BREAKING. US Navy Rescues Hijacked Israeli-Managed Oil Tanker and Captures Houthi Pirates

Red State ^ | 11/26/2023 | Streiff

[SeekAndFind]

A US destroyer intercepted a hijacked Israeli-managed oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden earlier today, freed the crew, and took the Houthi pirates into custody. My colleague Jeff Charles covered the piracy in this post, High Seas Drama: Another Israeli Tanker Seized by Unidentified Attackers Near Yemen.

Shortly after dawn local time, the Central Park, a small Liberian-flagged oil and chemical tanker managed by an Israeli company registered in London, sent a distress call saying it was being boarded by armed men. The USS Mason, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, was operating in the area. According to reports, the Mason directed the crew to take refuge and not turn the ship over to the pirates. The Mason is part of the USS Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group; Pentagon Issues 'Prepare to Deploy' Orders to 2,000 US Troops – RedState.

According to Fox News's Jennifer Griffin:

The crew had locked themselves in the Citadel (safe room). A Japanese destroyer assisted the USS Mason with the interdiction. 2 Chinese  Navy warships in the area did not render assistance. The gunmen tried to beat down the door to the safe room but failed. The hijackers exited the vessel and were making their way back to the shores of Yemen when the US Navy personnel pursued and arrested them. Warning shots were fired by the U.S. Navy personnel and a U.S. helicopter gunship flew cover.

There are some interesting bits in this story. The two PLAN warships that ignored the distress call are part of a six-ship flotilla that rotates through the Persian Gulf, "The six warships are the Type 052D guided missile destroyers Zibo and Urumqi, the Type 054A guided missile frigates Jingzhou and Linyi, and the Type 903 integrated supply ships Qiandaohu and Dongpinghu." These ships seem to be part of a PLAN operation to get the Chinese Navy blue water experience and build proficiency in underway replenishment and refueling operations. The fact that they refused to acknowledge a distress call simply underscores the hostile nature of Chinese presence in any environment: political, economic, military, or academic.

The fact that the USS Mason was cleared to render aid may mark an escalation in how the Navy addresses the war by Houthi pirates on ships with any connection to Israel. The Navy has become more aggressive in engaging Houthi missiles and drones, so upping the pressure on their piracy operation would be a logical move.

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

How fast after this story broke did Democrat blame Israel?

[NorthMountain]

The US Navy was founded to combat mohammedan pirates.

[Texas Fossil]

Houthi Pirates?

They don’t want to play war with US destroyer.

[coalminersson]

execute at sea

[wildcard_redneck]

In the age of satellites the only way pirates can be successful capturing big ships is if they have a powerful government behind them. Otherwise they are going to get caught.

Once the pirates realize they can’t get the ships in the port for the booty they are going to start blowing up tankers and causing environmental problems. I wonder how the greenie watermelon marxists are gonna like that

[Leaning Right]

> a small Liberian-flagged oil and chemical tanker <

Ships often fly Liberian or Panamanian “flags of convenience” to avoid taxes and safety regulations.

I get the importance of keeping the sea lanes open. But once again the US is left with the bill. Since this ship was flying a Liberian flag, maybe let Liberia go rescue it. You made your choice, ship owner. Now live with it.

[ETCM]

Hooyah!

[dynachrome]

Are there still yardarms to hang the “pirates” from?

[BradyLS]

Glad to hear we’re actively taking down pirates again. A core mission for any good navy.

[null and void]

We didn’t take them down, we arrested them.

Any bets on whether they get released on their own recognizance, with a promise to show up in court in a couple years?

[Dave W]

Can you detail the additional cost, please. The destroyer would be in the water anyway, sailing on the blue water and all personnel on board gets paid whether they lend a hand or not. In addition, the destroyer’s crew receives a real life experience in real time.

[Chode]

The fact that they refused to acknowledge a distress, should get them sent home!!!

[Muhammy]

Released in chimpcago

[redfreedom]

“I get the importance of keeping the sea lanes open. But once again the US is left with the bill. Since this ship was flying a Liberian flag, maybe let Liberia go rescue it. You made your choice, ship owner. Now live with it.”

Your comment reminds me of a remark a boss once made in the late 70’s when there were no wars going on. A B52 from a nearby airbase flew over us. And his remark was “Just why do they need to fly those things and waste all that fuel when there is no war going on?”

The obvious answer is to keep the crews trained and ready and the aircraft fully functional. Can you imagine a war cropping up, needed or not, then have to unmothball the B52’s from the desert and get the crews back into uniform and hurry up and go bomb something?

The same applies to this destroyer. The crews are getting valuable experience in dealing with an enemy. It all costs. it’s all worth it. This little skirmish readies them for the bigger ones. Not to mention showing China we can still deal with terrorists while their warships look on.

[Leaning Right]

I see your point. And I was being a little facetious there. Nevertheless, we shouldn’t let the shipowners off the hook. They want to save money by not flying the American flag. Yet they want the protection of the American Navy.

Something is wrong with that picture.

[SaveFerris]

Yes, but make each of them wear the puffy shirt first

[Colinsky]

Are there still yardarms to hang the “pirates” from?

They could still be keelhauled.

[Nateman]

Kill all the pirates except one. He is the witness to warn the others.

[Leaning Right]

You make a good point with your training and readiness argument. But I would suggest looking at the financial end as well. One reason shipowners do not fly the American flag is that they don’t want to pay the higher American taxes.

It’s those taxes that are used to build American warships, and pay American crews. So the shipowners are getting a service without having to pay for it.

Maybe that’s the way it has to be. After all, a Navy ship cannot ignore another ship in distress. Nevertheless, an unbalance does exist here.