NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011
CONFIDENTIAL
- a. Military craft release bombs, launch missiles, or five guns, rockets, torpedoes, or other weapons at any waterborne, air, or ground target other than recognized weapons ranges, and
- b. Overt and covert actions by naval or air forces that placs in jeopardy craft, installations, or personnel of the United States.
As to the "right of pursuit" incident to repelling a hostile act, instructions provide that craft or subversive units of a State committing hostile acts which are sporadic, isolated or small scale in nature should be counterattacked immediately by authorized means available to the extent necessary to effect control of the situation or the hostile craft. This includes pursuit as feasible and necessary to ensure the safety of United States forces or territory, Instructions also provide that United States forces shall not conduct prolonged pursuit deep into hostile areas or neutral territory, nor shall they deliberately and systematically organize and dispatch a pursuit force to effect reprisal. As is readily apparent, there exists a clear distinction between this concept and the concept discussion in paragraph 2.
4. In view or the above and in order to minimize confusion, the term "hot pursuit" should be reserved to express the precise circumstances as visualized under its recognized meaning in international law. The term "defensive pursuit" should be used in connection with the right of pursuit under the doctrine of self-preservation.
