the Gonzalez
Posted on 03/18/2006 11:21:12 AM PST by 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.
out of curiosity: would the Congress be willing to issue a Letter of Marque to a private shipowner, with the express license to hunt down and slaughter pirates?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but does a Phalanx have optical sights? I suspect the only shooten' irons on board that can be optically aimed are a couple of rifles and the cook's paintball gun...
Virgins.
the Gonzalez
Suicide by Navy?
The muzzies have no sense of comedy at all and think these shows were documentarys..
Maybe the U.S. ships were cloaked.
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Arrggg...she would be a fine looking vessel under the skull and cross bones. Avast! Rally around and take her for ye lord and master, Blackbeard!
On second thought, what idiots would attack a missle cruiser and destroyer? Arggg! Pirate idiots would!
Cut these guys some slack. No risk, no reward. [hoot]
Having spent time on a Tico (CG-49), I think this is most definitely "Suicide by Navy".
A few less scumbags the world won't miss, that's for sure.
Could anyone tell me whether Navy ships still have a telescopic gun director?
I think this engagement is a direct result of the MSM.
They continuously show how the Military is broken, worn out, damaged, etc. These folks, emboldened by how poor the US Military is, figure with some guns and an RPG, they can take a destroyer.
Of course, the professionalism, the competance and the bravery of our military force is not reflected in our media. It must be a suprise to these uneducted thugs how quickly they are subdued once our forces engage them.
Definately, don't bring an AK47 to a 5" gun fight.
Since this was off the coast of Somalia it can be safely assumed that the pirates were Somali, and thus they were probably as high as kites of 'miraa' (I believe it is also called Khat). Miraa is a mild stimulant, but it does cause some euphoric effects. Effects that may make someone feel like they can take on an destroyer with an RPG. The pirates were probably stoked like hot coals when they 'attacked' the navy ship.
sounds like it, wonder what they were thinking... :)
What sort of light armament do US Navy ships carry?
Last year two of these boats lost a fight with two small sailboats about their own size. They were shot up, rammed, cut in half, and left with no survivors.
Terminally stupid.
So9
A Ticonderoga like Cape St. George has two 5" guns, one forward and one aft. The Gonzalez is an Arleigh Burke class, with one 5" gun.
However, that would have been overkill. One hit from those on that tub, there probably wouldn't have been anybody left to capture.
.."dingbat,yer critter, now look whacha gone and done"
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