometer of how little we seem to care for the environment we all inhabit and how willing we are to destroy it. The fact that it was Mericans who did it only adds to the bad press element.

The alternative seems to be crashing a couple of Harriers into the reef. I presume that the loss of lives, the machines, and pollutants from oil and fuel would NOT be preferable to a couple of inert bombs?

I mean, symbols can kiss my ass, lets be practical about practical issues and let the press be hysterical on its own time.

The Harriers wouldn't have crashed on the reef, but the pilots may have had to eject if they couldn't drop their load. The hover time is limited to the amount of water they have onboard, and that's obviously very limited. I don't know why they didn't divert to a regular runway, probably fuel limitations because of distance.