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Dramatic Footage Captures A Deadly Firefight Between American Mercenaries And Somali Pirates
Daily Mail ^ | 4-22-2017 | Rod Ardehali

Posted on 04/22/2017 5:06:08 PM PDT by blam

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To: Blood of Tyrants

Well then, incendiaries it is.


61 posted on 04/22/2017 9:14:13 PM PDT by Bogie
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To: Jim 0216; rlmorel

Outside of the Suez canal, ships don’t have to bunch up. In an of itself, there is not much that other ships do for each other beyond an added means of communication, perhaps more early warning, and greater interest to draw coverage from the anti-piracy naval forces in the area.

Among other anti-piracy measures, they may also put their lights out at night, to hide from sight, while still being visible on radar to avoid collisions.

A lot has changed as everyone adapted to the pirates. The Maersk Alabama incident (in the Captain Phillips movie), was before many of the adaptations were adopted. In the movie, they talked about swinging wide around the area, but their schedule and cost considerations led them to just run through it. That probably still is the case for many.

The increased policing and security for ships has led to a big drop off in pirate activity over there, from what is was at its peak.

I would not be surprised if one or more of the pirates in that video caught a bullet - they seemed to be sincerely trying to shoot them - and the seaworthiness of their little skiff was at risk as well. I bet there have been some encounters where pirates were killed, or even had their ships sunk, with folks being wise enough to not post videos of it online - only the sharks knew.


62 posted on 04/22/2017 9:28:59 PM PDT by BeauBo
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To: Jim 0216

You cannot pull into foreign ports as an armed ship. That’s why they have been easy to take down.


63 posted on 04/22/2017 11:08:58 PM PDT by Titus-Maximus (It doesn't matter who votes for whom, it only matters who counts the votes - Joe Stalin)
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To: Billthedrill
The funny part of firearms design is that even though we have had more than a century of firearms design and evolution through intense warfare, Browning's designs still work as well or better than even the latest stuff. I have read that the Nazis lived in fear of the .50 because it had such effective reach, chewed up light armor, was very accurate, and was made in such numbers that they were literally everywhere on the battlefield. They didn't have anything like it!

The only things you gotta watch with that puppy are headspace and timing (easily done with a few minute's training - or by using the new FN barrel change system that doesn't require it), making sure that it is properly lubed, and keep the bursts short/change the barrels every 400 rounds or so.

Those dumb little skiffs will disintegrate at ranges far beyond small arms/RPG reach.

64 posted on 04/23/2017 4:27:35 AM PDT by Chainmail (A simple rule of life: if you can be blamed, you're responsible.)
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To: Jim 0216

Because of the limp wristed IMO (International Maritime Organization) and the UN prohibits the arming of merchant ships. It would not be all that hard to eliminate the Somali pirates, but one can use the catch and release method. Dead pirates never attack ships


65 posted on 04/23/2017 5:01:27 AM PDT by okie 54
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To: Jim 0216

Because of the limp wristed IMO (International Maritime Organization) and the UN prohibits the arming of merchant ships. It would not be all that hard to eliminate the Somali pirates, but one can use the catch and release method. Dead pirates never attack ships


66 posted on 04/23/2017 5:04:49 AM PDT by okie 54
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To: blam

Disable the skiff with gunfire, blow some holes in the bottom , leave them adrift.


67 posted on 04/23/2017 5:58:35 AM PDT by Vinnie
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To: fish hawk

If you notice, the one guy with the 16 hits the railing right in front of him. Happens when you have a scope much higher than the muzzle, and an inexperienced guy behind it.
I would go with at least some 7.62 nato (308, 7.62 x 51) rifles, better reach and more punch. A Barret or two would be a good idea,too.


68 posted on 04/23/2017 7:05:58 AM PDT by Aut Pax Aut Bellum (Stay Calm and Carry.)
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To: BeauBo

Maritime laws against firearms on board were written for fear of mutiny.

Those mercenaries need to bump up to at least .30 cal.


69 posted on 04/23/2017 8:15:32 AM PDT by Vinnie
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To: blam

Those were not sub machine guns.


70 posted on 04/23/2017 8:31:33 AM PDT by AndyTheBear
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To: BeauBo

I wonder why there hasn’t been an international effort to wipe out the bases for pirate operations. Seems to be well within our collective capabilities to find these nests, rescue any hostages, kill or capture the pirates, destroy their vessels and equipment.

Suppose it’s because somebody’s getting kickbacks?


71 posted on 04/23/2017 9:48:29 AM PDT by Chainmail (A simple rule of life: if you can be blamed, you're responsible.)
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To: Billthedrill
My personal view is that if you have to go to small arms

A .50 is small arms.

72 posted on 04/23/2017 10:22:19 AM PDT by xone
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To: xone
A .50 is small arms.

Nope. In international law they're light weapons. From the Wiki entry:

In international arms control, small arms include revolvers and pistols, rifles and carbines, assault rifles, submachine guns and light machine guns. Together with light weapons (heavy machine guns; hand-held grenade launchers; portable anti-aircraft and anti-tank guns; recoilless rifles; portable launchers of anti-aircraft and anti-tank missile systems; and mortars of calibres of less than 100 mm), they comprise the Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) protocol.

73 posted on 04/23/2017 10:47:57 AM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: Aut Pax Aut Bellum

these are the most unprofessional professionals I’ve ever seen. wrong weapons, wrong techniques and you name it.


74 posted on 04/23/2017 3:36:04 PM PDT by fish hawk ( my new motto: Back Trump , the rest DUMP)
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To: rlmorel

I was going by the article that said they were firing warning shots.


75 posted on 04/23/2017 4:39:30 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (Conservatives love America for what it is. Liberals hate America for the same reason.)
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To: Billthedrill

It isn’t Intl law, it is the UN arms protocol bs that they use to control civilian possession from 2005. Army and the Corps consider .50 small arms. Since you showed USN they do as well.


76 posted on 04/23/2017 6:15:03 PM PDT by xone
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To: Blood of Tyrants

Ah...I didn’t see that


77 posted on 04/23/2017 9:09:34 PM PDT by rlmorel (President Donald J. Trump ... Making Liberal Heads Explode, 140 Characters at a Time)
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To: Billthedrill

Bill, thanks for tye informative post.

In your photo is spent brass on the deck but also what looks like grapes or antique ball shot. Can you ID it?


78 posted on 04/24/2017 6:15:20 PM PDT by T-Bone Texan
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To: T-Bone Texan

The weird things are the links that hold the belt together. They eject with the casings. Funny angle but they end up all over the place.


79 posted on 04/24/2017 6:24:41 PM PDT by Billthedrill
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