U.S. warships capture pirates off Somali coast

MSN/CBC News ^ | 3/18/06 | Staff

[txroadkill]

Two U.S. navy warships attacked and captured a group of Somali pirates Saturday, leaving one suspect dead and five wounded.

Twelve suspects were taken into custody after the early-morning shootout, said U.S. navy spokesman Lt.-Cmdr. Charlie Brown.

No U.S. sailors were wounded in the battle, which occurred early in the morning off the Somali coast in international waters.

Brown said the battle started when two U.S. guided-missile ships spotted a nine-metre fishing boat towing smaller skiffs.

Sailors from the USS Cape St. George and USS Gonzalez were preparing to board the fishing boat when they saw the suspected pirates holding what appeared to be rocket-propelled grenade launchers. When the suspects began shooting, naval gunners returned fire with mounted machine guns.

The International Maritime Organization has warned ships to stay away from the Somali coast after pirates attacked 35 ships last year, making it the most dangerous marine location in the world for piracy.

The pirates generally use speedboats to steal merchandise, sometimes holding the ship and its crew at gunpoint and then demand ransoms before they are released.

Last year, a group of heavily armed pirates attacked a luxury cruise ship. They left when the crew scared them off with an ear-splitting acoustic device, a non-lethal but highly effective weapon.

[txroadkill]

Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a pirate's life for me - We pillage, we plunder we rifle and loot

Drink up me hearties, yo ho We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot

Drink up me hearties, yo ho

Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a pirate's life for me We extort, we pilfer we filch and sack 

Drink up me hearties, yo ho Maraud and embezzle and even high-jack 

Drink up me hearties yo ho

Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a pirate's life for me We kindle and char inflame and ignite 

Drink up me hearties, yo ho We burn up the city we're really a fright

Drink up me hearties, yo ho We're rascals, scoundrels villains, and knaves 

Drink up me hearties yo ho We're devils and black sheep - really bad eggs

Drink up me hearties yo ho

Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a pirate's life for me We're beggars and blighters and ne'er do-well cads

Drink up me hearties, yo ho Aye, but we're loved by our mommies and dads

Drink up me hearties, yo ho

Plumes of smoke rise from a suspected pirate vessel after an exchange of gunfire with U.S. Navy warships on Saturday. (AP Photo/U.S. Navy, Daniel Sanford)

 

[nhoward14]

"Twelve suspects were taken into custody after the early-morning shootout, said U.S. navy spokesman Lt.-Cmdr. Charlie Brown."

LtCmdr Brown also had the following comments:

"It's hopeless for pirates to attack us."

"It was like we just yanked the football out from right in front of them."

"We couldn't have done it without our flying aces."

"I never thought they were really bad pirates. They just need a little love."

[dr_who_2]

Perfect delivery.

[LeoWindhorse]

I hope they made them all walk the plank .
There should be zero mercy for these creeps.

[bybybill]

Please, don`t let these fools breed. The Navy only has so many bullets

[VOA]

The US Navy: still routing pirates.
And yes, most likely they are still Islamics.
You'd these thugs of the sea would learn something after 200 years.

[jocon307]

Nice tune and graphic, very nice!

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Navy Exchanges Fire With Suspected Pirates

[Dallas59]

AAARRRRRGGG!

[ASA Vet]

And here

[txroadkill]

Please pull. already posted....twice.

[Txsleuth]

LOL...I have to tell you...it is surreal to me...for there to be stories about actual pirates...

I pretty much just thought they were the handsome guys on the front of trashy novels, nowdays!! LOL

[txroadkill]

Here ya go!

[Txsleuth]

LOL....freepers always come through!

[quantim]

I'd prefer that USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) to have taken the pirates out to be recycled, but we don't always get what we want.

[Cobra64]

Please, don`t let these fools breed. The Navy only has so many bullets

Plenty of brass, primers and powder though.

[onedoug]

"Aaarrr...."

[demlosers]

Smok'n and chewing....

Qat.

[mylife]

Ahrrrrr! Ahrrrr!.....

Ahrrr S**T!

[Sic Luceat Lux]

Smok'n and chewing....

And gettin' smoked.