UNCLASSIFIED

M/T FRONT ALTAIR, M/T KOKUKA COURAGEOUS ATTACK AND CREW RECOVERY

IRIN HENDIJAN PGG

IRAN
M/T FRONT ALTAIR

Multiple Fast Inshore
Attack Craft,
1x HENDIJAN PGG

JASK

M/T KOKUKA COURAGEOUS

M/T FRONT ALTAIR
Large hole

USS BAINBRIDGE
M/T KOKUKA COURAGEOUS

USS BAINBRIDGE
HELO

USS BAINBRIDGE
AND COASTAL ACE

HENDIJAN PGG

USS BAINBRIDGE HELO between HENDIJAN
PGG and M/T KOKUKA COURAGEOUS

UNCLASSIFIED

Timeline: 13 June 2019
0312Z: USS MASON receives bridge-to-bridge call from
M/T FRONT ALTAIR reporting they were attacked in the
Gulf of Oman (GOO).
0320Z: Large fire observed onboard M/T FRONT ALTAIR.
0320Z: USS BAINBRIDGE, 40 NM from M/V FRONT
ALTAIR, closes to render aid.
0400Z: M/T KOKUKA COURAGEOUS reports being hit by
an external projectile, taking on water, and a fire in engine
room.
0400Z: M/T FRONT ALTAIR and M/T KOKUKA
COURAGEOUS are approx 10 NM apart.
0509Z: Iranian HENDIJAN PGG and multiple fast inshore
attack craft observed within the area.
0515Z: M/T FRONT ALTAIR confirms major fire amidships.
0535Z: HENDIJAN PGG, 8 NM southeast of BAINBRIDGE,
closes to intercept BAINBRIDGE.
0612Z: Iranian fast inshore attack craft crew pull M/T
FRONT ALTAIR unoccupied life raft from water.
0626Z: Unidentified Iranian patrol boat requests M/V
HYUNDAI DUBAI turn over crew rescued from M/T FRONT
ALTAIR. M/V HYUNDAI DUBAI complies.
0629Z: HENDIJAN PGG transits east, closing M/T
KOKUKA COURAGEOUS.
0805Z: BAINBRIDGE approaches Dutch tug COASTAL
ACE, which had rescued the crew of M/T KOKUKA
COURAGEOUS.
0805Z: HENDIJAN PGG attempts to reach COASTAL ACE
before BAINBRIDGE.
0810Z: BAINBRIDGE reaches COASTAL ACE and the M/T
KOKUKA COURAGEOUS master requests BAINBRIDGE
take his crew onboard.
0832Z: Crew safely aboard BAINBRIDGE.

Attack on M/T FRONT ALTAIR in international waters 19NM
south of Iran.
Attack on M/T KOKUKA COURAGEOUS in international waters
21NM south of Iran.

 UNCLASSIFIED

M/T KOKUKA COURAGEOUS: USS BAINBRIDGE APPROACH / IRGCN EXPLOSIVE DEVICE REMOVAL
4

6

1 0830Z: As BAINBRIDGE turns north,
HENDIJAN PGG attempted to block
BAINBRIDGE from gaining an inside track to
M/T KOKUKA COURAGEOUS.

Prob Explosive Device

5

Timeline: 13 June 2019
0830Z: BAINBRIDGE begins approach of
M/T KOKUKA COURAGEOUS-approx 5.2NM
North of BAINBRIDGE.

1

GASHTI WPB
GASHTI WPB

2 0915Z: BAINBRIDGE closes to within
1.8NM.
2 HENDIJAN and Iranian fast inshore attack
craft arrive on scene.

KUCH WPB

5

3

0920Z – 1415Z: BAINBRIDGE maintains
constant observation of the Iranian vessels
near M/T KOKUKA COURAGEOUS.

Site of Removed Prob
Explosive Device

BAINBRIDGE

2

2

GASHTI WPB

6

3
HENDIJAN

5

1

U/I TUG

1

Fast Inshore
Attack Craft
GASHTI WPB
UNCLASSIFIED

4 M/T KOKUKA COURAGEOUS has a large
hole above the waterline on the starboard
side (see image on previous slide) and a
probable explosive device attached above
the waterline amidships.

BAI remained 7nm from the Iran TTW line, and 19nm south of Jask

1310Z: Crew onboard a GASHTI WPB
were observed removing the device attached
amidships.

6 The GASHTI that removed the device
conducted an at sea rendezvous with a U/I
tug. No transfer of material was observed.