Filipino Monkey
Encyclopedia
"Filipino Monkey" is a taunt used by radio pranksters in maritime radio transmissions since at least the 1980s, especially in the Persian Gulf
. This taunt is also used as a name for pranksters who make odd, confusing, or even threatening calls on VHF marine channel 16
, which is the VHF calling and distress
channel. Prior to the advent of GMDSS all ships at sea were required to monitor the channel, which is meant to be used only to make contact before changing to a working channel.
An account of U.S. operations during Operation Earnest Will
in the Persian Gulf in 1988 contains this description of a typical nighttime broadcasts:
Some report that the phrase originated as an insult to Philippine seaman watchkeepers monitoring the VHF distress channel.
reported that the day before a number of Iranian IRGC Navy speedboats
had harassed and threatened US warships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz
, a narrow passageway between the Persian Gulf
and the Gulf of Oman
. In a video clip released by the administration, a crew member on a warship issues this radio message:
This is followed by footage of smaller speedboats traveling at high speed around US warships. The crew member is heard on the radio warning five unidentified craft that they are approaching coalition warships and asking them to identify themselves and report their intentions. Later, the crew member is heard warning the crafts to stay away. Then a heavily accented voice is heard replying:
The incident occurred three days before President Bush was due to travel to Israel
and Arab states of the Persian Gulf
for talks on the Israeli-Palestinian relations, US arms sales to the Persian Gulf Arab states, and US's claim that Iran was a dangerous nation with intentions of producing nuclear weapons (see Nuclear program of Iran
). The White House said the incident was an example of irresponsible, provocative, and aggressive behavior by the Iranian government, with President Bush warning that "all options are on the table to secure" US military assets
Iranian government played down the incident as nothing but a routine encounter occurring between naval vessels for the purpose of identifying each other and later released its own video clip of the incident, recorded on one of the Iranian speedboats. This clip begins with moving images of a number of warships and an Iranian voice is heard, in Persian
, attempting to read the side number of one of the warships ("73"). Later an Iranian IRGC naval personnel is shown speaking into a radio transmitter, at some distance from a number of warships.
An American voice is heard replying:
After a repeat of the conversation the Iranian personnel is heard asking the coalition warship to switch to channel 11 with the American voice replying that they were shifting to channel 11. The Iranians are heard shifting to channel 11 and continuing their conversation with the warship personnel. The clip ends, showing no confrontation or threatening language used by either side.
Having compared the two clips and the voices heard on the radio, a number of news correspondents reported that the threatening voice heard in the American clip is very much unlike that of the Iranian naval personnel shown in the Iranian clip and that it was likely that the threatening voice heard on the US clip may, in fact, be that of a prankster given the nickname 'Filipino Monkey'. As the phenomenon of the 'Filipino Monkey' was well known in naval circles, some began to suspect that the whole incident was exaggerated by the US administration in support of their political aims for isolating Iran from its Arab
neighbours prior to the impending visit by President Bush of the region.
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
. This taunt is also used as a name for pranksters who make odd, confusing, or even threatening calls on VHF marine channel 16
Channel 16 VHF
Channel 16 VHF is a radio frequency on the marine VHF radio band. It is used for shipping and maritime purposes, to call up ships and shore stations, and as an international distress frequency. After an initial response the call is to be switched to one of the working channels, except in case of...
, which is the VHF calling and distress
Distress signal
A distress signal is an internationally recognized means for obtaining help. Distress signals take the form of or are commonly made by using radio signals, displaying a visually detected item or illumination, or making an audible sound, from a distance....
channel. Prior to the advent of GMDSS all ships at sea were required to monitor the channel, which is meant to be used only to make contact before changing to a working channel.
An account of U.S. operations during Operation Earnest Will
Operation Earnest Will
Operation Earnest Will was the U.S. military protection of Kuwaiti owned tankers from Iranian attacks in 1987 and 1988, three years into the Tanker War phase of the Iran–Iraq War. It was the largest naval convoy operation since World War II.The U.S. Navy warships that escorted the tankers, part of...
in the Persian Gulf in 1988 contains this description of a typical nighttime broadcasts:
"From time to time, the radio squawked, breaking the quiet with a burst of static. Most of the messages were fully routine, the expected traffic in a crowded sea. But every so often a high manic voice would break from the speaker: 'Hee hee hee! Filipino Monkey!' No one knew who the caller was, or what he meant by his strange message."
