No wonder they ran away. (here they are, in a photo supplied by the US Navy)
The lead US ship alone – essentially a light aircraft carrier - carries the following:
Armament: 2 x RAM launchers, 4 x 25 mm Mk 38 Bushmaster gun mounts, 2 x Phalanx CIWS, 5 x 0.50 cal (12.7 mm) mounts
Aircraft carried: 6 x AV-8B Harrier attack planes, 4 x AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters, 12 x CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters, 9 x CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters, 4 x UH-1N Huey helicopters.
Nice. And more than enough to take on a few rag tags with AK47s and a grenade launcher. Here’s the US Ship.
Those must have been some nervous pirates. Ever since they made the mistake of kidnapping a French luxury boat last year, prompting the French Navy to assult the pirates and kill most of them, they are finding out what happens when you become enough of a menace to get noticed by the great powers. Franch went to the Security Council and got an official declaration of 'open season' on Somali pirates. Ha.
More please. These parasites need a lot more close and uncomfortable encounters with real navy boats.
Report
The Associated Press
Fri, Aug 8, 2008 (5:57 a.m.)
The U.S. Navy says it has stopped a pirate attack on a merchant vessel north of Somalia in the Gulf of Aden.
The Navy says the USS Peleliu responded to a call for help from the Gem of Kilakari on Friday morning. The ship said it was under attack from armed pirates as it was traveling to the Suez Canal.
The Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet said in a statement that the USS Peleliu was about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from the Gem of Kilakari when it received the distress call.
The Navy says the suspected pirate ships fled the scene after the USS Peleliu launched three helicopters. The Navy says one grenade landed on the Gem of Kilakari's bridge wing but didn't explode, and no injuries were reported.
I forgot to add, I think this is an opportunity for the Omani Navy to get some good life fire practice, start to stretch some regional muscle as befits an old colonial naval power and score excellent international press too- start to help the international effort to take on the Somali pirates!
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to see a downside...
My grandson is on the USS Peleliu. I'm very proud of him, and glad no one got hurt.
ReplyDeleteHow sweet! But I don't think there was much danger at all of these rag-tags hurting the USS ships...
ReplyDeleteI was surprised they just let them run away. Very restrained. I can't imagine they could actually get away if the USS Peleliu and associated vessels really wanted them stopped...
Mogadisho 1993 I was there !!! Somali skinny kicked us out. I was there, never underestimate a threat.
ReplyDelete