snooks
Well-Known Member
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Crew of Quest shot dead
- Thread starter snooks
- Start date
armchairsailor
Well-Known Member
Reading between the lines of the Sky report it appears to me that 2 of the pirates were shot before the yanks got there - is this a case of bible in one hand and a gun in the other perchance?
Not nice whatever.
Not nice whatever.
Sailfree
Well-Known Member
Really sad that the Quest crew have been murdered however niave they may have been.
Interesting to see what US does with the captives. Any threat to their lives and extended court procedure may increase the likelyhood of US boats being targeted for a prisoner exchange. The US may regret allowing any survivers from this incident.
It does raise the piracy stakes though in a similar way to the aircraft hijacks years ago. Remember letting a number of the hijackers go and of course good old UK gave some political asylum instead of a trial!
Interesting to see what US does with the captives. Any threat to their lives and extended court procedure may increase the likelyhood of US boats being targeted for a prisoner exchange. The US may regret allowing any survivers from this incident.
It does raise the piracy stakes though in a similar way to the aircraft hijacks years ago. Remember letting a number of the hijackers go and of course good old UK gave some political asylum instead of a trial!
sarabande
Well-Known Member
it sounds as if the crew had a concealed weapon, and decided to take their chances. It's a sad, very sad conclusion, and I wonder what the next stage in escalation by the US forces will be ? Pre-emptives by submarine ?
armchairsailor
Well-Known Member
Given the nature of the incident, I think the temptation for marines to start quoting the bible au Samuel L Jackson (Ezekiel, Chapter 5, vs 13) will be high.
"...I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and fuuuuurious anger..."
God bless America.
"...I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and fuuuuurious anger..."
God bless America.
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rallyveteran
Well-Known Member
At present we are relying on the US military's account of how these unfortunate people met their death.
The case of Linda Norgrove comes to mind. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-11900709 Initially the media were told that she had been shot by her captors during a rescue attempt. Only after a post mortem was it established that she was killed by a grenade thrown by the US troops attempting to rescue her. Several US troops were disciplined for trying to stop the truth coming out.
The case of Linda Norgrove comes to mind. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-11900709 Initially the media were told that she had been shot by her captors during a rescue attempt. Only after a post mortem was it established that she was killed by a grenade thrown by the US troops attempting to rescue her. Several US troops were disciplined for trying to stop the truth coming out.
idpnd
Well-Known Member
I suspect as much - why would they kill all hostages? Doesn't make sense
Duffer
Well-Known Member
Probably for the reason given by Sarabande. It is an extremely sad outcome.
Wandering Star
Well-Known Member
That is so sad.
I have absolutely no criticism of any Navy of any nationality for having a go whatever the outcome and I encourage it. But the subsequent response by the US Navy in taking these pirates captive instead of sinking their boat with them on it, hardly sends out a tough message. Seriously, what's the message it does send out? Murder and plunder innocent sailors in exchange for either a multi million dollar payoff at best or a few years in a centrally heated or air conditioned cell enjoying 3 square meals a day and cable television at worse. It's a win win outcome for the pirates. All the navies should confer and agree a common policy on dealing with these pirates, Russia chairing the discussions. You can't have one navy blowing them out of the water (hoorah) and another navy offering them tea and bikkies (Boo).
Cheers, Brian.
I have absolutely no criticism of any Navy of any nationality for having a go whatever the outcome and I encourage it. But the subsequent response by the US Navy in taking these pirates captive instead of sinking their boat with them on it, hardly sends out a tough message. Seriously, what's the message it does send out? Murder and plunder innocent sailors in exchange for either a multi million dollar payoff at best or a few years in a centrally heated or air conditioned cell enjoying 3 square meals a day and cable television at worse. It's a win win outcome for the pirates. All the navies should confer and agree a common policy on dealing with these pirates, Russia chairing the discussions. You can't have one navy blowing them out of the water (hoorah) and another navy offering them tea and bikkies (Boo).
Cheers, Brian.
Major Catastrophe
Well-Known Member
That is so sad.
There is no indication in those news reports that they had a weapon and I seriously doubt they would try and take on 15 armed pirates in a relatively small space, even if some are tied alongside in another boat.
I wouldn't attempt it and I know how to handle a weapon.
If you are out gunned, you WILL die.
There is no indication in those news reports that they had a weapon and I seriously doubt they would try and take on 15 armed pirates in a relatively small space, even if some are tied alongside in another boat.
I wouldn't attempt it and I know how to handle a weapon.
If you are out gunned, you WILL die.
idpnd
Well-Known Member
Summon massacring of prisoners tends to be frowned upon - ever since the Nazis overdid it a bit..
