BLAST SLAMS NAVY SHIP — TERRORISM SUSPECTED — 17 LOST

The explosion that killed at least six sailors and severely damaged the destroyer Cole yesterday in Yemen proved that even the most advanced warships — bristling with high-tech radars, missiles and guns — can’t always defend themselves against a possible terrorist attack.

Terrorism and military experts say the attackers found a vulnerable moment to strike.

The warship was preparing to refuel in a windy harbor, its crew occupied with a difficult docking maneuver and its radars and weapons turned off.

Without any known threats requiring increased security, the crew of the Cole had little reason to be on high alert during a planned five-hour fuel stop in Aden, Yemen.

But after the explosion yesterday, in the Mideast and at naval bases throughout the United States, sailors quickly jumped to heightened security.

Locally, awareness and security have been boosted, although Navy officials won’t reveal what additional measures have been taken.

In the Persian Gulf, where seven San Diego-based ships are deployed, all Navy ships steamed to safety at sea in response to the attack.

“We are taking the appropriate steps to ensure the security of our forces throughout the region,” said Lt. Sean Banks, a San Diego Navy spokesman.

But even the most vigilant military force can’t defend against all terrorist acts, said Ivan Eland, a terrorism expert at the Washington-based Cato Institute.

“No matter what you do, they’ll find a weakness,” he said. “Terrorists have the upper hand. They are more agile and they are on the offensive, so they can chose the weak spot.”

The Cole’s Achilles heel was a refueling stop at a port in a country wracked by unrest and instability.

Aden, near the tip of the Saudi peninsula, is at the trade crossroads between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.

The Navy has used the port to refuel at least six warships during the past year, a move tied equally between the ships’ need for fuel and U.S. efforts to build better diplomatic ties with the country, sources said.

Apparently, the bombers used the routine handling of mooring lines to get close enough to the Cole to move alongside either unnoticed or too quickly for crew members to react.

However, the terrorists might not have targeted the Cole specifically.

Instead, they may have just planned to strike the next U.S. warship that stopped at the port.

“Because of our global reach, we’re a big target overseas,” Cato’s Eland said.