U.S. Navy Ships Return Fire on Suspected Pirates

www.news.navy.mil ^ | 3/18/2006 12:18:00 PM | U.S. Naval Forces Central Command

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

ABOARD USS CAPE ST. GEORGE, At sea (NNS) -- USS Cape St. George (CG 71) and USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) returned fire on a group of suspected pirates in the Indian Ocean, killing one and wounding five, approximately 25 nautical miles off the central eastern coast of Somalia in international waters at 5:40 a.m. local time, March 18.

Cape St. George, a guided-missile cruiser, and Gonzalez, a guided-missile destroyer, were conducting maritime security operations in the area as part of Combined Task Force 150, a maritime coalition task force currently led by Royal Netherlands Navy Commodore Hank Ort, when they spotted a suspect vessel towing two smaller skiffs heading west toward the coast. As Gonzalez’s boarding teams prepared to conduct a routine boarding of the suspect vessel, the two Norfolk, Va.-based Navy ships noticed the group of suspected pirates were brandishing what appeared to be rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launchers.

The suspected pirates then opened fire on the Navy ships. Cape St. George and Gonzalez returned fire with small arms in self-defense.

One suspected pirate was killed and a fire ignited aboard the main suspect vessel. Boarding teams from Cape St. George and Gonzalez took twelve other suspects into custody, including the five injured. The Navy boarding teams also confiscated an RPG launcher and automatic weapons. No U.S. Sailors were injured in the engagement.

The Navy ships are providing medical treatment to the wounded suspects, continuing search and rescue efforts for any additional suspects and collecting further evidence from the vessel and skiffs. Royal Netherlands Navy medical personnel, including a medical doctor, are en route to assist from HNLMS Amsterdam.

Coalition forces conduct maritime security operations under international maritime conventions to ensure security and safety in international waters so that all commercial shipping can operate freely while transiting the region.

On March 15, the United Nations Security Council encouraged naval forces operating off the coast of Somalia to be vigilant and take action against piracy. Pirate attacks against aid ships have hindered UN efforts to provide relief to the victims of a severe drought in the area.

For more news from around the fleet, visit www.navy.mil.

[vrwc0915]

Or R2D2 with a hardon :)

[RouxStir]

"Unless Jimah Carter was president"

If Jimah was president, the pirates would have captured the US ships without a shot being fired.

[demlosers]

A crusier and a destroyer tool up to a 30' fishing boat and the crew of the fishing boat decide to open fire? What were they? High?

If they were high, then they were chewing this stuff:

Qat...

[JSteff]

"I suspect the only shooten' irons on board that can be optically aimed are a couple of rifles and the cook's paintball gun..."

Uh... no. Jimmy and Bill are out of office. You are right on the rifles but there are 50 calibers on many of our ships now.

However... I read somewhere the newer DDG's were designed without the Phalanx systems. The navy web sites don't list them either. I understand though that many are going to be retrofitted with them or an upgraded "replacement".

Seems like the designers all have that "missile" think that led to the original Phantoms without cannons. Stupid.

[jonascord]

The F-4 Phantom was another of MacNamara's gifts to modern warfare. It was a "one size fits all" solution to an expanding defence budget, super-sonic for air superiority, for the Air Force, carrier qualified for the Navy, and ground attack truck for the Marines. like the M-16, the M-60 tank, and the M-113 Rolling Ronson. In other words, not good at any one thing, and piss-poor at all of them.

You will notice that older, more powerful weapons systems are being brought back from the bone yard when the "gee-whiz" systems fail in this new kind of war. I offer as evidence the "new" .45 pistol, the A-10 Hog, and the "new" larger caliber rifle in the works.

[prairiebreeze]

great pix at #60

ping article and interesting thread

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Pretty much the result I expected LOL!!

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Here's a keyboard recovered from the wreckage:

[guinnessman]

Did anybody stop to consider that these "pirates" were actually members of Al Qaeda?

In Richard Minitor's book, Shadow War, he writes about the war against Al Qaeda's navy at sea

When I think of pirates, I think of people trying to board ships in order to pillage them. It looks like these idiots just wanted to blow the ship up.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Oh yes, the Navy has interdicted al-Qaeda drug runners and terrorists at sea before. These meatheads seemed more interested in getting close enough to knock off a few sailors than anything else.

A lot of people are asking why they weren't just blown up on their boats, no survivors, and we're done. I think the Navy is going to have a nice long talk with these boys about who they work for, what they're doing there, and what their future plans are.

[joebuck]

"What where they thinking?"

Perhaps a diversion? Every amature magician (and military commander) knows to keep the audience looking at the left hand while the right hand palms the card.

[Unicorn]

Who says they can think!!!!!!!

[doorgunner69]

I sort of wondered about that same thing. How much damage could a few RPGs do to a destroyer. I am sure they could not sink it but I recall on the History Channel they said the metal on these ships is really thin. Not really armored at all.

RPG would punch through very well. All modern DDG and CG class use aluminum superstuructures to reduce above the waterline weight. Have to, with all the electronics they are loaded with. Only some of the critical areas get any armor.

[OESY]

Actually, I don't. I know where it is having been there. But I do indeed want to thank you for lending assistance to those unfamiliar with the direction north.

On the other hand, if you don't think U.A.E. is north of Somalia, I have a tip for you.

Tip: You're holding your map (or PC) sideways or possibly upside down.

[El Gato]

What sort of light armament do US Navy ships carry?

Depends on your definition of light, but all carry rifles, often M-14s, most carry .50 M-2, these carry the Mk-38/Bushmaster 25 mm cannon. I don't think we could cal the 5" gun a "small arm", but the old dudes off the Iowa class BBs probaby would. :) They are also armed with torpedoes, as well as their primary armament, the guided missiles.

[El Gato]

Don't they have even a single 5-inch on the deck?

That's exactly what they have, as can be seen in the picture of post 29 above.