Norfolk-based ship fired upon, captures six pirates ( USS ASHLAND LSD 48)

Virginian Pilot ^ | April 10, 2010 | David Putney

[csvset]

A Norfolk-based dock landing ship has captured six pirates after being fired upon in the Gulf of Aden, the Navy announced today.

It is the fourth confrontation by the Navy with pirates in the past two weeks and the second time in that span that pirates have opened fire on a U.S. Navy vessel. The Navy said 21 suspected pirates are now in U.S. custody from those incidents.

Suspected pirates fired at the port side of the Ashland about 380 miles off the coast of Djibouti, the Navy said. The Navy ship returned fire with its 25mm gun, catching the skiff on fire, the Navy said. The crew abandoned the vessel, and the Navy rescued the men from the water.

They are being held on the Ashland. No one on the Ashland, based at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, was injured, and no apparent damage was done.

Earlier this month, the destroyer Nicholas was fired upon by pirates, five of whom were captured. In a separate incident, the destroyer McFaul intervened in a suspected pirate attack, detaining 10.

Last week, the destroyer Farragut was called to the scene of a Sierra Leone-flagged tanker after the ship came under attack by three pirate skiffs. One of the skiffs was sunk, and 11 men were allowed to leave.

For more details, return to PilotOnline.com later and read tomorrow's Virginian-Pilot.

[George Varnum]

Aarrgh indeed!

Engaging a U.S. Naval vessel with an outboard motor boat and rusty AK-47s?

Methinks somebody’s been chewing a wee bit too much ch’at out there, Maties!

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Why pick them up?

I'd just cruise by and hand these out:

[FrankR]

"Aircraft carriers aside, a Dock Landing Ship is a pretty big target to be going after. "

Reminds me of the old metaphor, "A flea crawling up an elephant's leg with rape on it's mind."

[csvset]

Here's a link to a 11+ minute video regarding the pirate trials in Kenya and the challenges of going that route.

Kenya: pirates on trial

For the record, I say both trial and catch and release are the wrong tactic.

Try them if you will , but for piracy, the sentence should be death. Especially if they are stupid enough to attack a warship. Blow them out of the water and let the sharks clean up the mess.

[Levante]

That’s what happens when Western nations have homosexual pussies for “leaders.”

[Reaganesque]

Here's video of a 25mm deck gun sinking a boat. I would hate to be on the receiving end. Yikes.

[arthurus]

It is what he does at THAT point that is of real concern.

So they can read them their Miranda Rights.

[atruelady]

Information, or interrogation...hopefully our Navy doesn’t give a rats tail about “rules”.

[atruelady]

Or tender vittles for the sharks.

[atruelady]

I bet they could run for President!