Pirates attack Spanish navy ship off Somalia, prompting gunbattle and helicopter chase

AP via Washington Post ^ | Thursday, January 12, 10:26 AM

[Pan_Yan]

MADRID — Spain says pirates have attacked a Spanish navy warship off Somalia, drawing gunfire that reportedly left one dead and prompted a helicopter chase in which six attackers were arrested.

A Defense Ministry official says the assailants may have mistaken the 165-meter (540-foot) ship Patino for a freighter in the attack before dawn Thursday.

[BradyLS]

There was a time when all navies treated pirates that way.

[GonzoGOP]

Can’t figure how they lost Afghanistan with an MO like that...

They were very close to winning Afghanistan simply by depopulating the tribal areas. Then container loads of stinger missiles started showing up. The Russians thought they were bringing a gun to a knife fight. But turned out bringing a gun to a missile duel.

[JimRed]

Replenishment ship was the first thought in my head upon seeing the photo. Still a warship.

[SW6906]

They didn't expect a sort of Spanish Inquisition......

/Monty Python reference

[DonkeyBonker]

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition. Its cheif weapon is surprise, surprise and fear. Its two weapons are...

(Monty Python mode off)

[Tribune7]

That’s like a headline from 1595.

[Pan_Yan]

Pirates attack Spanish navy ship off Somalia, prompting gunbattle and helicopter chase

That’s like a headline from 1595.

Something like this?

[Ol' Sox]

I’d pay good money to see an action adventure movie starring Bruce Willis as Leonardo DaVinci, chasing pirates in his “helicopter”. :)

[Ol' Sox]

Yippieus Kai Yayus, Mater $%^&*(!!

[GonzoGOP]

[pirate inner monologue...] “Note to self: big gray ships with large numbers on the side... have guns.”

[merchant skipper inner monologue...] “Note to self: buy haze gray paint and large numeric stencils."

Heck just bring back the Q-Ship. Let them get good and rusty, fly a flag of convenience and hang out off the cost of Somalia. Fly meet flypaper.

German Raider Atlantis.
Armament: 6 × 150 mm (5.9 in) guns
1 × 75 mm (3.0 in) gun
2 × twin 37 mm anti-aircraft guns
2 × twin 20 mm cannons
4 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes
92 × mines
2 x Aircraft
The cruiser carried a dummy funnel, variable-height masts, and was well supplied with paint, canvas, and materials for further altering her appearance, including costumes for the crew and flags. Atlantis was capable of being modified to twenty-six different silhouettes. She also had a large complement of marines.

[Stonewall Jackson]

In February 2009, the Russian battlecruiser Pyotr Velikiy captured ten pirates who were trying to attack an Iranian fishing trawler. The pirates were brought onboard the battlecruiser and were never heard from again.

The Russian Navy issued the following statement, "The fate of the detainees will be decided in cooperation with the Russian ministries of foreign affairs and justice." I guess Russia has the right idea about some things.

[Pan_Yan]

Ping.

[CodeToad]

“Even though these Somalia pirates are mentally challenged, barely intelligent enough to know what piracy is”

Not really. They know it is wrong because they come armed to do it.

[Eye of Unk]

I am actually surprised that there has been no reports of any group organizing a cruise on a lovely sloop or motor sailor.

The Dillon 134’s and ammo come free to use for entertainment.

Just imagine an arms dealer vacation, you get to test fire the latest rockets, use the latest gismos.

And you get real targets, somebody is missing a golden opportunity here.

[BobL]

Yep...looks like a cargo vessel to me...

[Oztrich Boy]

WEll it's not the worst misidenticifation the Somali pirates have made.

The aft basketball court is the only obvious ship feature that says warship

But generally their ship identification sucks.
Previous mistaken for merchantman targets

The National Volunteer Coastguard of Somali really needs to learn a mnemonic "Ship of gray, Stay away"