U.S. Navy Ships Return Fire on Suspected Pirates

www.news.navy.mil ^ | 3/18/2006 12:18:00 PM | U.S. Naval Forces Central Command

[vrwc0915]

Or R2D2 with a hardon :)

[RouxStir]

"Unless Jimah Carter was president"

If Jimah was president, the pirates would have captured the US ships without a shot being fired.

[demlosers]

A crusier and a destroyer tool up to a 30' fishing boat and the crew of the fishing boat decide to open fire? What were they? High?

If they were high, then they were chewing this stuff:

Qat...

[JSteff]

"I suspect the only shooten' irons on board that can be optically aimed are a couple of rifles and the cook's paintball gun..."

Uh... no. Jimmy and Bill are out of office. You are right on the rifles but there are 50 calibers on many of our ships now.

However... I read somewhere the newer DDG's were designed without the Phalanx systems. The navy web sites don't list them either. I understand though that many are going to be retrofitted with them or an upgraded "replacement".

Seems like the designers all have that "missile" think that led to the original Phantoms without cannons. Stupid.

[jonascord]

The F-4 Phantom was another of MacNamara's gifts to modern warfare. It was a "one size fits all" solution to an expanding defence budget, super-sonic for air superiority, for the Air Force, carrier qualified for the Navy, and ground attack truck for the Marines. like the M-16, the M-60 tank, and the M-113 Rolling Ronson. In other words, not good at any one thing, and piss-poor at all of them.

You will notice that older, more powerful weapons systems are being brought back from the bone yard when the "gee-whiz" systems fail in this new kind of war. I offer as evidence the "new" .45 pistol, the A-10 Hog, and the "new" larger caliber rifle in the works.

[prairiebreeze]

great pix at #60

ping article and interesting thread

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Pretty much the result I expected LOL!!

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Here's a keyboard recovered from the wreckage:

[guinnessman]

Did anybody stop to consider that these "pirates" were actually members of Al Qaeda?

In Richard Minitor's book, Shadow War, he writes about the war against Al Qaeda's navy at sea

When I think of pirates, I think of people trying to board ships in order to pillage them. It looks like these idiots just wanted to blow the ship up.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Oh yes, the Navy has interdicted al-Qaeda drug runners and terrorists at sea before. These meatheads seemed more interested in getting close enough to knock off a few sailors than anything else.

A lot of people are asking why they weren't just blown up on their boats, no survivors, and we're done. I think the Navy is going to have a nice long talk with these boys about who they work for, what they're doing there, and what their future plans are.

[joebuck]

"What where they thinking?"

Perhaps a diversion? Every amature magician (and military commander) knows to keep the audience looking at the left hand while the right hand palms the card.

[Unicorn]

Who says they can think!!!!!!!

[doorgunner69]

I sort of wondered about that same thing. How much damage could a few RPGs do to a destroyer. I am sure they could not sink it but I recall on the History Channel they said the metal on these ships is really thin. Not really armored at all.

RPG would punch through very well. All modern DDG and CG class use aluminum superstuructures to reduce above the waterline weight. Have to, with all the electronics they are loaded with. Only some of the critical areas get any armor.

[OESY]

Actually, I don't. I know where it is having been there. But I do indeed want to thank you for lending assistance to those unfamiliar with the direction north.

On the other hand, if you don't think U.A.E. is north of Somalia, I have a tip for you.

Tip: You're holding your map (or PC) sideways or possibly upside down.

[El Gato]

What sort of light armament do US Navy ships carry?

Depends on your definition of light, but all carry rifles, often M-14s, most carry .50 M-2, these carry the Mk-38/Bushmaster 25 mm cannon. I don't think we could cal the 5" gun a "small arm", but the old dudes off the Iowa class BBs probaby would. :) They are also armed with torpedoes, as well as their primary armament, the guided missiles.

[El Gato]

Don't they have even a single 5-inch on the deck?

That's exactly what they have, as can be seen in the picture of post 29 above.