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  • US Naval ship fires upon Somali pirates

    Security forces aboard a U.S. naval vessel fired warning shots toward two approaching small boats off the Somali coast Tuesday, the U.S. military said Wednesday.


    The USNS John Lenthall is one of 14 fleet refueling ships operated by Military Sealift Command.

    The rounds landed in the water, prompting the boats to turn around, and no casualties were reported, the military news release said.

    It is unclear whether the boats were trying to attack the 41,000-ton USNS John Lenthall, the military said.

    "It is clear they were not following the international rules of the road observed by mariners around the globe," it said.

    The release noted that the location of the incident, the types of boats involved and the maneuvering were all "consistent with reports from previous attacks on merchant vessels in the region."

    The USNS John Lenthall is one of 14 "fleet replenishment oilers" in the Military Sealift Fleet Support Command, according to a U.S. Navy Web site. Oilers refuel Navy ships at sea and any aircraft they may be carrying.

    Attacks by pirates have increased dramatically off the northern coast of Somalia in the past year, prompting the United States and other nations to step up patrols in the region.

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    Fortitude.....The strength to persist...The courage to endure.

  • #2
    Shes only a tanker but still proved shes not helpless in the least. Bet that ships security force loved the target practice.

    Should have destroyed their dumb asses instead!;)
    Fortitude.....The strength to persist...The courage to endure.

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    • #3
      TAKE THAT PIRATES!
      Attached Files

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      • #4
        Originally posted by Dreadnought View Post
        Shes only a tanker but still proved shes not helpless in the least. Bet that ships security force loved the target practice.
        I'm sure any U.S. military ship going anywhere near there loads up for bear.

        Wouldn't be surprised if non-combatants like that oiler have been seriously beefed up with heavy machine guns and ATGMs.
        “He was the most prodigious personification of all human inferiorities. He was an utterly incapable, unadapted, irresponsible, psychopathic personality, full of empty, infantile fantasies, but cursed with the keen intuition of a rat or a guttersnipe. He represented the shadow, the inferior part of everybody’s personality, in an overwhelming degree, and this was another reason why they fell for him.”

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        • #5
          Originally posted by Dreadnought View Post
          Attacks by pirates have increased dramatically off the northern coast of Somalia in the past year, prompting the United States and other nations to step up patrols in the region.
          Really? Seems to be pretty big words - i'm not aware of any US ships involved in the CTF150 AoR patrols at the moment.

          Going by Galrahn's latest list from Sep. 20th, all that's in the 5th Fleet AoR as far as USN ships go are:
          - CSG 7 (currently in the Gulf of Oman)
          - ESG 1 (currently in the Persian Gulf)
          - the minesweepers forward-deployed to Bahrain

          The action is a couple hundred miles west of CSG 7.

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          • #6
            Originally posted by kato View Post
            Really? Seems to be pretty big words - i'm not aware of any US ships involved in the CTF150 AoR patrols at the moment.

            Going by Galrahn's latest list from Sep. 20th, all that's in the 5th Fleet AoR as far as USN ships go are:
            - CSG 7 (currently in the Gulf of Oman)
            - ESG 1 (currently in the Persian Gulf)
            - the minesweepers forward-deployed to Bahrain

            The action is a couple hundred miles west of CSG 7.
            Try looking at today's CNN.com/World

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            • #7
              Yes? The only relevant thing there is what the opening post of this thread is about - an unescorted US MSC oil tanker passing through on a supply run to the Persian Gulf firing at some more or less harmless small boats.

              Oh yeah, and 17 civilians killed in Somalia as AU AMISOM troops were using tanks in combat.
              Last edited by kato; 24 Sep 08,, 23:21.

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              • #8
                Originally posted by kato View Post
                Yes? The only relevant thing there is what the opening post of this thread is about - an unescorted US MSC oil tanker passing through on a supply run to the Persian Gulf firing at some more or less harmless small boats.

                Oh yeah, and 17 civilians killed in Somalia as AU AMISOM troops were using tanks in combat.

                Trolling.................

