WTF? Another US ship attacked by pirates?

[spacejamz]

Text

"Our latest hijackings are meant to show that no one can deter us from protecting our waters from the enemy because we believe in dying for our land," Omar Dahir Idle told The Associated Press by telephone from the Somali port of Harardhere.

Protecting their waters from the enemy??? This sh!t needs to stop before another innocent sailor is killed by these bastards..

 

[dphantom]

I am sure we can help assist those who want to die for their land while pirating ships.

 

[BeauJangles]

That's right, continue to hijack ships carrying food for your starving country... brilliant!

 

[bbdub333]

We extort, we pilfer, we filch and sack.
Drink up me 'earties, Yo Ho!
Maraud and embezzle and even hijack.
Drink up me 'earties, Yo Ho!

 

[Genx87]

I dont know maritime laws. But are these merchant ships not allowed to have basic firearms to defend themselves?

 

[spacejamz]

Originally posted by: Genx87
I dont know maritime laws. But are these merchant ships not allowed to have basic firearms to defend themselves?

I think the issue is that some ports do not allow the ships or crew to be armed when they are actually in the port.

After what has been happening recently, if I were a sailor, I think I would take my chances with a shotgun under my bunk...

not sure what the fine/penalty is if you are caught though...

 

[MotF Bane]

Lulz. These fuckers just don't learn.

 

[Genx87]

Originally posted by: spacejamz

Originally posted by: Genx87
I dont know maritime laws. But are these merchant ships not allowed to have basic firearms to defend themselves?

I think the issue is that some ports do not allow the ships or crew to be armed when they are actually in the port.

After what has been happening recently, if I were a sailor, I think I would take my chances with a shotgun under my bunk...

not sure what the fine/penalty is if you are caught though...

Couldnt the port authority confiscate any weapons or put them into lockdown for the duration of the stay?

I'd think a couple of rifles could keep these guys away from the ship.

 

[StageLeft]

I have said it before. I think a company needs to come up with a ship-launchable weaponized UAV. When they see pirates in the vicinity they can communicate with a military HQ, pass control over to this UAV, and fire it off into the air. Give each ship a few of these and then you end up in a situation where even a totally nonmilitarized civilian ship has military-controlled air support. Takes the onus of engagement away from the civilians and makes it impossible to use the weapons in any other way except that for which they are intended. Also, unless under naval escort, there is no other way to ensure you can bring weapons to bear on pirates in a timely manner except by keeping them on these ships.

You could also give the ships a single remote helicopter (there are tons of variants of these now) with a couple of light missiles on the bottom of them). They'd be easy to launch and, again, controlled by military remotely, like predator drones are now. See a pirate coming up, put the heli in the air and go to town. Costs would not be super high, I don't think.

Think of it as onstar, except instead of I just got in a crash please send the cops it's pirates are coming up on my port and I just launched your heli, please deal with them.

 

[Phokus]

If they're going to be jackasses about it, at least add a little whimsy and dress up like REAL pirates (i.e. parrots, eye patches, peg legs, etc.)

 

[Genx87]

Originally posted by: Phokus
If they're going to be jackasses about it, at least add a little whimsy and dress up like REAL pirates (i.e. parrots, eye patches, peg legs, etc.)

I didnt see the pictures. But I have seen some of the people fighting in other African nations and they make jack sparrow look sane. Going to war in dresses, high heels, and a machine gun.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Skoorb


Think of it as onstar, except instead of I just got in a crash please send the cops it's pirates are coming up on my port and I just launched your heli, please deal with them.

ROFL!

While a great idea I just don't see it happening. All it would take is somebody mishandling the munitions or an accident to shut the program down.

 

[Bowfinger]

Originally posted by: Genx87
I dont know maritime laws. But are these merchant ships not allowed to have basic firearms to defend themselves?

As I understand it, it is an insurance and corporate policy issue, just as stores and banks tell employees not to resist if they are robbed. Of course banks hire guards, so I wonder if these ships shouldn't start carrying trained security personnel.

It also appears these pirates have some pretty heavy arms including RPGs, so I don't think a couple of shotguns (as someone else suggested) would cut it. I personally would hope for something that would let me decisively sink an attacking vessel, though I suppose that would lead to an ever-escalating arms race. We don't need a return to the old days of cannon battles on the high seas.

