Is there a law that states how close one country can get to another country's warships?

PO2 Mark Saffell — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 14:32:54 -0400

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 15 at 2016 2:44 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 14:44:30 -0400

If it's like ROE within territorial waters, then yes (?) I don't think there's a ruling or law that states a distance between ships whether they are hostile or not.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Apr 15 at 2016 4:23 PM

Capt Mark Strobl — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 16:23:23 -0400

PO2 Mark Saffell - The only thing I remember about ocean protocol was the Law of Gross Tonnage (Biggest & Slowest ship has right of way). I'd imagine, like airspace, ship commanders would prefer to keep safe maneuvering distance from other vessels. But, we've all seen those crazy videos of one ship ramming another. Have no idea who gets the moving violation when that happens. Imagine that... all the sea-lawyers here on RP and you've stumped us!

Response by SN Greg Wright made Apr 15 at 2016 10:23 PM

SN Greg Wright — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 22:23:00 -0400

I've personally participated in an emergency breakaway during an UNREP because a Russian cruiser thought it would be funny to traverse down the middle of the formation. Unsafe, definitely. Illegal, nope. We did it to them, too. Probably still do. Everyone has right to operate in international sea/airways as they see fit. There's an international convention referred to as 'The rules of the road' that dictate how ships will maneuver relative to another...but carries no force of law in international waters, though it does in most territorial waters.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Apr 15 at 2016 11:20 PM

SMSgt Thor Merich — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 23:20:01 -0400

No law that I am aware, just general rules agreed upon by various parties. But I gather is someone does something stupid, they cant complain about the consequences.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 16 at 2016 10:36 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 16 Apr 2016 10:36:35 -0400

Nope and Plenty of Fender Benders to prove it. We have been playing chicken on the High Seas with the Russians, Chinese, Iranians for a long time.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 16 at 2016 10:37 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 16 Apr 2016 10:37:26 -0400

http://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/02/world/us-plane-in-china-after-it-collides-with-chinese-jet.html?pagewanted=all

U.S. PLANE IN CHINA AFTER IT COLLIDES WITH CHINESE JET

A United States Navy spy plane on a routine surveillance mission near the Chinese coast collided on Sunday with a Chinese fighter jet that was closely tailing it. The American plane made an emergency landing in China, and the United States said it was seeking the immediate return of the 24 crew members, all said to be in good condition, and of the sophisticated aircraft and all its intelligence equipment. The midair crash occurred about 50...

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 16 at 2016 10:40 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 16 Apr 2016 10:40:15 -0400

I remember a Russian Ship hitting one of ours and their Anchor got stuck on the US Navy Ship, Captain called out his folks to secure the Anchor so they could take it home as a prize but before they could secure it, it fell overboard.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 16 at 2016 10:41 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 16 Apr 2016 10:41:09 -0400

https://www.navalhistory.org/2011/03/21/soviet-sub-collides-with-uss-kitty-hawk-21-march-1984

Soviet Sub Collides with USS Kitty Hawk, 21 March 1984

USS Kitty Hawkâs (CV 63) fourteenth deployment in early 1984 found her at the center of a great deal of activity. During the joint United States/Republic of Korea Exercise Team Spirit 84-1, Kitty Hawkâs Battle Group Bravo encountered numerous Soviet forces during the eight-day event....

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 16 at 2016 10:47 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 16 Apr 2016 10:47:34 -0400

https://www.usnwc.edu/getattachment/c3 [login to see] -4530-91c9-9bd653f4d00b/Diplomacy-at-Sea--U-S--Freedom-of-Navigation-Opera.aspx

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 16 at 2016 10:51 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 16 Apr 2016 10:51:41 -0400

http://www.theatlantic.com/past/politics/foreign/front.htm

The Last Front of the Cold War - 93.11

Atlantic Unbound: The Atlantic Monthly Magazine Online

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 16 at 2016 1:50 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 16 Apr 2016 13:50:19 -0400

If I was POTUS, I'd still be showing Vladamir Vladamirovich Putin how close WE CAN GET!!!