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                • #9
                  MARAD ships are also "allowed" (ordered) to carry weapons on board as they have all American crews. Remember, I did some ship inspections for vulnerability to pirate or terrorist attacks a couple of years ago. The MARAD ships' armories were candy to my eyes. Everything from 9mm Berrettas up to the grand old "Mah Deuce" (my favorite for cutting down trees and telephone poles from my tank. Cheaper than using the 76).
                  Able to leap tall tales in a single groan.

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Ytlas View Post
                    Trolling.................
                    A trolling attempt would instead point out how the MSC ship fired first.

                    It remains a fact that the USN has significantly reduced their presence along the coast of Somalia. Sure, CSG 7 could be there within a day, but they aren't. And the Reagan wasn't even in the region last week.

                    European Allies - except for France - have also significantly reduced their presence over the past year (yes, i know, the EU plans a mission for the time when Germany takes over CTF150 command again in January). Duty was handed down first to Pakistan, and now Malaysia - seriously, what is Malaysia doing there, when they have a piracy problem to take care of in the Straits of Malakka themselves? Both the USN and European nations instead strengthen their surveillance assets in Djibouti - what're those P-3 gonna do? Drop a Mk50 on their head? CTF150 is reduced to 7-8 combat ships plus a few LSTs used for supply primarily. Compare that to what the flotilla had in the region 5 years ago - pitiful.
                    And the problem expands. Nowadays, pirate activity has expanded into the entire area farther north between Somalia, Yemen and Sokotra - which is where this ship was attacked too.

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                    • #11
                      Firing warning shots not allowed?


                      "Some have learnt many Tricks of sly Evasion, Instead of Truth they use Equivocation, And eke it out with mental Reservation, Which is to good Men an Abomination."

                      I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to.

                      HAKUNA MATATA

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by kato View Post
                        A trolling attempt would instead point out how the MSC ship fired first.

                        It remains a fact that the USN has significantly reduced their presence along the coast of Somalia. Sure, CSG 7 could be there within a day, but they aren't. And the Reagan wasn't even in the region last week.

                        European Allies - except for France - have also significantly reduced their presence over the past year (yes, i know, the EU plans a mission for the time when Germany takes over CTF150 command again in January). Duty was handed down first to Pakistan, and now Malaysia - seriously, what is Malaysia doing there, when they have a piracy problem to take care of in the Straits of Malakka themselves? Both the USN and European nations instead strengthen their surveillance assets in Djibouti - what're those P-3 gonna do? Drop a Mk50 on their head? CTF150 is reduced to 7-8 combat ships plus a few LSTs used for supply primarily. Compare that to what the flotilla had in the region 5 years ago - pitiful.
                        And the problem expands. Nowadays, pirate activity has expanded into the entire area farther north between Somalia, Yemen and Sokotra - which is where this ship was attacked too.
                        You are invited to look at other threads in the Naval forces section. The USN has had Guided Missle Destroyers (DDG's) patrolling the area off and on for some time now. The last post I believe involved the USS Winston Churchill running down pirates. Its not necessarily the USN's job to patrol the area but they do none the less. You would think that any countries merchant shipping or cruise liners that passes through the area would take more interest in its own security. Judging by recent headlines they still have not taken the hint.;)
                        Fortitude.....The strength to persist...The courage to endure.

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                        • #13
                          I think they should send a bait with guns and when the pirates come nearby blast the hell out of them. If we do this couple times every month, they wont have boats to get on to.
                          A grain of wheat eclipsed the sun of Adam !!

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Ray View Post
                            Firing warning shots not allowed?
                            IMO if you approach a USN ship with small fast boats in waters known for Piracy then you get what you get. IMO warning shots wouldn't even cross my mind. To hell with them sink em before they attack some other countries vessels. Bet they didnt think that tanker was armed. Surprise!
                            Fortitude.....The strength to persist...The courage to endure.

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by kato View Post
                              Yes? The only relevant thing there is what the opening post of this thread is about - an unescorted US MSC oil tanker passing through on a supply run to the Persian Gulf firing at some more or less harmless small boats.

                              Oh yeah, and 17 civilians killed in Somalia as AU AMISOM troops were using tanks in combat.
                              After what happened to the USS Cole in a friendly port they wont be taking any more chances and I certainly wouldn't blame them one iotta.
                              Fortitude.....The strength to persist...The courage to endure.

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