US Navy says Russian warship 'aggressively approached' a US destroyer, risking collision by initially refusing to change course

Ryan Pickrell

January 10, 2020 4:12 PM

A Russian warship, reportedly a surveillance and intelligence vessel, "aggressively approached" a US Navy destroyer on Thursday in the North Arabian Sea Thursday, the US Navy said Friday.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Farragut (DDG 99)

The Russian ship sailed to within 180 feet of the USS Farragut, CNN reports. The Navy says the Farragut was initially unable to persuade the Russian vessel to alter course.
Last summer, the Navy faced a similar situation when a Russian destroyer sailed to within 100 feet of the USS Chancellorsville in the Pacific Ocean, risking a collision.
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A Russian naval vessel "aggressively approached" a US Navy destroyer in the North Arabian Sea on Thursday, the US Navy said in a statement.

The USS Farragut, an Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer, "sounded five short blasts, the international maritime signal for danger of a collision, and requested the Russian ship alter course in accordance with international rules of the road," 5th Fleet spokesman Cmdr. Joshua Frey said in a statement.

The US Navy says the Russian ship initially refused but ultimately altered course. "While the Russian ship took action, the initial delay in complying with international rules while it was making an aggressive approach increased the risk of collision," the Navy said.

CNN, citing two defense officials, reports that the Russian ship, a surveillance and intelligence collection vessel, came within 180 feet of the US destroyer before changing course.

The Farragut is reportedly part of the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group and is responsible for intercepting potential threats to the aircraft carrier.

The US Navy says its cruiser Chancellorsville, right, was forced to maneuver to avoid colliding with the approaching Russian destroyer closing to within 100 feet. U.S. Navy

Last year, the US faced a similar situation with a Russian warship in the Pacific Ocean.

In June, a Russian destroyer sailed within 100 feet of the Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Chancellorsville in what the Navy called an "unsafe and unprofessional" incident.

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