Boo2
Well-Known Member
Well, whatever actually occcurred it seems to me to underline the inadvisability of being in a small boat that is subject to machine gun fire. Given the videos available on youtube showing bullet penetration, I personally hope no naval "rescues" will ever be applied to me if the worst should happen.
Boo2
idpnd
Well-Known Member
The Frenchies already fcked it up once http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/10/hostage-killed-as-french-storm-pirate-yacht
I wouldnt want to be "rescued" by trigger happy types thanks
I wouldnt want to be "rescued" by trigger happy types thanks
robp
Well-Known Member
Until recently physical attacks and killings were not part of the pirate's m.o. Now it will all be ramped up by the U.S. I fervently hope that the reported 100's of hostages held on vessels and in Somalia will not be subject to retribution.
nmeyrick
Well-Known Member
A very sad end to a sorry tale, and the response to this unfortunate outcome should be contrasted against that to the RN's more cautious approach with the Chandlers when this type of approach was exactly what most, though not all, were advocating. Unfortunately any pirate attack is a very risky situation, whether forces go in or not.
I would at least hope that this robust approach may do something to discourage the pirates from future attacks as not only did several of the hired hands lose their lives but more importantly the Mr Bigs will not make any money in this case. To the sick individuals who run this game it is a business, and if no ransom is received the whole operation becomes unviable.
I would at least hope that this robust approach may do something to discourage the pirates from future attacks as not only did several of the hired hands lose their lives but more importantly the Mr Bigs will not make any money in this case. To the sick individuals who run this game it is a business, and if no ransom is received the whole operation becomes unviable.
Bosun Higgs
N/A
You cant chase a speedboat with a submarine!
The yanks ought to mine the Somali coast. If that means food becomes scarce then they can used their stolen money to buy it in.
armchairsailor
Well-Known Member
Discouraging further pirate attacks could be simply and effectively acheived without further loss of life by all NAVFOR ships simply flying the Russian flag. Ain't nobody going to mess around with that lot, thereby protecting those that don't have sanction to shoot on sight from having to do so.
prv
Well-Known Member
Can you not?
They're noisy things, you can hear them a mile away with the unaided ear underwater, so a submarine can certainly follow them.
Top speeds of submarines aren't reliably published, but Teh Interwebs seem to reckon from 30 to upwards of 40 knots (possibly a bit overhyped).
Quick look with a periscope from astern (unlikely to be noticed by qatted-up pirates) to check what you're following.
Seems like the most likely problem is torpedoes not being designed to work against small boats - confused by their lack of bulk and draught and looking a lot like a wave trough which the torpedo is meant to avoid. But I'm sure they could be suitably reprogrammed by the manufacturer if required.
Pete
snooks
Well-Known Member
From Reuters
"Two Somali pirates spoke with Reuters by telephone on Tuesday.
"Our colleagues called us this morning, that they were being attacked by a U.S. warship," a pirate who identified himself as Mohamud told Reuters.
"The U.S. warship shot in the head two of my comrades who were on the deck of the yacht by the time they alerted us," Mohamud said. "This is the time we ordered the other comrades inside yacht to react -- kill the four Americans because there was no other alternative -- then our line got cut.""
From AP:
"A member of a U.S. special operations force killed one of the pirates with a knife as he went inside of the yacht, said Vice Adm. Mark Fox, commander of U.S. naval forces for the Central Command.
Fox said in a televised briefing that the violence on Tuesday started when a rocket-propelled grenade was fired from the yacht at the USS Sterett, a guided-missile destroyer which was 600 yards away. The RPG missed and almost immediately afterward small arms fire was heard coming from the yacht, Fox said."
"Two Somali pirates spoke with Reuters by telephone on Tuesday.
"Our colleagues called us this morning, that they were being attacked by a U.S. warship," a pirate who identified himself as Mohamud told Reuters.
"The U.S. warship shot in the head two of my comrades who were on the deck of the yacht by the time they alerted us," Mohamud said. "This is the time we ordered the other comrades inside yacht to react -- kill the four Americans because there was no other alternative -- then our line got cut.""
From AP:
"A member of a U.S. special operations force killed one of the pirates with a knife as he went inside of the yacht, said Vice Adm. Mark Fox, commander of U.S. naval forces for the Central Command.
Fox said in a televised briefing that the violence on Tuesday started when a rocket-propelled grenade was fired from the yacht at the USS Sterett, a guided-missile destroyer which was 600 yards away. The RPG missed and almost immediately afterward small arms fire was heard coming from the yacht, Fox said."
Major Catastrophe
Well-Known Member
It would also help if the pirates painted 'PIRATES' along both sides of the hull so the submarine can tell them apart from the other boats that have 'INNOCENT FISHERMEN' painted on the sides.
Or maybe, just sink any old boat they come across.
