Posted on 06/08/2005 3:56:01 PM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity
INDIAN OCEAN (NNS) -- U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Gonzalez (DDG 66), currently operating as part of Task Force 51 in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility, helped ward off an attack on motor vessel Tigris June 6 in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Somalia.
The guided-missile destroyer received word of the attack via a bridge-to-bridge radio report from Tigris. The crew of the motor vessel, who escaped uninjured, reported they were under attack and being fired upon.
“The master [of Tigris] sounded extremely scared and provided Gonzalez his position and requested immediate assistance,” said Cmdr. Jeffrey Griffin, Gonzalez’s commanding officer.
Gonzalez, currently conducting maritime security operations (MSO) in the area, responded immediately and began moving toward Tigris at best speed in order to render assistance.
To let the attackers know of their presence, the crew of Gonzalez fired .50 caliber machine guns, energized their searchlights, and fired flares in the direction of the attack in order to illuminate the area.
“I believe that Gonzalez’s very overt approach was likely observed by pirates, who then broke off contact on M/V Tigris,” said Griffin. “M/V Tigris appears fortunate to have had a coalition warship in the vicinity when the attack occurred or she could have become a victim.”
Gonzalez continued with its MSO mission while concurrently monitoring Tigris’ passage. MSO sets the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment and complements the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. MSO denies international terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.
“The master [of Tigris] repeatedly thanked Gonzalez over bridge-to-bridge for her assistance,” said Griffin.
Gonzalez deployed from Norfolk, Va., March 25, as part of the USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) Expeditionary Strike Group, with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), based in Camp Lejeune, N.C., and is currently assigned to Commander, Task Force 51 operating in the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command area of responsibility.
For related news, visit the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cusnc/.
"Why did they let the attackers go? Weird."
Don't let the attackers get away. Fire for
effect until Jolly Roger and his crew
are part of the ecosystem.
A DDG is capable of making about 34 or 36 knots. A go fast V bottom off shore speed boat is capable of 70 to 110 knots.
Go Navy!
Yep. And who knows? Maybe they have people in custody but aren't reporting it while they're being interrogated.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again.
You don't get into a donkey-kicking contest with the guy who wears the biggest pair of cowboy boots on the planet...
They might have engaged the bad guys with their 5" if they got good targeting information. Of course, if the bad guys were close enough to the good guys that might have been a sort of anus-puckering experience for them... There's this thing called CEP, or "circular error probable" IIRC...
Nice... Good on ya, guys!
Because their primary concern was the protection of the M/V, not chasing after a lone attacker. If she had done that (gone chasing after a pirate that was in all likelyhood tinier and faster than her), she would have left the M/V vulnerable to an attack from another quarter. Not a good thing.
They might have engaged the bad guys with their 5"
They don't have 5" anymore. It's 3" with a range of 25 miles.
Damn I'm old...
Paul Harvey had this story and said the Tigris, being a steel hull, ran over and knifed the pirate vessel----still watching for more detail.
I can see that. I hope the Gonzalez lit them up real good with the .50 cals.
Right on!
It is not inconceivable that the pirates are currently fish food and their vessel is in pieces at the bottom of the Indian Ocean.
The navy has a way about these things. Secure the smoking sponson and nobody sees anything. A few chiefs and officers report that the ship hightailed it out of there after they fired "warning" shots. Who would ever know?
Bump
God Bless the USS Gonzalez and all HER Sailors!
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