The Virginian-Pilot
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The same week a Norfolk-based Navy frigate crew captured Somali pirates who fired on them, another Navy ship intercepted a group of pirates who tried to attack a tanker in the Somali Basin.
The destroyer Farragut was called to the scene of a Sierra Leone-flagged tanker after the ship came under attack by three pirate skiffs, according to a Navy news release. During the attack, the pirates fired rifles and aimed rocket-propelled grenades at the vessel. The Farragut is homeported in Mayport, Fla.
The tanker M.V. Evita was north and northwest of the Seychelles when the pirates tried to stop the ship, the Navy release says.
The ship evaded the pirates by increasing its speed and firing flares at them.
The captain called for help from maritime officials in Kuala Lumpur and Dubai, the release says. Coalition forces were contacted and a Swedish patrol aircraft located the pirates.
An SH-60 B Seahawk helicopter from the Farragut went to monitor the situation while the skiffs were boarded. The crew of the Swedish patrol aircraft watched as the pirates threw equipment overboard.
Eleven pirates were found aboard the skiffs and allowed to leave after coalition forces ensured they had no other equipment to conduct attacks.
The mother skiff was sunk.
On Thursday, the Norfolk-based frigate Nicholas took small-arms fire from suspected pirates in the Indian Ocean. The ship returned fire and captured five pirates.
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Still wonderin’ what a “Rambo” is………
Pilot, you have my e-mail address. Please contact me and let me know what I wrote to get me put on the watch list.
it is a derisive reference
it is a derisive reference to a movie character played by Sylvester Stalon
it is a derisive reference
it is a derisive reference to a movie character played by Sylvester Stalon
Temporary insanity plea
If these pirates do reach trial and I was their attorney I would plead them not guilty by reason of insanity. Anyone who would challenge a US Navy destroyer with an AK-47 and an RPG is definately mentally challenged.
Oddly enough, according to
Oddly enough, according to the story above none of the pirate in this, the second incident in a week, were arrested. You seem to be referencing the first incident. I do agree with your sentiment that it seems idiotic for any sort of civilian craft to attack a navy ship.
Next time . . .
Sink the pirates' vessels and kill the pirates.
Send all ....
To Davey Jones locker barbaric or not. It's time to put a stop to this crap once and for all!
That is absolutely barbaric
That is absolutely barbaric and inhumane. But if you throw them back into the water and they can't swim for 15 or so miles, that's their problem.
Barbaric?
They only have to swim faster than the sharks.
Agree
Hang them, dump them. Eventually the word will get out.