 

[StageLeft]

Instead of the helis, what about underwater UAVs. Drop it off the side and torpedo the pirates. I know it sounds like I"m being facetious, but I'm not.

 

[spacejamz]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Instead of the helis, what about underwater UAVs. Drop it off the side and torpedo the pirates. I know it sounds like I"m being facetious, but I'm not.

Was the USS Boxer still in the area? Wonder if it had any Harrier's on board? surely they could respond quickly (at least more quickly than the 4 hours it took the USS Bainbridge to reach the area)..

 

[Genx87]

Originally posted by: Bowfinger

Originally posted by: Genx87
I dont know maritime laws. But are these merchant ships not allowed to have basic firearms to defend themselves?

As I understand it, it is an insurance and corporate policy issue, just as stores and banks tell employees not to resist if they are robbed. Of course banks hire guards, so I wonder if these ships shouldn't start carrying trained security personnel.

It also appears these pirates have some pretty heavy arms including RPGs, so I don't think a couple of shotguns (as someone else suggested) would cut it. I personally would hope for something that would let me decisively sink an attacking vessel, though I suppose that would lead to an ever-escalating arms race. We don't need a return to the old days of cannon battles on the high seas.

I guess that can make sense except robbing a convienence store and a ship are different. People rob a store they get in, get the cash, and get out provided nobody says a word. In this situation they take the crew and the entire boat as ransom which puts peoples lives in danger. There isnt anywhere for them to go.

I'd suggest some rifles vs shotguns as they will have better range to shoot at them before they get on the boat.

Just seems like a dangerous job to not have any way of defending yourself.

/shrug

 

[Dari]

Originally posted by: Genx87

Originally posted by: Phokus
If they're going to be jackasses about it, at least add a little whimsy and dress up like REAL pirates (i.e. parrots, eye patches, peg legs, etc.)

I didnt see the pictures. But I have seen some of the people fighting in other African nations and they make jack sparrow look sane. Going to war in dresses, high heels, and a machine gun.

General Butt Naked

Blahyi has said he led his troops naked except for shoes and a gun. Apparently, he believed that his nakedness was a source of protection from bullets.[8][9] Blahyi now claims he would regularly sacrifice a victim before battle, saying, "Usually it was a small child, someone whose fresh blood would satisfy the devil."[1] He explained to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer: "Sometimes I would enter under the water where children were playing. I would dive under the water, grab one, carry him under and break his neck. Sometimes I'd cause accidents. Sometimes I'd just slaughter them."[10]

Blahyi got his nickname ? General Butt Naked ? from his nakedness, supposedly demanded by the Devil. He claimed to a South African Star reporter that he "met Satan regularly and talked to him" and that from the age of 11 to 25 he took part in monthly human sacrifices (Ellis 268). In his account of a typical battle Blahyi claimed, "So, before leading my troops into battle, we would get drunk and drugged up, sacrifice a local teenager, drink their blood, then strip down to our shoes and go into battle wearing colourful wigs and carrying dainty purses we'd looted from civilians. We'd slaughter anyone we saw, chop their heads off and use them as soccer balls. We were nude, fearless, drunk and homicidal. We killed hundreds of people ? so many I lost count."[11] Blahyi also purported that during that period he had "magical powers that made him invisible" and a "special power" to capture a town singlehandedly, then call in his troops afterwards to "clean up".

 

[spacejamz]

Did anyone else hear about this story??

Boxer Supports International Counterpiracy Effort in Gulf of Aden
Story Number: NNS090330-03
Release Date: 3/30/2009 1:23:00 PM

From Commander, Combined Maritime Forces Public Affairs

USS BOXER, At Sea (NNS) -- In a show of international sea power in the Gulf of Aden, seven nations representing three task forces coordinated efforts to pursue a skiff after the pirates on board opened fire on a German oiler, the Federal German Ship (FGS) Spessart, March 29.

At approximately 3 p.m. local, FGS Spessart, reported they were being attacked by pirates who may have mistaken the naval supply ship for a commercial merchant vessel. An embarked security team aboard the ship returned fire on the suspected pirates during the initial attack.

