The Attack on the Saudi Frigate, RSS Al-Madinah

I'll try to keep the commentary to a minimum today, as I think these videos tell the story quite well. A story in three videos, as it were.

First, everyone should be up to speed on the first video; the one the Yemeni forces took of their attack on the RSS Al-Madinah in the Bab Al-Mandab Strait.



Next is a video of the attack taken from the ship. Now, don't be like Sal and be distracted by the gear adrift (unmanned lawn chair on the flight deck), but look at the attack.



This was a clear, bright day. These waters have seen attacks over and over. This is a littoral zone at war. These waters are thick with small boats. Small boat attacks, solo or swarm, are decades old.

Think about a few things: watchstanding; number and diversity of weapons; etc. What are the top lessons you bring from it?

This next video was of the Al-Madinah's return to port. From the band at the opening to the formation discipline at the end, what are the details that you see and how does that inform your opinion on why this ship was successfully attacked - if at all?