[Mishmash] So Quiet

Tue Apr 14 20:48:13 CDT 2009

At 10:27 PM 4/14/2009, you wrote:
>David,
>
>     I hope that those additional hijackings will make the world realize it
>is time for action.  Those four were not U.S. ships.  You saw what happened
>when the hijacked ship was one of ours.
>
>     Rumor has it (the Pentagon won't confirm or deny this) that they are
>planning attacks to hit the pirate encampments.  There are also rumors
>(again, not confirmed or denied) that that they are going to hit the mother
>ships that carry the speedboats out into international waters.  If they are
>destroyed, that will stop a lot of it.
>
>     Regards,
>
>
>
>                                                                 Fred

One of the problems is that the mother ships are themselves hijacked 
vessels, and destroying
them will deprive their rightful owners of their property.  The 
attacks would probably have
to be of a sort that wouldn't damage the ships themselves too 
severely, thought what it does
to their (current) crews probably doesn't matter as much.  Tear gas 
followed by...

>----- Original Message -----
>From: "David Brown" <djbrown at tpg.com.au>
>To: "'Mishmash'" <mishmash at mishmash.net>
>Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 5:02 PM
>Subject: Re: [Mishmash] So Quiet
>
>
> > I was very impressed with the precision attack by the seals.  They did a
> > wonderful job.
> >
> > I remain concerned that whilst Captain Phillips has been saved the problem
> > has not been addressed.  I think another 4 ships have been hijacked in the
> > last few days.
> >
> > David
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: mishmash-bounces at mishmash.net [mailto:mishmash-
> > > bounces at mishmash.net] On Behalf Of Richard Barth
> > > Sent: Wednesday, 15 April 2009 4:25 AM
> > > To: Mishmash
> > > Subject: Re: [Mishmash] So Quiet
> > >
> > > At 10:55 PM 4/13/2009, I wrote:
> > > >That may be a major part of the problem, Fred.  For the pirates,
> > > >it's a business.  For the shippers, it appears it's also a
> > > >business.  An article in the Post the other day quoted some expert
> > > >in the business as saying that it's cheaper for the shipping lines
> > > >to pay ransom than to protect their ships. Reasons include:
> > > >insurance rates go up if the crew is armed and  armed ships may not
> > > >be permitted to enter certain ports.  It appears that American crews
> > > >are being taught evasion tactics (such as zigzagging to avoid being
> > > >boarded) but not how to fight off pirates.  I'd be interested in
> > > >knowing how the crew of this ship managed to take back control from
> > > >the pirates.  Haven't read today's paper yet; it may be covered.
> > > >
> > > >There are mixed and confusing reports on exactly what happened.  An
> > > >early report said the captain offered himself as a hostage to
> > > >protect his crew.  Another, later on, said the crew had not only
> > > >repelled the pirates but taken one captive.  A bit of difference but
> > > >I've yet to find out where the truth lies.
> > > >
> > > >Once the captain and the four pirates were in the lifeboat, though,
> > > >the process was probably straight forward as far as the navy was
> > > >concerned.  Not having heard anything concrete, I visualize
> > > >something like this: The lifeboat is being circled by a destroyer,
> > > >and the pirates (at water level) can't see what's happening on
> > > >deck.  Seals go overboard on the far side of the deck where they
> > > >can't be seen.  They use rebreathing devices (are Momsen lungs still
> > > >being used?) to avoid making bubbles.  Swim to the lifeboat,
> > > >reconnoiter, and on a signal, surface and start firing at anything
> > > >that doesn't look American.   They already knew the general layout
> > > >from the UAV being used for surveillance. Wonder if that's how it
> > > >happened.  Anybody heard?
> > >
> > > Well, I finally got around to reading yesterday's paper, and the
> > > truth apparently was somewhere in the middle.  The crew managed to
> > > trap one pirate in the engine room and capture both him and the ship.
> > > The captain offered himself as a hostage if the pirates would leave
> > > his ship, with their promise to release him once they were off.  They
> > > didn't keep their promise, since he was the only leverage they had
> > > with a U.S. destroyer staring them in the face.
> > >
> > > A group of seals parachuted into the water and were picked up by the
> > > destroyer (which had since been joined by two other navy ships) and
> > > stationed a group of snipers on the fantail. A teenage pirate who had
> > > been injured in the takeover surrendered and was aboard the
> > > destroyer. Obama personally issued orders to take action if the
> > > captain's life was threatened. One of the three remaining pirates
> > > aimed an AK-47 at the captain's back, the on-site commander gave
> > > orders to the snipers to fire at will.  Result: three dead
> > > pirates.  A seal climbed down the tow rope (the destroyer was towing
> > > the lifeboat at the time) and took over the boat.  Captain taken on
> > > board the destroyer, given a chance to shower and get into some clean
> > > clothes.
> > >
> > > A lot simpler than my idea, but hey, it would have made a good book.
> > > :-)
> > >
> > > Dick
> > >
> > >
> > > Richard Barth *** W3HWN(at)ARRL.NET *** Silver Spring, MD
> > >
> > >
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> >
> >
> >
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Richard Barth *** W3HWN(at)ARRL.NET *** Silver Spring, MD 