Posted on 04/10/2009 5:10:07 PM PDT by kellynla
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Navy is moving a huge amphibious ship closer to the scene of the pirate hostage standoff off Somalia.
Defense officials say the USS Boxer will be nearby soon. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss sensitive ship movements.
The Boxer is the flag ship for a multination anti-piracy task force. The Boxer resembles a small aircraft carrier. It has a crew of more than 1,000, a mobile hospital, missile launchers and about two dozen helicopters and attack planes.
Two other Navy ships are expected to remain much closer to the pirate-held lifeboat. The USS Bainbridge is in sight of the lifeboat; the USS Halyburton is nearby. The Bainbridge uses drones to keep watch on the lifeboat. The Halyburton has helicopters.
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Please tell me that ship wasn’t named after the senator from CA.
Look for a stealth night time attack by a detachment of Navy Seals. They are masters at that sort of interdiction.
This is getting silly. How many US Naval ships does it take to take care of a few somalis in a dingy?
Good grief, I hope so. We look ridiculous with all of that firepower against 4 rag tag filthy savaged in a life boat. I heard on Bret Baier that the commander of Bainbridge has to take his orders from the FBI.
I’m not a military expert but that sounds insane to me.
Has Present O said anything about this yet?
These big amphibious assault ships are the perfect system to use against the pirate enclaves.
They bring devastating firepower and plenty of expertise.
Rofl! I thought the same thing!!!!
That's got to drive the Commie DemocRATS insane! LOL! Although it's spelled differently, they probably still think that it's a "religious right" plot.
Excellant, the pirates can be brought up on the rear ramp and brought into the rear compartment.
They were not authorized to publicly discuss sensitive ship movements, but they did it anyway. OK.
“Defense officials say the USS Boxer will be nearby soon. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss sensitive ship movements.”
wasn’t there just a sailor sentenced to 10 yrs for doing this same exact thing.
It sounds pretty dam silly to me
He is busy with his hi carbon footpring pizza party. For BO, pizza gets delievered from 800 mi away.
This is good, but why can’t our ships be used to PREVENT these incidents in the first place?
Why are we only allowed to REACT? And even then, with our current euro-trash president, I wonder if we’ll even be allowed to do that.
Out of respect for the sailors on this ship, I won’t say what my first thought was regarding their probable rules of engagement.
Wow. You know? She does!
Is Whoraldo there trying to draw maps in the ocean with a stick
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