Fox Is Reporting Captain Richard Phillips Free After A Fire Fight 3 Pirates Dead

[d90king]

Fox is reporting that the Captain was freed after he jumped over and the pirates were taken out. :D As Mark LaRue says God bless our troops.... especially our snipers!!! Seals involved more to follow!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,514719,00.html

[Rich-D]

That is Great News! :) Captain Richard Phillips should receive the USA's highest civilian award for bravery!

Rich

[d90king]

I agree! It sounds like snipers took them out. God bless our troops.

[flyfish]

I hope they can figure out a way for these ships to be able to defend themselves. It's a big ocean over there equal to the coastline of the eastern U.S. and the navy can't be everywhere. Kudos to the bravery and dedication to all involved.

[d90king]

I believe you could start to see small arms aloud sometime down the road. We are very fortunate that this turned out the way it did.

[Rich-D]

It all about money! In addition to the cost of supplying and manning arms on a ship. The major problem, is the fact that the insurance premiums are so high for ships that are armed, that it has been more cost effective to pay the ransoms.


Rich

[d90king]

That is very much a big part of the issue. Sad that you are unable to defend yourself because it is to expensive.

[kenhwind]

Well at least three Pirates got what they deserved, the fourth should be hung.
I'm sorry these perpetraters do not deserve any mercy.
I'm glad Captain Phillips is OK, he is a true seaman.

[WhoaCowboy]

Can't wait for more details. I discussed this strategy with friends Friday night at a get together. We concluded Seals would be involved. WAY TO GO.

[kenhwind]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/piracy
My brother E-mailed me this alittle more than what we have so far.

[BluegrazzGuy]

Three head shots while both the shooters and the pirates were bobbing up and down! Nice shooting!

As far as ships carrying arms in the future, don't hold your breath. From what I understand there are several obstacles to this. First, the ports which the ships frequent may have strict gun laws which could result in prison time for those who violate the laws. Second, the fear has been resistance by arms would result in escalated violence. These pirates have access to more than rifles. They can get RPGs and heavier weapons. Merchant crews have been trained in non-lethal defense like evasion, high pressure water cannons, etc. in order to avoid escalation.

Has this been the right policy? I guess we'll find out. Some of the pirates already appear to be talking revenge.

[Rich-D]

The pirates are already armed with RPG's and have used them: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1159564/Terror-1-200-Britons-Somali-pirates-rocket-launchers-attack-cruise-ship.html

French Commando's stormed a ship and released the hostages:http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/04/10/somalia.france/index.html

And the British press got it all wrong when they reported:

In that sense, the stand-off is the perfect emblem of America's military problems in the world. Its warships have the pirates surrounded. But in being willing to hold captives, the pirates currently seem to have all the cards. Indeed, America's best weapon is not ships, it is trained FBI negotiators. Perhaps that, too, is a lesson for the pirates: talking, not shooting, offers solutions.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/12/somalia-pirates-hostage-richard-phillips

IMHO. Living in fear of retaliation and escalation, only emboldens and strengthens the bully, the criminal, the terrorist or the pirates.


Rich

[Rekladan]

I can only imagine how frustrated many of these people are. Wanting to have guns on board, and not being able to.

As for that Guardian article, well, Britain is the only free country I know of whose gun laws are stricter than ours... I really love Brits. I spent 7 years living in Britain and I love the place, weather and all (not too bad, actually), but the general view most of its people seem to have of guns is hard to put in context. An English friend of mine recounted a trip he took to Athens years ago, and (without knowing my interest in firearms) said that one of the things he remembers most vividly is that a Greek policeman he ran into was armed...

[joffe]

This pirate [stuff] is really getting on my nerves. There seems to be no spine left in the world, noone willing to stand up to these knuckleheads but a couple of navies (and as we all know and have seen, they can't be all over the east african coast which is where they need to be to stop this nowadays).

Time to either

a) go empty the surplus warehouses and put some mk19s and .50's on the merchant ships. We'll see what the pirates in their little outboard engined crafts think about challenging an armed, stable merchant ship then.
b) hire PSCs. There's plenty of them and they're always looking for work.

But we all know neither one will happen. Ships are embassies of their flag nation, and even if they should get trouble it's not like merchant sailors aren't used to bribing officials to get where they want to. It's practically mandatory nowadays. Even if that wouldn't work having some cheap combloc weapons onboard that can be dumped overboard before going to shore shouldn't impact the bottom line too much.

But oh no, the ships will continue to wait until the pirates are alongside and well within range and then attempt to stop them with fire hoses. :mad: :mad: :mad:

This strikes home because I work on a ship myself. If we're ordered across that cesspit without proper arms one way or another, I'm not, not anymore.

[Rekladan]

I'm not sure the 'embassy to the flag nation' argument is very strong. Many ship-owning companies have no trouble registering their ships under the flag of another nation, if that means that they can save some money on taxation, so a country with a, shall we say 'generous' outlook to guns on board, would have worked, if harbours and trading ports would allow these ships in.

Of course, the guns we're discussing are not necessarily heavyweights - maybe there is a business in a firm that keeps its own small vessels patrolling near the ports its contracted firm uses, and off-loads the guns from their customers just before they go to shore and load them back on board the cargo ship as soon as they're out again.

The real irony here is that many of these ships already carry very sophisticated equipment, including radar that can locate nearby vessels acting suspiciously, so even your basic, run-of-the-mill Browning .50 cal really would go a long way in solving the problem...

