U.S. Warship Fires Warning Shots Over Vessel Boarded by Pirates Off Somali Coast

Fox News ^

[Sub-Driver]

U.S. Warship Fires Warning Shots Over Vessel Boarded by Pirates Off Somali Coast

Tuesday , June 05, 2007

The U.S. Navy has fired warning shots across the bow of a Dutch ship that has been boarded by armed pirates off the coast of Somalia, FOX News has learned.

The USS Carter Hall also fired on three small boats that surrounded the commercial ship, the "Danica White," after her crew messaged for assistance after being boarded by pirates, the Navy said.

The incident began Saturday and as of Monday the Dutch ship's crew was still believed to be held at gunpoint by an unknown number of pirates who forced the vessel into Somalia's territorial waters. There have been no reports of casualties.

[Rodney King]

Did you know these merchant ships must sail unarmed though places as dangerous as the Straits of Malacca?

Are you sure? When I was in high school, I was the mail boy for one of the country's largest tugboat companies. They used to hire mercenaries every now and then when delivering a barge to certain locales, so somehow they managed to go armed.

[Thrownatbirth]

Do US Naval vessels still have yardarms?

Yeppers. You'd be suprised how many times we fired a flare from the bridge wing that hit the damn yardarm and went straight into the drink.

We actually used ours as a high-dive platform for swim call.

[Sender]

I saw an interesting history show about pirates on TV. It claimed that very few pirate ships carried large naval cannons, because the last thing the pirates wanted was to actually sink their quarry. Instead, they would pepper the ship with musket and grapeshot, maybe tear up the sails, hoist the black flag and hope that the crew became terrified enough to surrender. Then of course, would come the looting and pillaging. Contrary to the pirates of today, the ships crews usually were not killed, as that was considered bad etiquette even for pirates and besides, they WANTED the crew left alive to tell terrifying tales of their piracy. That way the next ship out of port might surrender even easier. Captured crews were sometimes set adrift in the boats if the pirates wanted the ship itself, or they might just burn and scuttle the ship for entertainment and fame. But make no mistake; pirates would certainly kill you if you didn’t surrender the booty.

[fireforeffect]

Correct.

Letter of Marque and Reprisal = ability to take enemy vessels as prizes during war. Traditionally issued to all naval vessels in time of war. Must specify who the enemy is.

It is the duty of all military vessels to recapture/liberate vessels captured by pirates. If the recapture occurs 24 hours after the capture, the salvage goes to the liberating vessel’s crew. Unless someone in congress changed the rules.

Of course, I could be wrong.

[AngryJawa]

At need, sailors can kluge anything.

IIRC, the sailors aboard a US carrier responding to the Indonesian tsunami kludged inside of 2 hours a container filling manifold off the ships water system that was a work of art.

A yardarm would be childsplay.

[SuziQ]

So, the Barbary Pirates are at it again?

[Teacher317]

pirates would certainly kill you if you didn’t surrender the booty

Although some far more interesting pictures showed up ander a search of that phrase. ;^)

[nathanbedford]

It is my understanding that they are reduced to using fire hoses to repel boarders because most nations will not permit visiting ships to posses arms. I know on private yachts off the coast of Venezuela (the Spanish Main) inventive captains fashion hiding places for their guns.

[SuziQ]

Be sure to get your Letter of Marque notarized by Congress first, or you could be held under the same rules as the pirates.

A letter from the UN would be better. Freedom to go anywhere, anytime.

[Left2Right]

Two words for the French: Use & Less.

[Rodney King]

It is my understanding that they are reduced to using fire hoses to repel boarders because most nations will not permit visiting ships to posses arms. I know on private yachts off the coast of Venezuela (the Spanish Main) inventive captains fashion hiding places for their guns.

Yes, I agree. The problem is when visiting port, not being out at sea. Our venture could manage by planning ahead on where to go to port, etc.

[DreamsofPolycarp]

If anyone has a few million dollars and wants to fund a Clive Cussleresque business with me, we could make a lot of money and have a lot of fun as mercenaries off of Somalia and Indonesia. We could outfit a large vessel with speedboats and a helicopter, etc, and set up contracts in advance with the major shipping companies to resuce their ships when they are attacked by pirates. We could also do “on the spot” work for much higher rates.

This is called a "letter of Marquee" and is legal under the US Constitution (it specifically authorizes Congress to issue such letters). It is basically hiring mercenaries to fight terrorists for you, and is a GREAT idea. Guess which Republican candidate for president has openly advocated this (the only one, in fact).

[MarineDad]

Wow! They must be some tough characters to eat stuff like that...

[Publius6961]

BUMP!

[Navy Patriot]

The way to handle this is to sink the pirate boats, board the Dutch ship, subdue the pirates, let the Dutch Capitan know that he can convene an immediate tribunal, hang the pirates, or the Navy will return the pirates weapons and leave. His choice.

[Rodney King]

OK, so planning this better:

The problem with the random helping of vessels in distress is that you will probably have to constantly fight them for the salvage.

So really, the plan works best if you have pre-arranged agreements with various maritime insurance companies, so that you can be more confident that you will be paid.

[Publius6961]

BUMP!

[albee]

Q. Why doesn't the Dutch Navy send one of their mighty fighting ships down there to handle this problem?

A. It would take them to long to row down to there.

[rbosque]

Maybe the navy responded 'cause the pirates look like this.

[ryan71]

“An LSD like the Carter Hall doesn’t look very ferocious...”

Armament: Two 25mm MK 38 Machine Guns, Two 20mm Phalanx CIWS mounts and Six .50 cal. machine guns.

No 16” guns but a 25mm is perfect for deep-sixing wanna be pirates.