Did the US Navy deliberately sink an unarmed ship and ignore survivors?

[goaded]

Even the Nazi U-boats picked up survivors from ships they sank (and broadcast the location) until the US attacked them while doing so.

The Iris Dena seen in the Bay of Bengal during the International Fleet Review 2026

"After surfacing and picking up survivors, who were accommodated on the foredeck, U-156 headed on the surface under Red Cross banners to rendezvous with Vichy French ships and transfer the survivors. En route, the U-boat was spotted by a B-24 Liberator bomber of the United States Army Air Forces. The aircrew, having reported the U-boat's location, declared intentions, and the presence of survivors, were then ordered to attack the sub." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laconia_incident

No anonymous opinions, say it, own it.

(By the way, the answer is yes, killing about 100 people.)

Updates

4 mo

"The exercise in question required ships not to carry any ammunition. Normally, the Dena carries various missiles and guns, including anti-ship missiles. Because the U. S. also took part, it would have been aware that the Dena was unarmed. Former Indian Foreign Minister Kanwal Sibal accused the attack of being “premeditated as the US was aware of the Iranian ship’s presence in the exercise.” " newrepublic.com/.../us-attack-iran-naval-ship

[jshm2]

What do you expect from such evil bastards that would treat immigrants like criminals despite no court convicting them to such treatment?

[goaded]

Nothing, I just draw attention to it.

[msc545]

These are the same people that kidnapped Black people from Africa, brought them to the US, and turned them into slaves.

[beefcakebradybatson]

War crimes, anyone?

[goaded]

Add it to the list.

[OneViewpoint]

We are at war with Iran. A war we started but a war nonetheless. Do you know for sure that ship's guns and launchers had no ammunition? Would you let it slip past untouched to go rearm and get in the fight? I wouldn't. If the goal is to reduce Iranian naval capacity to near zero so they can no longer harass commercial shipping in the Straight Of Hormuz, that warship is a target. Its destruction sends a message. War is not a clean process executed with perfect precision. Some unpleasant decisions have to be made.

[goaded]

No you're not at war with Iran. Trump says you're not. When he's not calling it a war. Which it obviously is.

We do know (and the US knew) for sure they weren't armed, see the update. I mean it's possible they weren't following the rules of the exercise, but it's extremely unlikely. They weren't at war when they set out.

As far as I know, attacking ships from countries you're not at war with in international waters is not legal.

Regardless of that, not rescuing shipwrecked sailors is arguably even worse. The sub could be pretty sure they wouldn't be attacked by Iran during rescue operations.

[MisterWack]

US Navy sinking an unarmed vessel then refusing to aid the survivors?
Sounds about right, unfortunately so and America should be better than this however we aren’t.

[goaded]

Exactly. It's not new, though.

[MisterWack]

@goaded I didn’t say it was new, this is how we’ve been for too damn long.

[FreyaRed]

I don't know what Sonar officer did as torpedo approached this vessel but sinking a ship without a declaration of war is a war crime.
German U-boot got the order to sink ships and don't help seamen from sunken ships, but those were Nazis. I know, I know US is the biggest democracy and not a Nazi regime..,,

[goaded]

You're right, German U-boats got the order to stop helping the shipwrecked from ships they sank, but that was three years into the war and it came out at a war trial that there was actually a good reason for it.

A U-boat, having announced its position, flying the red cross and carrying survivors on its deck towards Allied ships which could return them to safety was ordered sunk by US aircraft that had accurately reported the situation to their commanders first. The US killed the survivors as well as the crew. The Laconia incident.

Of course you're going to stop doing something that's going to get you killed.

[KimmySchmit]

My great great grandfather died in the freezing north atlantic delivering aid to Russia, no U- boat surfaced to save him.

I do know that in a warzone that any ship that tries to break through a naval blockade will be sunk.

[goaded]

Sorry to hear that. But Iran is not officially at war with anyone.

[KimmySchmit]

I think you hit the nail on the head.
"But Iran is not OFFICIALLY at war with anyone"

[goaded]

Yes, the US thinks it can simply ignore laws and kill people.

[KimmySchmit]

No undeclared.

[Shiprex]

Yes

They also illegally attacked a sovereign nation without cause. It was NOT in any reality about to launch attack on anyone. Trump is merely seeking to distract his cult from the Epstein files.

[Zack-Bann]

It wasn’t unarmed
It was in a “non combat configuration”
Which is a bullshit way to say “oh we weren’t fighting” when in fact they could have switched at any time


It’s a military target like any other

[goaded]

"The exercise in question required ships not to carry any ammunition. Normally, the Dena carries various missiles and guns, including anti-ship missiles. Because the U. S. also took part, it would have been aware that the Dena was unarmed. Former Indian Foreign Minister Kanwal Sibal accused the attack of being “premeditated as the US was aware of the Iranian ship’s presence in the exercise.” "
newrepublic.com/.../us-attack-iran-naval-ship

[msc545]

Yes, and if you ask them, they would tell you they were just following orders.

[goaded]

Sounds kind of familiar. (Didn't I post this already?)

[msc545]

Yeah but the people that said it before pretty much all got executed and therefore we have to assume it was for other reasons. Could not possibly have been their evil behavior.

[WonderingManII]

The USA has done a lot of wrong things, and yet I can't think of another country I'd rather live in.

[goaded]

I'd rather live in any country that abides by laws.

[WonderingManII]

@goaded good luck with that! Germany has blood on it's hands too.

[goaded]

Have you read the German constitution? Do you know what my father was doing in the war?

[goaded]

Trump has started a war with no legal backing.

[WonderingManII]

@goaded honestly I don't care. And I don't care if you think I am a bad person for not caring. I got my own problems to attend too. Not one thing can I do can change what Trump or your Dad is doing or has done!

[goaded]

My Dad was modifying Sherman tanks to take on Tigers. Germany has learned a lot since the 1940's, America still breaks international laws.

[WonderingManII]

@goaded I seriously doubt that about Germany. But then again, I don't care.

[darkcloud1945]

Both sides did some hideous things during the war, some we know about, some we will never know about, and some may still come to light in the future. No one is innocent

[Cidknee]

Heh, let me know when they start shoving people into ovens.

[goaded]

You don't find out about that for years.

[Ad_Quid_Orator]

Ironically during WW2, when the allies sunk Nazi U-boats they didn't take survivors.

[goaded]

They did, for the first three years of the war, until the Americans got involved and intentionally bombed a submarine carrying survivors to safety. That's when they stopped.

[888theGreat]

Yes they did and India was upset

[Sal_Monella]

Nothing better to do today?

[exitseven]

war is hell

[goaded]

Americans seem to be intent on ensuring that. They're the reason the Nazis stopped rescuing survivors, they're the ones killing people clinging to wreckage, they're the ones torpedoing unarmed vessels and leaving the survivors to drown.

[Agape93]

Probably.