[joffe]

Exactly. You've got your malnourished little pirates with AKs and RPGs in a tiny boat going about in the waves like a carousel, and then you have a rock stable, large merchant ship. If it was armed, I think we have a word for that. It's called 'plinking'. ;)

[Rich-D]

I forsee the military manning merchant ships with adaquate manpower and arms to handle any threat poised by two bit pirates. We armed merchant ships during WWll in spite of the threat that U Boats would torpedo ships without warning if we did!


Rich

[joffe]

I don't know if yall read John Robb's blog but he has some insight on things like this. Here's his newest..

http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/2009/04/pirate-links.html

[d90king]

Like I said "God bless our troops ..... especially our snipers!!!!!!!!!!!

[kenhwind]

The taxpayers should be happy, the Seals didn't waste any precious ammo. i don't know the distance, but I've been out in boats and yacht enough to realize that was some fine marksmanship.

The International Community needs to dish some good old fashioned "Maritime Justice"

And I sure like the "Ma Deuce" idea. M2 HB Browning Machine Gun.

[Tom]

i don't know the distance, but I've been out in boats and yacht enough to realize that was some fine marksmanship.
Amen, especially when you consider that the lifeboat these thugs were in was likely pitching and rolling in the water.

[d90king]

Add that (the conditions at sea) to having to take them out simultaneously and you realize how amazing our troops are. :)

[flyfish]

I wonder how long they had to hold their position before taking the shots. That to me is one of the toughest parts. Concentrating and preparing to take the shot for what could have been hours.

[kenhwind]

Rhythm. They used the rhythm of the ocean to place their shots. These guys are good: 1..2..3..bang. They're SEALS first, and snipers second, and have some of the best training in the world.
SEALS think Marines are baby sitters: LOL
I knew one, he was UDT and a member of one of the first SEAL teams. We were quite intoxicated at a work party once. A Cambodian that we worked with liked to hang a empty soda can on your belt, and he saw the shadows moving on the walls.

[flyfish]

My father who was a Marine DI always told me the Navy was only good for transportation to the fight so the Marines could win the battle. He did say the food onboard was good though!

[kenhwind]

Was your "ole man" a DI at Parris Island, when and what battalion?
Oh yes the Navy and Marines had good chow.
What I wrote ain't really true, about the babysitters that is.
Parris Island class of 1972, 2nd Battalion, Platoon 299
Tell your Dad that Ken sends his regards, "Semper Fi"

[flyfish]

I believe he was at Camp Pendelton in California but I don't know too many other details. First to Go Last to Know! Semper Fi Do or Die!

[Rich-D]

Flyfish Quote: "My father who was a Marine DI always told me the Navy was only good for transportation to the fight so the Marines could win the battle. He did say the food onboard was good though!"

However, the navy did provide some awesome firepower in support. And their UDT teams would survey the landing site and take out any obstructions. Also, they would set up a blockade to prevent support getting to the enemy.

If you want to see present day Marines in action, see: Fight for Fallujah, on the History Channel. It is inspiring!

Rich

[flyfish]

I'll keep an eye out for it on the History Channel reruns Rich. After reading Flags of Our Fathers I am in awe of all who serve and all have served in the past. Just read a book about Chesty Puller who I believe was the most decorated Marine in history. It was a very good read.

[Rich-D]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2009/04/13/2009-04-13_from_the_us_how_5_days_of_drama_on_the_high_seas_unfolded.html

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2009/04/12/2009-04-12_pirates_vow_to_avenge_deaths.html


Rich

[d90king]

The SEALS are second to none in our military.


That is unless you ask the ARMY, or Marines. :)

[Rich-D]

It is too bad the Captain did not know how to operate an AK47

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6188554.ece


Rich

[d90king]

I find that to be a little disturbing considering the waters he was sailing in. He and his company were well aware of the dangers and he and his crew should have had training in small arms operation.

Think about it the AK is one of the simplest of rifles to operate, pull the bolt back and pull the trigger. If the safety is up push it down and repeat step one. :confused:

[Rekladan]

Well, if it is a 'battle find', it might pay to do some clearance drills, but I think the main issue is mentality. You SHOULD take an interest in the operation of an AK if you do that job, as far as I'm concerned. Just MHO

[d90king]

Well, if it is a 'battle find', it might pay to do some clearance drills, but I think the main issue is mentality. You SHOULD take an interest in the operation of an AK if you do that job, as far as I'm concerned. Just MHO
I agree...

[OD*]

Latest video from rescue;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkrDWfn2zzM

[d90king]

Latest video from rescue;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkrDWfn2zzM
:lm: :lm: :lm: :lm:

[kenhwind]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkrDWfn2zzM
Wonderfull :appld: :appld: :appld:

[carsten1911]

Dear friends,

training to operate an AK is probably not too hard.... if you get a chance to do so!
Seamen travel to all kinds of seas and countries, and what is allowed in the first harbor might get you to jail in the next one. So their mostly unsteady life keeps them from having things that could be counterband somewhere around the world.
Its certainly harder for a seaman to have a gun and train with it.

(Being a gun-guy myself I admit to never having held an AK in my hands!)

Not having been in that lifeboat I dunno what I would have done....it takes quite some guts to take action at all against several armed guys, dont you think so?
Thirst, heat and sunburn are not the best basis for sophisticated decisions in situations you suddenly stumble into...so dont be hard on the good captain!

(Oh...and think of the SEAL sniper´s as well: They wouldnt have got the chance to show their skills had the pirates been shot dead before! A successful hostage rescue sure is a morale booster...)

Carsten

[d90king]

You are correct about the AK being "not hard" to operate. I don't think I have found an easier weapon to operate and disassemble.