Subsequently, Spessart pursued the skiff while providing additional details of the attack to a variety of international naval vessels operating in the area. A number of naval ships and aircraft joined the pursuit, including the Dutch frigate HNLMS Zeven Provincien, an SH-60B helicopter assigned to the Spanish warship SPS Victoria, a Spanish P-3 maritime patrol aircraft, two Marine Corps helicopters from the Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 flagship USS Boxer (LHD 4) and the European Union's CTF 465 flagship, the Greek frigate HS Psara.

Supported by an AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter and a UH-1 Huey assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 163 (Reinforced), "Evil Eyes," embarked aboard Boxer, the international naval forces contained the armed suspects until Psara arrived with a German boarding team. Upon boarding the skiff, the team found seven suspected pirates and their weapons.

The suspected pirates were disarmed and transferred to the German frigate Rheinland-Pfalz where they will remain until a final determination is made regarding potential prosecution.

While this event showcased the incredible international naval capabilities operating in the Gulf of Aden, it also highlighted the complexity of counterpiracy operations. The crew of Spessart and the embarked security team provided the critical first line of defense, utilizing defensive measures that are essential for all ships operating in the region.

Moreover, nearly five hours transpired between the time Spessart's armed security team thwarted the initial attack and when an armed boarding team was within range of the pirate skiff. In the interim, armed coalition aircraft kept the suspected pirates from getting away.
This incident in the Gulf of Aden happened at a time when other pirates have been operating well off the eastern Somali coast.

The area off the coast of Somalia and Kenya when combined with the waters of the Gulf of Aden equals more than 1.1 million square miles, roughly four times the size of Texas or the size of the Mediterranean and Red Seas combined. In a region this large, merchant mariners must often serve as the first line defenders against pirates because naval forces will likely not be close enough to respond.

For more news from USS Boxer (LHD 4), visit www.navy.mil/local/lhd4/.

 

[Arkaign]

We have the ability to run multiple CVBG's, I don't see why we couldn't use that portion of the ocean for maneuvers and a good launch spot in case anything of merit jumps off in the Mideast. It would be good target practice. I don't think the pirates are prepared to deal with the full power of the US Navy.

 

[spacejamz]

Originally posted by: Arkaign
We have the ability to run multiple CVBG's, I don't see why we couldn't use that portion of the ocean for maneuvers and a good launch spot in case anything of merit jumps off in the Mideast. It would be good target practice. I don't think the pirates are prepared to deal with the full power of the US Navy.

I don't think you need an entire carrier battle group....

The Boxer can carry both Harrier jets and attack helicopters, either of which can easily deal with an attacking pirate boat...

actuall, the Harriers/helicopters might be be better suited to handle the smaller pirate boats than an F-18....

 

[nobodyknows]

Laser 'em from space.

 

[piasabird]

Just move in and destroy every water craft they have fishing or otherwise and see how they like that. Blow up their docks and destroy all the harbor areas and they land mine the entire area so no large ships can get in to deliver them supplies.

 

[fskimospy]

Originally posted by: piasabird
Just move in and destroy every water craft they have fishing or otherwise and see how they like that. Blow up their docks and destroy all the harbor areas and they land mine the entire area so no large ships can get in to deliver them supplies.

Yeah, I was thinking some sort of genocide was the appropriate response to a few ships being hijacked.

 

[spacejamz]

Originally posted by: eskimospy

Originally posted by: piasabird
Just move in and destroy every water craft they have fishing or otherwise and see how they like that. Blow up their docks and destroy all the harbor areas and they land mine the entire area so no large ships can get in to deliver them supplies.

Yeah, I was thinking some sort of genocide was the appropriate response to a few ships being hijacked.

uh...isn't genocide like the elimination of an entire race, not a few boats or docks???

 

[fskimospy]

Originally posted by: spacejamz

Originally posted by: eskimospy

Originally posted by: piasabird
Just move in and destroy every water craft they have fishing or otherwise and see how they like that. Blow up their docks and destroy all the harbor areas and they land mine the entire area so no large ships can get in to deliver them supplies.

Yeah, I was thinking some sort of genocide was the appropriate response to a few ships being hijacked.

uh...isn't genocide like the elimination of an entire race, not a few boats or docks???

It is the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. Destroying all of their harbors/docks, etc along with mining their ports would probably cause a humanitarian catastrophe when food aid, etc was no longer able to be delivered, as piasabird explicitly wishes for.