Something appears to have changed in the waters off Somalia:
Somali pirates and a foreign warship clashed off the coast of the town of Hobyo in central Somalia, killing at least three of pirates and wounding four others, witnesses said Saturday.
Hassan Ilka-asse, a a fisherman in the coastal town of Hobyo told AHN by phone that the firefight erupted after one of the foreign warships approached the pirates’ boat.
“Heavy gun fire and shoulder launched missiles could be heard throughout the coastal area nearby. I think the ship was among [the] NATO Navy patrolling off Somalia coast” Ilka-asse explained, citing that he saw a NATO flag upon the top of ship.
He also said the ship completely destroyed the boat with a “big missile”.
Shame to waste a big missile on a small boat, but whatever gets the job done.
The story goes on to say that four more pirates were killed and 8 wounded in a helicopter strike last month.
Update: Doughty Denmark appears to have had enough -
A Danish warship attacked a pirate boat off Somalia, killing four pirates and freeing 16 Iranian hostages on board, Denmark’s navy said Sunday.
Ten other pirates were also wounded during gun battles between the Danish vessel Esbern Snare and the pirate “mother-ship” off Somalia on Thursday morning.
“The 16 hostages are waiting to see their families,” the navy said in statement.
“None of them and no one among the crew of the Esbern Snare was wounded,” it said>.
“The four pirates who were killed were buried at sea in accordance with NATO procedures and Muslim tradition.”
Twenty-four pirates were captured in the assault, and are awaiting their burial at sea in accordance with NATO procedures and Muslim tradition.
Or ought to be, anyway.
Esben Snare is classified as a “command and support” vessel of the Absalon class, and her ASuW weapons include RIM-7 Sea Sparrow and Harpoon.
Sir -
Big missiles used against small boats leave lasting memories among witnesses.
And without taking anything away from the Danes (tough, smart sailors always), Esben Snare sounds like a Harry Potter character.
“Harpoonus launchus!”
Mike
Surviving Somali Pirates’ note to self: “Steer clear of the Vikings..”
Happens when you name ships after Archbishops and the like. Although Snare did once outsmart a troll and his brother was Bishop of Roskilde, now home of a really kick arse music festival.
Sim-
Given some of the idiot politicians we’ve named ships after lately, I’d consider troll outsmarting a pretty decent resume’.
Mike
Agree, and place names are soft too, Good names for ships are stuff like (HMS) Warspite, (HMAS) Vampire and (HMAS) Vendetta.
Ships that sound like they want to tear your head off and gorge on your liver (and don’t sound wimpy on port visits abroad).
Sim-
Amen, brother. The closest we ever got to some of those classic RN names was USS Reprisal (CV-35), which, sadly, wasn’t even finished:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Reprisal_(CV-35)
Mike
With regard to place names I make an exception to the USS Canberra, names for one of HM’s Australian ships protecting the ships carrying the First Division USMC before the landing on Guadalcanal.
Bit of trivia, the OOW when HMAS Canberra was sunk later baptised his son with the bell from the USS Canberra (just off the line from Vietnam) as baptisimal font. Ships Chaplain was the Priest and the ships Captain was named as godfather.
In 2001 it was arranged that the bell be presented by then President Bush to the Australian Govt as then PM Howard was in town. OOW was invited, Mr. Bush apparently told a three star USMC General to take a phot of him, Howard, the OOW and OOW wife. The month was September, the OOW and his wife took up an offer to stay and visit Arlington with the PM and his wife and pushed back their flight.
Turns out the original was American Airlines Flight No.77. The one that crashed into the Pentagon.
Sorry for being so long winded but it’s a crazy story.
To: Somali Pirates
From: NATO
RE: Recent Changes in ROE
SUX TO BE YOU…..Have a nice time dealing with change in ROE.
Nothing else follows
Actually, my guess would be that missles and .50 cal follow, with vigor.
Me thinks the pirates must have been high on local vegetables to open fire on the Danish ship and expect to not be blown out of the water. Reminds me many, many years ago off the coast of II Corp, a coastal patrol swift boat challenged the completely darkened ship to “identify yourself or stand by to be blown out of the water!” The NEW JERSEY responded back, “fire for effect!”
Please tell us that they used all 9 of those pretty Mk. 7s.
Hey, if they wanted to use a Harpoon or RIM-7, fine, but they also have a 5″/54 that could’ve been utilized.
A “big missile” to those wannabes is anything above RPG status. Seems like even a smallish deck gun would settle their hash just dandy.
(Not to mention they are damn cheap to shoot, and joyous fun besides)
Something in a twenty-four pounder carronade perhaps?
I was thinking more along the lines of a 5″/38, but it would on the other hand be somehow fitting to sink 13th century idiots with 18th century firepower.
All right! Close-in patrolling….I think I like it!!! Can anyone say “Blockade”? Another great blast from the past.
Imagine the impact a CORTDIV of 4 BUTLER or RUDDEROW DEs could have made on the Nasties. 5″/38s, Bofors and Oerlikons vs AKs and PRGs. If a Zero with a 500 pounder to the wheelhouse didn’t stop ENGLAND, I think a BUTLER or RUDDEROW could have shaken off an RPG. Ah, well, they are extinct, alas, but at least we have the LCS, just one of which can take on all 4 IOWAs of BATDIV4 with one hand tied behind her back.
Does it count if you bury the Muslim pirates at sea by pushing them out of the plane door at 10,000 feet?
Marianne
I like the cut of your jib, Marianne.
…dead or not a pointless and not very Christian thing to do. Best
Uh huh. And it’s always better to do it the Muslim way than the Christian way, right, Snake?
Michelle…you missed my point entirely…let me clarify…
….I’m of the opninion that we in the Christian west, yes and including residents the Canadian Maritimes, should hold ourselves out, in word and deed, to a higher standard than do the barbarous radical Muslims…not so suprisingly some here think differently. Best
I wonder how much of the ransom money paid over the last few years is being used to fund the “Arab Spring”?