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.

[DmBarch]

Another article says our Navy returned fire with mounted machine guns. I assume they were .50 Cal.

[rottndog]

Redundancy.

[Citizen Tom Paine]

Why didn't they open up with the main battery and sink them? We had two sailors injured for nothing. IMHO

[quikdrw]

Both of those ships have a 5 inch gun that can pump out alot fire. Plus, they both have CIWS. Of course, neither of them are an Iowa class with nine 16 inch guns and a bunch more 5 inch ones.

[OESY]

Shift right, then note Somalia's strategic position in East Africa. Note also that due north
is Dubai (U.A.E.), home of the largest naval port outside the USA. Ask yourself
why any responsible senator would want to risk our relations with this ally?

[Roverman2K]

Suicide Jihad and virgins no doubt

[TyroneSlothrop]

I like CheeseWhiz on my cracker. I like SeaWhiz on my Somali pirate vessel.

[Roverman2K]

Agreed, Kerry would be just like Carter if he got elected, trying to negotiate instead of acting for a year! while the hostages rotted in Iran.
Only thing stopping another 9-11 is the fear of OUR God GW has instilled in our muslim friends.

[Roverman2K]

Probaby used a .50 cal on them, maybe M16, the .50 would have killed them all real quick

[ALPAPilot]

When do we get pic's of them walking the plank?

[NRA2BFree]

Our Navy rocks! God Bless them all! I hope they sunk their boats. I only wish they would have done it with the pirates still on them. :o)

[aomagrat]

One suspected pirate was killed and a fire ignited aboard the main suspect vessel.

How long before the MSM or their democrat buddies demand an investigation on if this was a proper use of force.

[Farmer Dean]

I was thinking more of quad 40 mounts.One of those could take apart a small ship pretty well.Of course if 5 or six mounts were working together on the job--

[TC Rider]

You beat me. That was my first thought.

The bad guys should be glad they didn't open up on them with a deck gun.

[quikdrw]

The quads would have done in these idiots. My ship, the Butte AE-27, up-loaded the Iowa when it was recommissioned.

My brother was a Senior Chief, that was in charged of the CWIS. He gave me a tour of the Iowa during the up-load. They didn't have the quad mounts anymore, but the kept the 5 inch ones.

[rcofdayton]

Where is Uganda?

[mware]

[rabidralph]

Boarding teams from Cape St. George and Gonzalez took twelve other suspects into custody, including the five injured.

Arrrrggghhh! That's me Navy!

[doorgunner69]

Beside the .50 cal, recently mounted for just this type of crap (remember the Iranians playing in the Gulf), they have crew trained with the M14. That is pretty much all of the optically aimed stuff I think, but one of those rapid fire grenade launcers would be really cool for this. And the navy may be well have gone beyond what is generally known about, what with the new lightweight gatling guns.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Burn, baby burn, pirate inferno!

060318-N-8623S-003 Indian Ocean (March 18, 2006) - A suspected pirate vessel ignites in flames before burning to the waterline. USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) and USS Cape St. George (CG 71) were conducting maritime security operations in international waters off the coast of Somalia and attempted to perform a routine boarding of the suspicious vessel towing two skiffs. The suspected pirates opened fire on the U.S. Navy ships and the ships’ crew members returned fire. One suspect was killed and 12 were taken into custody. Coalition forces conduct maritime security operations to ensure security and safety in international waters so legitimate mariners can operate freely while transiting the region. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Journalist Daniel Sanford (RELEASED)

060318-N-8623S-006 Indian Ocean (March 18, 2006) - Evidence of small arms fire impact is visible on USS Cape St. George’s (CG 71) hull after suspected pirates opened fire on USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) and Cape St. George. The ships were conducting maritime security operations in international waters off the coast of Somalia and prepared to board a suspicious vessel towing two skiffs. The suspected pirates opened fire on the U.S. Navy ships and the ships’ crew members returned fire. One suspect was killed and 12 were taken into custody. Coalition forces conduct maritime security operations to ensure security and safety in international waters so legitimate mariners can operate freely while transiting the region. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Journalist Daniel Sanford (RELEASED)

060318-N-8623S-004 Indian Ocean (March 18, 2006) - Rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) and other armaments lay on the deck of USS Cape St. George (CG 71) after being confiscated during an early-morning engagement with suspected pirates. Cape St. George and USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) were fired upon while preparing to board a suspect vessel operating in international waters off the coast of Somalia. One suspect was killed and 12 were taken into custody. Coalition forces conduct maritime security operations to ensure security and safety in international waters so legitimate mariners can operate freely while transiting the region. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Journalist Daniel Sanford (RELEASED)

060318-N-8623S-001 Indian Ocean (March 18, 2006) - Confiscated weapons lay on the deck of guided missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71) following an early-morning engagement with suspected pirates. Cape St. George and USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) were fired upon while preparing to board a suspect vessel operating in international waters off the coast of Somalia. One suspect was killed and 12 were taken into custody. Coalition forces conduct maritime security operations to ensure security and safety in international waters so legitimate mariners can operate freely while transiting the region. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Journalist Daniel Sanford (RELEASED)

060318-N-8623S-002 Indian Ocean (March 18, 2006) - An armed suspected pirate looks over the edge of a skiff, in international waters off the coast of Somalia. USS Cape St. George (CG 71) and USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) prepared to board the suspicious vessel. The vessel’s crew members opened fire on the U.S. Navy ships and the ships’ crew members returned fire. One suspect was killed and 12 were taken into custody. Coalition forces conduct maritime security operations to ensure security and safety in international waters so legitimate mariners can operate freely while transiting the region. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Journalist Daniel Sanford (RELEASED)