A Close Encounter with a Chinese Aircraft Carrier Has Become a Badge of Honor for a US Navy Destroye

[Sherman A1]

A close encounter with a Chinese aircraft carrier has become a point of pride for the crew of a U.S. Navy destroyer, a top U.S. admiral said.

In April, the USS Mustin sailed within visual range of the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning and then let the world know about it.

The operation was a testament to the "boldness" and skill of U.S. sailors, Vice Adm. Roy Kitchener said at the Surface Navy Association's national symposium. And those sailors have reveled in the condemnation it drew from China, added Kitchener, who serves as the commander of U.S. Navy surface forces and of surface forces in the Pacific.

The Mustin was assigned "to mark" the Liaoning as the carrier and its escorts conducted exercises in the South China Sea, Kitchener said, "so they went out there, and they approached the group, and the Chinese" cruiser and destroyer escorts "in the screen came out to meet them."

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/01/15/close-encounter-chinese-aircraft-carrier-has-become-badge-of-honor-us-navy-destroyer-crew.html

[paleotn]

1. All the while......

a Virginia class or perhaps a Seawolf class attack boat was doing an interesting intel mission on the Chinese carrier? Who knows? Penetrating a carrier's screening bubble is rather provocative. We're usually not that provocative without good reason.

[stopdiggin]

2. can't say as I really grok this

the idea that there was an 'intel' objective somewhere at play is interesting - I'll leave that to the more discerning. But I do know that this really pisses off our own uniforms when they're on the receiving end of intentional encroachment.

[paleotn]

3. It is a bit weird.