USS Porter Sinks Pirate Skiffs Off Somalia
The Porter is a Guided Missile Destroyer.
WASHINGTON– A U.S. Navy warship fired on and sank two skiffs used by pirates Sunday to hijack a merchant vessel off the coast of Somalia, U.S. officials said Monday.
The USS Porter responded to a distress call from the merchant vessel carrying benzene, the officials said. Sunday’s shooting took place in international waters, they said.
At the request of Somalia’s government, a second U.S. warship, the destroyer USS Arleigh Burke, is now shadowing the merchant ship inside Somali waters, the officials said.
In recent years, warships have stayed outside the 12-mile limit when chasing pirates.
The officials said that when the Porter fired on the skiffs tied up to the merchant vessel, it was not known the ship was filled with highly flammable benzene.
The U.S. ships are part of a international coalition that operates in the region to stop piracy and terrorism.
(CNN)
Be respectful of others and their opinions. Inflammatory remarks and inane leftist drivel will be deleted. It ain’t about free speech, remember you’re in a private domain. My website, my prerogative.
If you can't handle using your real email address, don't bother posting a comment.
“Arrr! Not me skiff!”
Sorry; couldn’t help it.
October 29th, 2007 at 3:33 pmBeautiful! Awesome work by the U.S. Navy
October 29th, 2007 at 4:06 pmYeah the DDG’s are the missile magnets of the fleet…Them as well as the CG’s are very sophisticated..
October 29th, 2007 at 4:13 pmArrrg! Habib and his peg-leg. he runs circles around us arrrg…
October 29th, 2007 at 5:10 pmFunnier than watching Peg-leg Habib dancing on a knotty pine floor!!!
October 29th, 2007 at 5:12 pmQ-Mech,
LMOA!!
October 29th, 2007 at 5:25 pmStupid Somali pirates. US warship vs Somali Paddle boat = target practice
October 29th, 2007 at 9:08 pmThe point now is that the merchant has been hijacked, and is under pirate control. What happens to the benzene, the ship, and the crew is going to be interesting to watch. I’d expect a boarding attempt.
October 29th, 2007 at 10:37 pm