The Great Pirates off the Somali Coast thread

[navy09]

I would say that a well armed Fireteam-sized element could effectively deter any attempts to board a vessel...

Or better yet, CIWS in surface mode.

 

[Uncle Fester]

Or better yet, CIWS in surface mode.

Which is indeed cool...I saw a live-fire when they were first introduced, and four words: Wrath of God, Motherfucker. But it'd be a trick getting them aboard merchies.

Like NavAir said, killing the SOB's isn't the problem. We've obviously got the tools at our disposal. It's finding out who's who in the zoo in order to kill the actual pirate scum. The same guys are fishing or running coastal light cargo two days a week, out pirate-ing another two, and zapped out on khat the rest of the time. Shit, they're the only people in Somalia who have jobs. Looking suspicious really isn't enough to light them up, much fun as that would be, and by the time they actually do anything, it's usually too late and they're aboard the merchie and our problem becomes less War at Sea and more hostage rescue.

Now if we could just get the pirates to start flying Jolly Rogers again, boom, problem solved.

I would bet money that eventually the solution will be a combination of convoy, faster merchies, private security aboard, and a few plausibly-deniable raids when all else fails. Money talks, and the lines are losing money on ridiculous insurance premiums, even if they themselves aren't losing ships.

 

[armada1651]

Now if we could just get the pirates to start flying Jolly Rogers again, boom, problem solved.

Well therein lies the answer then...we just need to get some PSYOPS underway to convince these guys they would be 200% more badass if they hoisted the skull and crossbones.

 

[SteveG75]

Now if we could just get the pirates to start flying Jolly Rogers again, boom, problem solved.

We could start with the Sea Shepherd idiots from "Whale Wars":

 

[navy09]

US Navy Captures Pirates in GOA

USS Vella Gulf responded to a distress call from a ship saying pirates had just attempted to board them. They intercepted the pirate boat and sent a VBSS team over, which detained the occupants without incident. They recovered multiple weapons, including RPGs. The pirates are being held onboard VELLA GULF.

Navy.mil story: http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=42526

NBC News report: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#29147468

 

[bubblehead]

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhh....

 

[eddie]

So now what? Can we make them walk the plank?

 

[scoolbubba]

hang them from a yardarm.

 

[Cron]

The Navy be a cruel mistress. irate_12

 

[Bevo16]

Talk about a SWO wet dream.

 

[m0tbaillie]

Talk about a SWO wet dream.

"If she's lucky she'll be seeing my SW"O" face!"

 

[navy09]

Talk about a SWO wet dream.

Indeed

 

[DanMa1156]

Talk about a SWO wet dream.

Nonetheless, being able to claim you captured pirates is pretty BAMF. BZ to that VBSS team and the whole crew who coordinated that victory.

 

[Junkball]

Keelhaul them?

 

[swerdna]

They'll probably return them to Somalia and destroy their weapons. It's not like they're going to Guantanamo Bay (I am being serious that is not a threadjack or an instigation to debate GITMO).