U.S. Central Command has announced two events involving the Arleigh Burke Flight IIA-class destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87), which was at the center of two events in the Red Sea.
The first incident occurred yesterday, November 26, when the USS Mason, as well as other coalition naval units and areas operating as part of Anti-Piracy Task Force TF 151, received a distress call from the motor ship M/V CENTRAL PARK received.
In fact, this merchant ship sent the distress signal while under attack from unknown forces.
After receiving the signal, elements of the coalition moved close to the M/V CENTRAL PARK and demanded its immediate release. Five armed people then abandoned ship and attempted to escape in their small boat, but the destroyer Mason, now in the area, pursued the attackers, causing them to surrender.
The crew of the M/V CENTRAL PARK is currently safe and the ship continues under direct escort from the Mason.
The second episode occurred in the early hours of today, shortly before 02:00, when two ballistic missiles were fired from the Mason’s command bridge, apparently targeting the destroyers and the motor ship M/V CENTRAL PARK.
The Mason’s missile defense was not used as the two missiles, constantly tracked by the onboard AEGIS system, completed their journey about ten miles from the destroyer and the cargo ship and landed in the waters of the Gulf of Aden, causing problems for the ships and the crews.
Photo @US Navy