Both air contacts appear to be keeping their distance from the convoy.

 

Ladnyy is in position at .5 nm from the last merchant.

turn_1154_blue.txt

turn_1154_blue_intl.txt

Looks like perhaps the F-4E was gunning for the Hormone B.

 

I can't think of another good reason to hold up at distance, except to try and bag the helo.

 

Another possibility is that they are waiting for an opportunity to attack en masse - together with any surface launched antiship missiles - in which case one could reasonably expect more F-4E contacts to show up.

Seems likely. I don't think we can get close enough to them to attack them if they don't want us to. So just continue with the overall movement of the convoy, keeping the radars active?

Seems likely. I don't think we can get close enough to them to attack them if they don't want us to. So just continue with the overall movement of the convoy, keeping the radars active?

 

Yep, I concur.

So, convoy orders are all radars on and to maintain 16 kts at 290T until 12 nm from Saudi coast?

The merchants are keeping their radars off, but yes, that's right.