Capt free, 3 pirates dead!

[Obie303]

I believe this is the most accurate account. I'm actually surprised the order to fire wasn't given sooner. If what I read is correct, the range was somewhere around 25-30 yards. My 79 year-old mother in law could make that shot.

On a moving ship shooting at a moving target?  I also read that the shots were taken simultaneously.  Three terrorists, one sniper for each terrorist, one shot, and three dead terrorist.  Nice shooting no matter what the range was.

[Cthulhu]

On a moving ship shooting at a moving target?  I also read that the shots were taken simultaneously.  Three terrorists, one sniper for each terrorist, one shot, and three dead terrorist.  Nice shooting no matter what the range was.

Certainly not knocking the shooters. My point was that, given the proximity, I'm surprised they didn't pop these guys earlier, especially when they didn't have their AK's leveled at the captain.

[Die Hard]

And that is exactly why all these nations had to send some 30+ ship alot of them warships to patrol coast's with how many thousands of sailors on them, burning fuel wasting time and resources from all those nations.

These ships need to be armed them self's, strap a few 20mm or .50's on them.

The problem is that a good number of nations, including America, would not take kindly to heavily armed foreign ships sailing in their waters and entering their ports. The Coast Guard might also object if the ships they need to search for contraband are better armed than they are. It just isn't practically and politically feasible.

[BaDkaRmA158Th]

The coast guard has medium machine guns and .50 cal sniper rifles to disable ships (small ones), i would say that's fairly on the lines with what is needed, the civilian ships need this too, ports also need to be defended. And not enough defence as to stop a invasion, just enough to stop 4-6 ships full of punk asse's with ak-s and Rpg's.

The problem is also each ship taken and captured further increases the weath and (reason) for new pirates to pick up a gun, grab a boat and try to high jack someones ship. Its becoming popular again...how much would you like to bet the average person is more concerned about the raids incoming $ for ransoms and what they can do with the $, than they are about learning to read or wright. You all saw the report's of the happy villagers and shop owners praising the pirates for the recent money influx. The mother of one of the pirates killed recently condeming america for her sons death and claming her son is fighting for they're nation & people, and for there shiping lanes, fish. So lady,your son went out to fish with ak-47's & Rpg's  and came back with 30 hostages a huge ship & a few million in food, sent to other starving nations in international waters. I suppose the term fishing is different to you and your people then it is for the rest of the world.



Difference between a Pirate, High Jacker & Terrorest?  Absolutely nothing, only motive and the end resolve.

[Angus]

Civilian ships are not allowed to be armed with anything bigger than a few small arms.

How would those be defined? By max cal, numbers, or restrictions on automatic? For those Pirate boats sure don't offer much cover, nor do they serve as a good platform. Just my thoughts....

[Die Hard]

Many nations such as the UK do not allow armed ships from entering their ports. So to prevent problems many of the large shipping lines just say no guns on the ships. The International Maritime Organization forbids arming the crews of civilian vessels. It is very adamant about that, but they do offer a loophole that if the owners of the ships want them armed, they can.

Traditionally if a ship is "flagged" as a ship sailing under the flag of a particular nation, that nation is responsible for ensuring the ship is safe on the high seas. Over the years, due to a number of factors, many ships have gone with a Liberian flag. As if Liberia can protect anything.

During the Iran Iraq War, the USA allowed a number of Kuwaiti ships to be re-flagged as American ships and the US Navy protected them, but that was in the days of Reagan when the US Navy was building up to over 500 ships.

What you may see is in the near future is armed civilian (read: merc) escort ships that follow a ship to port but do not enter the port and instead stay outside waiting for their ship to come back out. Those escort ships will be able to be armed to the teeth.

[BaDkaRmA158Th]

What you may see is in the near future is armed civilian (read: merc) escort ships that follow a ship to port but do not enter the port and instead stay outside waiting for their ship to come back out. Those escort ships will be able to be armed to the teeth.

This i like, very very much.

[eagl]

Certainly not knocking the shooters. My point was that, given the proximity, I'm surprised they didn't pop these guys earlier, especially when they didn't have their AK's leveled at the captain.

