Posted on 11/12/2008 12:59:23 PM PST by Mercia
Pirates caught redhanded by one of Her Majesty’s warships after trying to hijack a cargo ship off Somalia made the grave mistake of opening fire on two Royal Navy assault craft packed with commandos armed with machineguns and SA80 rifles.
In the ensuing gunfight, two Somali pirates in a Yemeni-registered fishing dhow were killed, and a third pirate, believed to be a Yemeni, suffered injuries and subsequently died. It was the first time the Royal Navy had been engaged in a fatal shoot-out on the high seas in living memory.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
Good to see The RN revert to “WDFA”
“We Don’t F*&k About”.....
No they are not, they are common thieves and murderers. They are not making a political statement they are just plundering.
Roger that FRiend!
Hats off to you Sir.
It is unfortunate that the pirates could not be HANGED, as prescribed in naval law! That’s exactly what should happen.
I second that, it sure is about time.
I reckon getting knocked about by a bunch of Royal Marines should be enough to scare them off doing such things again.
But sure, piracy is technically a very nasty crime indeed.
What a beautiful shape that old girl has! I’ve walked on those teak decks!
Nothing special here- I’m just quaffing Belgian ales and watching ‘Master and Commander: Far Side of the World’. Yet again.
Your lads are the ones taking care of business at the moment- cheers to them.
From the amount of Pilates stuff my wife has ordered I’v decided that “Pilates” actually rhymes with pirates. ;-)
Well, I've listened now, and I think "Rule Britannia" much more impressive. At first I thought it might have been due to the method of transmission, but I was able to listen to both from a single recording.
I'm going to ask some stupid questions now. I've sort of known about "Last Night of the Proms," for some time now because I am a Classical Music Fan, but probably especially because I am an Anna Netrebko lover and I've seen some videos of her preforming at this "Last Night of the Proms." I had no ideas this was such a big deal! If I wanted to attend would I be able to get one or two tickets? Is it just as good/better/much worse to be part of the crowd in Hyde Park, that presumably watches on some big outdoor screen? Is there a charge for getting to where one can watch in Hyde Park? Do I have to bring and English flag or a Union Jack, or would people be amused by an American flag?
I'm Jewish. So sometimes people ask me about that dual loyalty nonsense. But I'm just as grateful to the English for all that it has meant to my heritage. I was just as emotionally involved in the Falklands War as I have been in the numerous battles between the Israelis and the Arabs. And besides, you guys do beer better. I'd really like to do the Proms Last Night thing once.
ML/NJ
Google the “Altmark Incident” February 16 1940, not only did the Royal Navy board an enemy ship, they fought the Germans with cutlasses. This last detail tickled Churchill pink, he loved the idea that even in 1940 British sailors could still fight their way on to the deck of a ship swinging cutlasses. Buckling the old swash and all that, eh what?
I remember the Altmark Incident, or reading about it years ago now that you tickled my memory.
Love that photo! I attended the recommissioning of the Iowa and Wisconsin after their last up-grade. The workmanship on those vessels is superb! They are national treasures, IMO.
Dont forget the Royal Marines, who are also (naval) Commandos, and have been since 1943.
Last Night of the Proms is real high-brow stuff, standard fair if for most of us serfs to watch it on TV, but sure, no doubt Hyde Park will have a good showing of it.
I guess its worth asking about the tickets, but being stuck in the Midlands here, I have never quite thought to cost effective to travel to London and ‘attend’. Tickets get to about £30 ($50-60) but are cheaper the further up the stalls you go.
Its as close as we get to celebrating our past with a bit of nationalist fevour here in the UK, and I love it. Land of Hope and Glory gets me every time! If you’re looking to attend the Albert Hall (though as I saiud, seriously high brow) I would take a Union Flag with you, but if its Hyde Park you’re after, I’m sure a US one would be tolerated (always good to be careful in such cases, while we in general love your country, there are alway a vocal few who just hate things in general).
Here are a few links for tickets for the Proms:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2008/howtobook/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2008/howtobook/lastnight.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2008/howtobook/tickets.shtml
i hope you get a chance to come over next year, and let us know how it goes!
are you in the Midlands or just like the name?
They've euthanized their WW2 vets already?
Midlands.
But I thought that ‘Mercia’ is a nicer name for it, and might get a few guys on FR looking up the term.
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