Iran Used a Old $1,500 Mine Designed in 1908 to Do $90 Million in Damage to a US Navy Warship and Nearly Sank Her

Iran Used a Old $1,500 Mine Designed in 1908 to Do $90 Million in Damage to a US Navy Warship and Nearly Sank Her

Cmdr. Paul Rinn's frigate was escorting reflagged Kuwaiti tankers when a lookout spotted mines in the water, and Rinn began backing out of the minefield. The blast broke her keel, flooded the engine room, knocked both gas turbines off their mounts, and disabled the halon fire-suppression system. Fireman Mike Tilley started a diesel generator by hand so crews could fight the fires, which were out five hours later. According to the Naval War Colle…