A later follow-up news article said that the pirates were being very careful to not expose themselves, so the snipers couldn't guarantee getting all three at once.  But the poor snipers got hungry/tired/sleepy that last night, and made a mistake.  Two snipers showed themselves outside of the concealment of the lifeboat cover, and the third one was briefly visible through the lifeboat window.  Briefly, because a second later his head was not all there anymore.  In short, after they were given the order to take them out at the first opportunity they were waiting for all three to be visible at one time so they could get them all at one time.  As soon as that happened, they took the shot.

At least, that's the story according to some govt official who gave a briefing on the subject.

[mechanic]

 Of course, that is sop for this type of situation. Don't start a firefight untill you've already won it without the chance of casualties. If the captain had been shot, no matter why, the blood would be on the Navy's hands and the media would enjoy rubbing it in.
 It really amazes me that criminals could be that stupid....the first rule of a hostage situation is to always leave one person with a gun to a civillian's head behind a closed door. Just like no right minded officer would put all his medics in the same foxhole or airline pilots choosing different meals from the menu. Total noob mistake...have they not seen that pirate film with johnny depp?

[BluKitty]

A good Vermont man and family...
I was really angry at all the media bothering his family however.  If things hadn't turned out well, the media hassling the family of this hero would have been horribly tragic.  I know idiots who said they wanted to go drive by his house... have a little respect folks, and try not to be supportive of the media circus that surrounded his family.  Things did turn out OK, so I guess it's OK... but... well, I said my piece on that subject.

That said... way to 'represent' Vermont... Him & his family live at the foot of Mansfield, I can see it from where I'm sitting (in daytime anyway).

A true hero that consciously puts his life on the line for his crew.   

[Angus]

Many nations such as the UK do not allow armed ships from entering their ports. So to prevent problems many of the large shipping lines just say no guns on the ships. The International Maritime Organization forbids arming the crews of civilian vessels. It is very adamant about that, but they do offer a loophole that if the owners of the ships want them armed, they can.

Traditionally if a ship is "flagged" as a ship sailing under the flag of a particular nation, that nation is responsible for ensuring the ship is safe on the high seas. Over the years, due to a number of factors, many ships have gone with a Liberian flag. As if Liberia can protect anything.

During the Iran Iraq War, the USA allowed a number of Kuwaiti ships to be re-flagged as American ships and the US Navy protected them, but that was in the days of Reagan when the US Navy was building up to over 500 ships.

What you may see is in the near future is armed civilian (read: merc) escort ships that follow a ship to port but do not enter the port and instead stay outside waiting for their ship to come back out. Those escort ships will be able to be armed to the teeth.

Allright! And maybe the old concept of the "Q-Ships" comes alive again.....
Anyway, since our fishing vessels sometimes dock in other countries, it makes me wonder. For frequently crewmembers are armed, and I think the captain always is. The crew do it for sport, - shooting birds and such. Then there is the odd chance of putting small whales out of their misery if they get tangled up - for that they use 12 gauge slugs normally, or a heavy caliber hunting rifle.
All those weapons are registered to the owner though. So the crewmember must have a gun licence, that's all.
But what they do when they enter a foreign port just beats me. Maybe the captain must lock down all arms? Does the loophole allow some flexibility for the skipper? Armed at sea, disarmed before docking?

[Eagler]

[Ack-Ack]

Civilian ships are not allowed to be armed with anything bigger than a few small arms.

That is not true at all.  The only real limiting factor is the insurance companies balking at letting the merchant ships carry weapons because 1) lack of crew training in firearms 2) danger to the ship 3) danger to the cargo. 

There is a US federal statute that allows US owned/flagged merchant vessals to arm themselves to protect against pirate attacks and to engage and capture pirate ships as well.  Don't think this statute has been used since the Barbary Pirate days but it's still on the books.


ack-ack

[Angus]

Now that brings up points!

[mechanic]

(Image removed from quote.)

wow that was quick... I'm glad the US navy dont mess around. It would be a shame to have such strength and be bent over and shafted by some pirates. It's a new world for crime.
 Smart criminals are still one step ahead...for now. Stupid or desperate criminals better be ready to have their skull popped when it all goes wrong. Sure, they would like to take you into custody and lock you away for a long time if you go quietly, but killing people has never been easier and less personal than today. Kids play these combat missions on their Xbox. You show any threat to anything but yourself and youre going to die quickly at the first chance. In a strange way, our technology of war is the cause of soft targets being the focus of warfare in this current age of man.