Posted on 02/22/2005 5:36:21 PM PST by SandRat
ABOARD USS BONHOMME RICHARD, At Sea (NNS) -- After answering a bridge-to-bridge distress call from a Kuwaiti fisherman Feb. 17, multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (BHR) (LHD 6) chased two pirate boats away from a group of fishing dhows in the Persian Gulf.
BHR received the call when a fishing boat was seized by a group of pirates in Boston whalers. Bonhomme Richard made best speed in pursuit of the pirates, chasing them away from the group of dhows.
According to BHR Commanding Officer Capt. J. Scott Jones, just the presence of the big deck amphibious ship was enough to scare the bandits away.
“With 44,000 tons of combat power chasing after them, they got out of there in a hurry,” Jones said. “This proves again the deterrent capability of this ship and her Sailors and Marines. Just by being here, we were able to protect these fishermen.”
The San Diego-based ship is currently supporting maritime security operations around oil terminals that are vital to Iraq’s economy, and serving as one of the many maritime interception operations platforms to detect, deter and disrupt terrorist threats at sea.
“On our deployment so far, we have delivered more than 1 million pounds of humanitarian supplies to Indonesian tsunami survivors, sent Marines ashore to conduct exercises and chased pirate ships away,” Jones said. “We have always been there when called, and BHR’s Sailors and Marines continue to answer every bell.”
Bonhomme Richard, the flagship of Expeditionary Strike Group 5, is currently operating in the Persian Gulf in support of the sovereign government of Iraq and the maritime effort against terrorism.
The Navy is sending the Skull and Crossbones to Davy Jones Locker.
ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!
I wonder if that was one of the original multipurposes envisioned when the keel was laid down for the BHR!
The Bonhomme Richard. Now there is a name from the pages of history.
If you've never had the pleasure of being at sea level when a US warship is in your near proximity, you can't imagine the intimidation they impose.
It's funny how old enemies become drinking buddies.
Ping!
So who is/was Bonhomme Richard?? I don't have a clue.
Almost Twilight Zone or Outer Limits that the original BHR would fight sail against the Jolly Roger and now a modern day BHR does the same.
Pirates you say ? why not send choppers mounted with mini-guns? what fun!
I don't care what I'm driving, if I'm the buccaneer, I run from the Bonnie Richard. Damn straight.
Do a search on John Paul Jones.
To be a fly on the wall and hear what the crew of the pirate ships were saying......
How does one say, "HOLY SH!T!" in local tongue?
Ha. Let's see Allah get you out of this one!
Even better, given that the BHR is not the most suitable ship to be 'chasing' down anything, how about a close-in inspection. Say a fly over of 5 or 6 Apache gunships.
One flying backwards - in front of the bad guy, one with his nose on the bad guys butt, and the other gunships on either side.
Ha Ha. Let me hear you pray to Allah, boy!!!!
I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!!!!
Love it.
LVM
My pleasures were at weather deck level of a DE, DD, and AKA; except when looking at the big gray wall from the coxain's position of an LCVP or an LCM at age 14 - 16 as a Navy League Sea Cadet.
showed up and I don't think that's what you intended.
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