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U.S. navy tanker under apparent pirate attack off Somalia
Reuters ^ | Sept 24, 2008 | Stefano Ambrogi

Posted on 09/24/2008 2:39:47 PM PDT by Islander7

LONDON (Reuters) - The U.S. Navy said on Wednesday it appeared pirates had tried to attack one of its big military oil tankers.

A security team aboard the vessel opened fire on two small boats near Somalia after they ignored warnings and pursued the ship, a U.S. Fifth Fleet spokesman said.

"From all appearances it does look like it was a pirate attack and the incident is currently under investigation," he said by telephone from Bahrain.

He said the Military Sealift Command (MSC) oil tanker, the John Lenthall, which usually carries a range of fuels for the U.S. armed forces, was transiting outside Somalia's territorial waters when the incident took place.

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News
KEYWORDS: navy; pirate; pirates; somalia; somilia; tanker; usnavy
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To: Islander7

This warning shots stuff has got to stop. They fire on someone, that someone has the right to blow them out of the water if they have the capability.

That’d put an end to this nonsense pretty quick.

What is it with this mentality that we have to treat criminals with kid gloves? The idiots started it.

Shoot back and take care of it.

Permanently.


21 posted on 09/24/2008 2:57:19 PM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: Travis McGee
IMHO, this might have been a deliberate “Q ship” op, using a heavily armed ship that gave an outward appearance of being a merchie.

Navy ships are colored differently from commercial ships. Then again, the Somalis might not know that.

22 posted on 09/24/2008 2:59:06 PM PDT by PapaBear3625 ("In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." -- George Orwell)
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To: Lurker

What is a Bofor?


23 posted on 09/24/2008 3:01:02 PM PDT by shadowcat
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To: ripley

I think the MCS is manned by civilians not navy, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be trained and armed with self defense weapons.


24 posted on 09/24/2008 3:01:20 PM PDT by SolitaryMan (Patriotic dissent is a luxury of those protected by better men than they.)
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To: Paladin2
Not to be critical, but I suggest that you are being generous.

"Cut them down like that much pork" - Billy Bones

25 posted on 09/24/2008 3:05:02 PM PDT by Jimmy Valentine (DemocRATS - when they speak, they lie; when they are silent, they are stealing the American Dream)
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To: Travis McGee; Lurker

Hope they nail em good versus just warding em off with warning shots. Kill em.....When Abu doesn’t come back for dinner then others will get the message off CNN International !

Half dozen GAU 19’s or Oerlikon 20MM’s will suffice or a low tech Barrett 82A1 sniper team with a CCT team calling in CAS on em !


26 posted on 09/24/2008 3:06:46 PM PDT by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet)
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To: Islander7

China does not f**k with these pirates. They captured 15 or so chinese pirates several years back, tried them and then put a bullet in of their heads. Wooohooo!!!

As other posters have said why do we continually let these greasballs f**k with us?


27 posted on 09/24/2008 3:08:34 PM PDT by am452 (Paulson is the Andrew Lesko of Wall Street)
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To: PapaBear3625

” Navy ships are colored differently from commercial ships. Then again, the Somalis might not know that.”

I bet they know that now


28 posted on 09/24/2008 3:16:03 PM PDT by Polynikes (Yo, homie. Is that my briefcase?)
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To: Islander7

Probably offered them a little ma deuce to go with their meal.


29 posted on 09/24/2008 3:16:54 PM PDT by Jeff Head (Freedom is not free...never has been, never will be. (www.dragonsfuryseries.com))
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To: am452
Is the U.S. so disrespected abroad that these little punks feel they can attack our Navy vessels with impunity?
30 posted on 09/24/2008 3:16:58 PM PDT by Ciexyz
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To: shadowcat
What is a Bofor?

It was rapid firing anti-aircraft guns mounted together an used in WWII.

31 posted on 09/24/2008 3:26:15 PM PDT by Dan(9698)
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To: F15Eagle

No SH-60s.

They have small MESF detachments with a variety of small arms, maybe some .50s on pintle mounts.


32 posted on 09/24/2008 3:28:57 PM PDT by Strategerist
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To: Parley Baer

Q-ships


33 posted on 09/24/2008 3:30:40 PM PDT by .44 Special (Táimid Buarch)
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To: Teflonic

It would be good if all the boats but one were sunk. The other should go home with holes in it. That is how you “send a message.”


34 posted on 09/24/2008 3:32:10 PM PDT by arthurus (Old age and guile beats youth and enthusiasm.)
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To: shadowcat

“What is a Bofor?”

Twin 40mm. typically used on WWII warships as ADA. Also used on AC-130 Gunsips to schwack nasty ground bastards giving our bubbas a hard time.


35 posted on 09/24/2008 3:44:59 PM PDT by roaddog727 (BS does not get bridges built - the funk you see is the funk you do)
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To: shadowcat
"Did you see that pirate EXPLODE!?!"


36 posted on 09/24/2008 3:47:48 PM PDT by Dumpster Baby (I don't trust facts - facts change. But my opinion will NEVER change!)
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To: Bean Counter
My understanding is we and our allies do send destroyer squadrons into the area to get these guys, but it's a big ocean out there and lots of bad guys.
37 posted on 09/24/2008 3:50:45 PM PDT by colorado tanker ("I just LOVE clinging to my guns and my religion!!!!" - Sarah Palin)
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To: blam
According to the website for the Kaiser Class, these ships carry a Navy detachment of 20 sailors and an officer. Sounds like a very useful ship:

There are stations on both sides of each ship for underway replenishment of fuel and stores. Equipped with 5 fueling stations, they can replenish two ships at a time pumping up to 900,000 gallons of diesel fuel and 540,000 gallons of jet fuel per hour. These ships have a capacity for small quantities of fresh and frozen provisions, stores, and other materials which will permit full replenishment of some of their customers. With a dry cargo carrying capacity of 7,400 square feet and refrigerated deck vans that can hold up to 128 pallets of chilled food, they can deliver fleet cargo, mail, and provisions via CONREP (connected replenishment) from two dry cargo rigs or via VERTREP (vertical replenishment) on the helo deck.

38 posted on 09/24/2008 3:57:34 PM PDT by colorado tanker ("I just LOVE clinging to my guns and my religion!!!!" - Sarah Palin)
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To: shadowcat

40 mm automatic cannon mostly used in twin mounts for AA purposes. The US used to have a tank chassis with twin forties on it that was originally designed for AA but it was used in Vietnam very effectively as an antipersonnel weapon. I think it was called an M42A1 Duster.


39 posted on 09/24/2008 3:57:46 PM PDT by .44 Special (Táimid Buarch)
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To: shadowcat

shooting arrows?


40 posted on 09/24/2008 4:03:04 PM PDT by rahbert
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