Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Swoop on May 02, 2009, 06:22:12 AM
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Well ok, it was the Israeli security team that fought them off really but it's still a good story:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/piracy/5251153/British-tourist-celebrates-birthday-by-fighting-off-pirates.html
Wyn Rowlands, 62, was enjoying some fresh air on the deck of the Melody in the final hours of his birthday on Saturday night when he saw a small boat approaching through the darkness.
At the time the Italian ship, with 1,500 passengers and crew on board, was sailing 200 miles north of the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean, the new hunting ground for Somalia's notorious pirate gangs.
"He was the first person on board to see them, his first reaction was to throw a deck chair down at them," said a spokesman for MSC Cruises in London.
"It was a pretty brave thing to do considering these guys were armed. Mr Rowlands then immediately alerted the captain, who called for our security team to deal with the situation."
The retired engineer, who was sailing with his wife on the cruise from Durban in South Africa to Genoa, Italy, was ushered into the safety of his cabin.
"He is understandably pretty pleased with himself for taking the action that he did, and we are very grateful to him for keeping calm and alerting the captain so fast," added the MSC spokesman.
The team of Israeli private security guards opened fire above the heads of the pirates, who fled but followed the 670ft Melody for another 20 minutes, firing at it constantly.
"We're very proud of them and that they promptly tackled the emergency," said Gianluigi Aponte, whose family owns the cruise company.
"All security measures worked perfectly and [the] captain followed all security protocols to guide the ship out of danger. The crew showed great professionalism and extreme clarity."
Mr Rowlands and his wife are still on board the Melody, which is now in the southern Red Sea after being escorted through the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden by a Spanish warship.
The couple will continue their 22-day cruise to Italy.
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The mistake here was "firing above their heads". Should have been firing at their heads.
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The mistake here was "firing above their heads". Should have been firing at their heads.
Yep considering this.
The team of Israeli private security guards opened fire above the heads of the pirates, who fled but followed the 670ft Melody for another 20 minutes, firing at it constantly.
But still a nice job throwing the chair at them. :lol
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I really dont understand WHY if they know where the pirates are operating they continue to sail passenger liners thru that area! ? :confused:
Why dont they have naval ships cruising up and down the shipping lanes in that area patrolling? Several countries have naval assets close by operating, It would make mores sense to move them to where the pirates are NOW operating. For that matter why not have a few destroyers on picket duty off the coast close to the harbors these numbnuts ship out from?
you would think that college edumacated politicians could figure this out. Since they wont let the commanders on scene make those kind of decisions.
I know its probably WAY to much to ask tho :noid
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...followed the 670ft Melody for another 20 minutes, firing at it constantly.
Think that means the security got someone? They're supposed to be after money, not blood. Though I'm sure some of them would get a kick out of harassing the ship. Especially after they got a chair thrown at them.
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I really dont understand WHY if they know where the pirates are operating they continue to sail passenger liners thru that area! ? :confused:
Why dont they have naval ships cruising up and down the shipping lanes in that area patrolling? Several countries have naval assets close by operating, It would make mores sense to move them to where the pirates are NOW operating. For that matter why not have a few destroyers on picket duty off the coast close to the harbors these numbnuts ship out from?
you would think that college edumacated politicians could figure this out. Since they wont let the commanders on scene make those kind of decisions.
I know its probably WAY to much to ask tho :noid
1. Pretty sure pirates aren't going to be attacking Naval assets.
2. Pretty sure pirates aren't running around advertising they are pirates. No Jolly Rogers flying.
Personally I'm a fan of the Q-ship idea.
wrongway
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they need to hide some deck guns on the ships like they did in WWII. Wait till they get close the ship then spring the trap and open up.
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I really dont understand WHY if they know where the pirates are operating they continue to sail passenger liners thru that area! ? :confused:
Why dont they have naval ships cruising up and down the shipping lanes in that area patrolling? Several countries have naval assets close by operating, It would make mores sense to move them to where the pirates are NOW operating. For that matter why not have a few destroyers on picket duty off the coast close to the harbors these numbnuts ship out from?
you would think that college edumacated politicians could figure this out. Since they wont let the commanders on scene make those kind of decisions.
I know its probably WAY to much to ask tho :noid
They have to in order to have access to the Suez canal. The distances needing patrols is vast, most of the pirate attacks happen away from The Somali coast. Cost of sailing around is also a factor.
Map here: -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7998861.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7906849.stm
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they need to hide some deck guns on the ships like they did in WWII. Wait till they get close the ship then spring the trap and open up.
That is a Q Ship (http://www.history.navy.mil/docs/wwii/Q-ships.htm).
wrongway
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I like the idea :aok
Put a few wolves in sheep's clothing and see how the pirates like receiving a nautical smack down. :salute :devil