Pirates fire at U.S. Navy ship off Somalia

Reuters ^ | May 7, 2009

[Oldeconomybuyer]

MANAMA (Reuters) - Pirates have fired small arms weapons at a U.S. Navy supply ship off the coast of Eastern Somalia, the first attack of this kind since last year's surge in pirate attacks, the U.S. Navy said on Thursday.

The USNS Lewis and Clark was chased for about an hour on Wednesday morning by two pirates skiffs, but neither came closer than about one nautical mile to the U.S. vessel, the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet said in a statement.

The small arms fire fell well short of the U.S. ship which speeded up to evade the skiffs.

The USNS Lewis and Clark earlier served as a temporary detention facility for suspected pirates arrested at sea, but its operations are now limited to providing supplies to other U.S. ships operating in the area.

Somali pirates have increased their activities in recent weeks, defying the presence of international navies in the area.

[PzLdr]

Don’t U.S Navy ships carry weapons, including small arms? They ran from these slugs?

[BubbaBasher]

The small arms fire fell well short of the U.S. ship which speeded up to evade the skiffs.

This is just sickening. They should have turned around and blown those skiffs out of the water. We now have a metrosexual Navy.

[al baby]

I hope that boat is on the bottom and we have strafed the floaters

[lormand]

Wow, a US Naval ship running from teenage thugs. Hope and Change for the pirates.

[ladtx]

As Jim Croce sang, - “You don’t tug on Superman’s cape or spit into the wind.....”

[Boston Blackie]

Obama’s cut and run policy?

[lormand]

At least metrosexuals will hit you with “his” man-bag or purse if you threaten them.

[ArrogantBustard]

United States Naval Ships (USNS) are not warships. They are civilian cargo ships owned by the Unite States Navy, crewed by civilians, and unarmed.

[Hodar]

The small arms fire fell well short of the U.S. ship which speeded up to evade the skiffs.

Yep, nothing discourages pirates like running away. "Oh, Abdulla, let us give up this life of pirating, because chasing the Navy is sooooo exhausting - are you sure that was an American flag and not a French one?"

[envisio]

The USNS Lewis and Clark was chased for about an hour on Wednesday morning by two pirates skiffs, but neither came closer than about one nautical mile to the U.S. vessel, the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet said in a statement.

The small arms fire fell well short of the U.S. ship which speeded up to evade the skiffs

Thats embarrassing. Thats like watching my son run from a schoolhouse bully. Just sad.

[GonzoGOP]

Boat load of ammo and fuel, I'm not surprised they decided to go to flank speed and let the DDGs to the fighting. Could have put some of her helicopters up with a marine with an M-16 hanging out the door. I doubt the pirates have much in the way of AA.

[LikeLight]

Bizarre. A USN ship should be the last one pirates ever attack. Is our Navy now unarmed?

[Dallas59]

Obamas Navy.

[Abathar]

[Constitution Day]

They are lightly armed but not unarmed. And they do have military aboard.

[CholeraJoe]

Absolutely not. In Obama’s military we use diplomacy, have tea with pirate leaders, appeal to moderate pirate groups, consult the UN Security Council and our European allies, appease the pirates with offers of aid and send human shields to protect the pirates from harm.

[GeorgiaDawg32]

exactly the point I was going to make..huge difference between USS and USNS..

[Ancesthntr]

As Jim Croce sang, - “You don’t tug on Superman’s cape or spit into the wind.....”

Well apparently you do tug on that cape, when Superman's balls are encased in Kryptonite.