Norfolk-based destroyer assists aircraft firing on Libyan ships

Posted to: Military Nation - World Norfolk
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By Meredith Kruse
The Virginian-Pilot
© March 29, 2011

The Norfolk-based destroyer Barry and two American aircraft engaged three Libyan vessels near the port city of Misrata on Monday, the U.S. military said.

A Navy P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft, an Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt attack aircraft and the guided-missile destroyer engaged the Libyan Coast Guard vessel Vittoria and two smaller crafts after confirmed reports that the vessels were firing indiscriminately on merchant ships in the port.

The Orion fired at the Vittoria with AGM-65F Maverick missiles, forcing it to be beached. The Thunderbolt fired upon the smaller craft using its 30mm GAU-8/ Avenger cannon, destroying one and forcing the other to be abandoned.

The Barry provided situational awareness for the aircraft by managing the airspace and providing the pilots with information about the event.

The P-3C, A-10 and Barry are supporting the international response to the unrest in Libya. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 authorizes all necessary measures to protect civilians in Libya under threat of attack by Qadhafi regime forces.

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Say again.

Submitted by jpjones on Tue, 03/29/2011 at 7:04 pm.

"The Barry provided situational awareness for the aircraft by managing the airspace and providing the pilots with information about the event."

Whatever THAT means.

I've managed the "air picture" from surface units in the past, and I'm not sure what this means.

Not to diminish the participation of our forces in this Libyan non-war, but I'm not sure this warranted an article headline.

what country were the merchant ships from

Submitted by mikewill on Tue, 03/29/2011 at 6:43 pm.

I know those merchant ships weren't US flagged. What countries were they from and where are their navies to protect them?

Gadhafi trying piracy?

Submitted by markk33831 on Tue, 03/29/2011 at 5:56 pm.

Is Gadhafi now trying piracy? If he's having ships fire on merchant ships in his own ports, it certainly does sound like it. It could have been the first step before boarding them and holding their crews hostage. I wouldn't put anything past him. It is good that our forces responded the way they did.

As for authorization, read the last paragraph of the article.

what defines "civilians"?

Submitted by portworker on Tue, 03/29/2011 at 6:10 pm.

President Bush and the Geneva Convention rightfully stated that those not in uniform or a member of an organized army are "enemy combatents". These people are not covered under the Geneva Convention.

So who are the civilians? Were they "rebels" shooting at the Coast Guard units of Libya? Are the Libyan soldiers and sailors allowed to shoot back?

That corner is not a good place to be when painting. Ghadhafi is a horrible dictator and should not be in power!! Shooting the military defending itself from "enemy combatents" is not the "neutral" authority of a "NO FLY ZONE".

Who better to engage war

Submitted by LaQuandra on Tue, 03/29/2011 at 4:42 pm.

Who better to engage war with Libyans than a Kenyan.

It keeps getting better

Submitted by Joe Jackson on Tue, 03/29/2011 at 3:56 pm.

In case anyone was asleep, Obama has included anything that shoots at Gadhafi duck's people. The no fly zone was just to get our military involved,now things get interesting as how this story will end.

I guess next Obama will said Gadhafi has WMD's

What do merchant ships have

Submitted by Doggie Mom on Tue, 03/29/2011 at 3:13 pm.

What do merchant ships have to do with enforcing a no FLY zone?

Read the last paragraph

Submitted by markk33831 on Tue, 03/29/2011 at 6:04 pm.

"The P-3C, A-10 and Barry are supporting the international response to the unrest in Libya. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 authorizes all necessary measures to protect civilians in Libya under threat of attack by Qadhafi regime forces."

Firing on ships in port certainly qualifies. If a Somali ship fired on civilians vessels in a Somali port and our military personnel witnessed it, would you want our forces to stand by and do nothing?

Gadhafi is nothing more than a thug turned dictator. President Reagan understood this and wanted to take him out in the 80's. It's too bad it wasn't done then. It would have saved the world and the Libyan people a lot of grief.

You know, don't you, that

Submitted by sandman2go on Tue, 03/29/2011 at 3:51 pm.

You know, don't you, that this whole thing is a lot broader than NO-Fly zones. Now we are protecting merchant ships. Next it will be "advisors" and boots on the ground. After all, no one can address this but us, right? We're the only ones with deep pockets, thanks to the American taxpayer. Soon your employer will just send your paycheck to the IRS, which will forward you whatever they feel is your "fair share".