Some report that the phrase originated as an insult to Philippine seaman watchkeepers monitoring the VHF distress channel.
Iran-US naval incident of January 2008
On January 7, 2008, the government of the United States of AmericaUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
reported that the day before a number of Iranian IRGC Navy speedboats
Motorboat
A motorboat is a boat which is powered by an engine. Some motorboats are fitted with inboard engines, others have an outboard motor installed on the rear, containing the internal combustion engine, the gearbox and the propeller in one portable unit.An inboard/outboard contains a hybrid of a...
had harassed and threatened US warships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz
Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow, strategically important waterway between the Gulf of Oman in the southeast and the Persian Gulf. On the north coast is Iran and on the south coast is the United Arab Emirates and Musandam, an exclave of Oman....
, a narrow passageway between the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
and the Gulf of Oman
Gulf of Oman
The Gulf of Oman or Sea of Oman is a strait that connects the Arabian Sea with the Strait of Hormuz, which then runs to the Persian Gulf. It is generally included as a branch of the Persian Gulf, not as an arm of the Arabian Sea. On the north coast is Pakistan and Iran...
. In a video clip released by the administration, a crew member on a warship issues this radio message:
"This is coalition warship. I am engaged in transit passage in accordance with international law. I maintain no harm. Over!"
This is followed by footage of smaller speedboats traveling at high speed around US warships. The crew member is heard on the radio warning five unidentified craft that they are approaching coalition warships and asking them to identify themselves and report their intentions. Later, the crew member is heard warning the crafts to stay away. Then a heavily accented voice is heard replying:
"I am coming to you... You will explode after few minutes."
The incident occurred three days before President Bush was due to travel to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and Arab states of the Persian Gulf
Arab states of the Persian Gulf
"Arab states of the Persian Gulf" or "Arab Persian Gulf states" or "Persian Gulf Arab states" or "Arabic Persian Gulf states" or "Arab States of The Gulf", are terms that refer to the six Arab states of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman, bordering the Persian Gulf....
for talks on the Israeli-Palestinian relations, US arms sales to the Persian Gulf Arab states, and US's claim that Iran was a dangerous nation with intentions of producing nuclear weapons (see Nuclear program of Iran
Nuclear program of Iran
The nuclear program of Iran was launched in the 1950s with the help of the United States as part of the Atoms for Peace program. The support, encouragement and participation of the United States and Western European governments in Iran's nuclear program continued until the 1979 Iranian Revolution...
). The White House said the incident was an example of irresponsible, provocative, and aggressive behavior by the Iranian government, with President Bush warning that "all options are on the table to secure" US military assets
Iranian government played down the incident as nothing but a routine encounter occurring between naval vessels for the purpose of identifying each other and later released its own video clip of the incident, recorded on one of the Iranian speedboats. This clip begins with moving images of a number of warships and an Iranian voice is heard, in Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
, attempting to read the side number of one of the warships ("73"). Later an Iranian IRGC naval personnel is shown speaking into a radio transmitter, at some distance from a number of warships.
"Navy warship 73; This is Iranian navy patrol boat on channel 16. Come in! Over!"
An American voice is heard replying:
"This is coalition warship 7 3. Roger! Over!"
After a repeat of the conversation the Iranian personnel is heard asking the coalition warship to switch to channel 11 with the American voice replying that they were shifting to channel 11. The Iranians are heard shifting to channel 11 and continuing their conversation with the warship personnel. The clip ends, showing no confrontation or threatening language used by either side.
Having compared the two clips and the voices heard on the radio, a number of news correspondents reported that the threatening voice heard in the American clip is very much unlike that of the Iranian naval personnel shown in the Iranian clip and that it was likely that the threatening voice heard on the US clip may, in fact, be that of a prankster given the nickname 'Filipino Monkey'. As the phenomenon of the 'Filipino Monkey' was well known in naval circles, some began to suspect that the whole incident was exaggerated by the US administration in support of their political aims for isolating Iran from its Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
neighbours prior to the impending visit by President Bush of the region.