U.S. Navy Arrives on Scene of Hijacked American Ship

Fox News ^ | 4/8/2009

[tsmith130]

The U.S. is closing in on pirates that hijacked a U.S.-flagged ship off the coast of Somalia. According to a spokesman for the owner of the Maersk Alabama, which had been hijacked by pirates before American crew members were able to regain control of the vessel Wednesday, a U.S. Navy warship arrived at the scene Wednesday night.

The ship's captain still is being held hostage on a smaller boat.

Family members said Capt. Richard Phillips surrendered himself to the pirates to secure the safety of the crew. "What I understand is that he offered himself as the hostage," said Gina Coggio, 29, half sister of Phillips' wife. "That is what he would do. It's just who he is and his response as a captain."

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called Wednesday for world action to "end the scourge of piracy" as U.S. warships raced to confront the pirates.

"We are deeply concerned and we are following it very closely," Clinton said. "Specifically, we are now focused on this particular act of piracy and the seizure of a ship that carries 21 American citizens.

[1066AD]

Q Ships.

[andrew2527]

I don’t watch CNN. Is that true?

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Inexpensive yet effective.

[Fichori]

“One semi-well aimed tactical nuke will permanently stop this bullshit.”

The WH has to much historical and sentimental value to just waste it like that.

[El Gato]

Would you have a problem with armed sailors on container ships from China arriving in the USA?

First, what makes you think they don't? Second, I'd be OK with it as long as the arms stay on board the boat.

[Jet Jaguar]

That would be fun. I would love to take some leave and I would pay to do that.

[El Gato]

That’d be Admiral David Farragut, if I’m not mistaken.

It's Stephen Decatur. First US Navy Officer to kick Muslim Pirate a$$. Barbary Pirates, "Millions for Defense, Not One Cent For Tribute", and all that.

[unkus]

Thanks! That is good stuff.

[unkus]

Too bad there was no news on their condition, like that they were shark bait.
___________________________

Sharks don’t say grace before they eat.

[El Gato]

I was TDY to the USS Bainbridge, DLGN 25 for about a month and a half way back when. This must be another Bainbridge. Thought DLGN 25 decommissioned.

The current USS Bainbridge (DDG-96), is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, commissioned on 12 November 2005 and is currently in service.

Armament: 1 x 32 cell, 1 x 64 cell Mk 41 vertical launch systems,
96 x RIM-66 SM-2,
BGM-109 Tomahawk or RUM-139 VL-Asroc, missiles
1 x 5/62 in (127/62 mm), 2 x 25 mm, 4 x 12.7 mm guns 2 x Mk 46 triple torpedo tubes

Aircraft carried: 2 x SH-60 Sea Hawk helicopters

[Girlene]

From Richmond Times, Warship confronts pirates off Somalia

.........."Details of the day's events emerged sporadically as members of the crew were reached by satellite phone, providing a glimpse of the maneuvering.

A sailor who spoke to The Associated Press said the entire 20-member crew had been taken hostage but managed to seize one pirate and negotiate their own release. The man did not identify himself during the brief conversation.".............

........."According to reports from the crew, the pirates sank their boat when they boarded the ship. The captain talked them into getting off the vessel using one of the ship's lifeboats.

Second Mate Ken Quinn told CNN in a live interview yesterday that the crew also had held a hostage.

"We had a pirate, we took him for 12 hours," Quinn said. "We returned him, but they didn't return the captain."..............

............"The warship on the scene, The USS Bainbridge, is a guided-missile destroyer. It carries with it the ScanEagle, a 40-pound drone with night vision. It can fly as high as 16,000 feet and linger over a target for more than 20 hours. The Navy used a ScanEagle aboard another ship to detect a suspicious small boat in February. Nine suspected pirates were captured"...............

[El Gato]

Of course the Army is phasing the 249 out for something else, and Gates is cutting out the A-10 Warthogs, both acts of sheer stupidity.

Hadn't heard of any new 7.52X51 medium machine gun. But there is a much lighter replacement for old Ma Duece, but firing the same .50 BMG round.

[andrew2527]

Can’t think off a better plan to accustom new seals to killing.

[BIGLOOK]

Open lifeboat or one of the all-enclosed type I wonder?

Think it'd matter?

A rescue team would seek their objective....everybody else could tread water clinging to their weapons....300 miles from shore with a sub and a Navy DDG between 'em.

[1066AD]

Open boat makes it easier to see the situation.
However I saw a photo of a Maersk ship elsewhere and they had the orange enclosed cold weather lifeboats so I suspect that’s the standard now.

Like you say, Navy pros would meet the challenge just fine. Just hope it works out OK for the gutsy skipper, pirates can become fish food I hope.

[BIGLOOK]

Muchas Gracias, El Gato!

I really appreciate help from Zoomies.....really!

The DLGN 25 I was on had a service life of 37.5 years. She made it....but way short of the service life of the Buff.

[grey_whiskers]

It reminds me of the "Free Credit Report" pirate ads on TV...

"Free Pirate Report Dot Com
don't steal our ships
or you'll be hit
with an atom bommmmmb...
We monitor our shipping
and send Navy alerts
so you don't end up hijacked
by Somalis in T-shirts..."

(Not valid under Dem administrations)

Cheers!

[grey_whiskers]

See my post #157 this thread...

Cheers!

[valkyry1]

Probably the all-enclosed type lifeboat, which will make separating the Captain from the Somalis more complicated and risky.

[Ramius]

I’m OK with that. :-)