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There's stupid then there's STUPID

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/01/2010 : 10:50:59

[url="http://www.rr.com/news/topic/article/rr/9000/10838245/US_Navy_frigate_captures_5_pirates_near_Seychelles"]Pirates Attack Navy Warship[/url]

John Russell
1999 C250 SR/WK #410
Bay Village, Ohio
Sailing Lake Erie
Don't Postpone Joy!

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2010 : 11:35:52

or desperation . . .

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2010 : 16:18:20

It happened around midnight--one ship looks like another in the dark... They probably thought it was easy pickin's... SURPRISE!

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2010 : 16:27:07

I wonder how the pirates found them, unless the USN was deliberately exposing lights on the ship. When we were underway at night, we showed no lights other than required navigation, and if we were in "war time cruising" not even those.

However, when we played "Cowboys & Russkies", we'd rig our "Med Lights" (fore & aft lights running from the bow up to the top of the mast & back to the stern) to try to look like a cruise ship. It'd be interesting to hear how they happened upon the USN ship, because I'd bet they're in "war time cruising" mode. We always were when we were in that area of the world.

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2010 : 19:12:21

Apparently all of the ransom money they've collected isn't being reinvested in new pirate technology/hardware . . .

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2010 : 19:18:27

I've read that have night vision equipment--that might be the biggest mistake they made! Better to not to see a USN warship at night!

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Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2010 : 22:17:19

Makes me wish I was young enough to join the US Navy! Fighting pirates!

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 04/02/2010 : 04:57:04

Reminds me of the Monty Python scene where the knight continues to hurl insults each time he loses a limb.

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 04/02/2010 : 16:57:15

The part that I found most interesting in the article was the part about the ship that had be approached and were shot at some time back and they simply accelerated and out ran them. While I truly belive it is better not to kill than to kill, and, the Captain probably knew that he could simply leave the situation in his wake, I also understand that the rules of engagement usually say that you can return fire when fired upon. Some might say that you should in order to demonstrate that a strong response is the potential deterrent.

I know that these modified fishing boats are not a match for a US warship, but a single pirate could get lucky with his AK and hit a sailor on deck. A strong detterent might make the next bad guy think twice.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/03/2010 : 07:26:09

I'd be a little disappointed if a US warship elected to leave them in their wake... Their job out there is to protect other vessels, which means... well, doing something. And they did.

I'd also be worried about some of the other weapons those guys have, such as RPGs. I wonder if we have any Predators working the area.

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 04/04/2010 : 13:42:30

I agree Dave. That's why I was surprised when I read about the previous incident (a few paragraphs from the top of the article) when another Navy ship did just that --leave the bad guys in their wake.
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> Last May, pirates chased a U.S. Navy warship and fired small arms at it. The ship, which had recently served as a prison for captured pirates, increased speed and evaded the attack. French and Dutch naval ships also have been attacked by pirates.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> I wasn't there and it's easy being a Monday morning quarterback but, I think the right response would have been to blow them out of the water.

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