Russian special forces in dawn raid on oil tanker pirates
The Interfax news agency said after their release the Russian navy put the pirates in a boat some 300 nautical miles (556 kilometres) offshore, removing all weaponry and navigational equipment from the vessel.
A very Christian approach to the problem (ala HMS Bounty that is!)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: 45 yards from a tropical beach
Posts: 1,103
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Captain Bligh sailed 3,600 nm in 47 days, to reach Timor, in what is one of the greatest feats of survival and navigation in nautical history. In his open, 7 metre boat, he had a sextant, a pocket watch but no charts. He saved all but one of his 18 crew.
In comparison, these pirates had less than a tenth of that distance to go and had only to steer west to ensure landfall. Rank amateurs. The next lot should make sure they take round-trip fuel!
Of course, any leaks in their boat would not have helped.
In comparison, these pirates had less than a tenth of that distance to go and had only to steer west to ensure landfall. Rank amateurs. The next lot should make sure they take round-trip fuel!
Of course, any leaks in their boat would not have helped.
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: not entirely sure.....
Posts: 188
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Did Ivan let them step on board the boat or drop them from the deck of the warship whilst travelling at speed?
"oops, missed. NEXT!"
Guess the Somalis will steer clear of anything with a Russian flag for a bit....
"oops, missed. NEXT!"
Guess the Somalis will steer clear of anything with a Russian flag for a bit....
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Derbyshire, England.
Posts: 4,091
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just wondering, did their rubber boat have an engine? Did the Russians leave any petrol in it? - Maybe just enough to last for half an hour? Did the Russians leave a timed charge concealed in the rubber boat?
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Perth - Western Australia
Age: 75
Posts: 1,805
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
One could almost certainly guarantee, that the Rooskies took the cuffs off... patted them on the back..... lowered them into their boat....... waved them off........ then, once they were 200m out....... used them for target practice, for the 37mm deck cannon....... 
Whatever the Russian system of dealing with pirates, don't think it will be happening a second time, but then again there are a lot of stupid people in this world.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 1,771
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ideally, and I agree this might be more dfficult to arrange, one of them could have lasted just long enough to tell his chums...
At the current rate of success, why don't we withdraw our ship/s and give a contract to the Russians - everyone happy ! Well unless one's a pirate.
At the current rate of success, why don't we withdraw our ship/s and give a contract to the Russians - everyone happy ! Well unless one's a pirate.
I'm surprised the Russians haven't used the old 'Q' ship idea, get 'em close and then open up with all guns blazing, couple of Phalanx type CIWS would really ruin someone's day. 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: UK
Posts: 2,584
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Isn't it a sad reflection on our collective prejudices (not to say bigotries) that we seem to assume that the underhand and maverick Russians, despite their statements in line with International Law and all evidence to the contrary, have bombed, dropped, sunk, drowned or shot those evil bastards out of the water?
We all know what we'd like them to have done, we'd all applaud them for hours had they done it, but isn't it sad that we Westerners (who are vastly the majority here) have so lost confidence in our own Navies' politically incorrect pansiness that we resort to hoping the Big Brutal Bear will do our wet work for us?
ps. message to Western Navies, as well as the Russians - bless-'em; shoot these scum, eradicate them, and root them out from their nests ashore too. History tells of many similar situations, none of which were ever solved by political spinelessness.
The only law Somalis recognise (and I've spent a bit of time amongst them) is Rule .303, and the more vigoriusly applied the more they heed it.
Make it Rule 40mm and it will be all the more understood, but the only way to stop this cancer on the seas is to do the traditional thing and land troops to destroy the nests of these vipers. Until we gain the confidence to do this innocent sailors will die, companies and insurers will be robbed (and in so doing finance more of this abomination).
So please Russia, if the wimpy West won't do it, will you?
We all know what we'd like them to have done, we'd all applaud them for hours had they done it, but isn't it sad that we Westerners (who are vastly the majority here) have so lost confidence in our own Navies' politically incorrect pansiness that we resort to hoping the Big Brutal Bear will do our wet work for us?
ps. message to Western Navies, as well as the Russians - bless-'em; shoot these scum, eradicate them, and root them out from their nests ashore too. History tells of many similar situations, none of which were ever solved by political spinelessness.
The only law Somalis recognise (and I've spent a bit of time amongst them) is Rule .303, and the more vigoriusly applied the more they heed it.
Make it Rule 40mm and it will be all the more understood, but the only way to stop this cancer on the seas is to do the traditional thing and land troops to destroy the nests of these vipers. Until we gain the confidence to do this innocent sailors will die, companies and insurers will be robbed (and in so doing finance more of this abomination).
So please Russia, if the wimpy West won't do it, will you?
Last edited by Agaricus bisporus; 13th May 2010 at 19:23.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 1,771
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Have you ever read the book ( forget the film ) ' Black Hawk Down ' ?
These people make the spine shudder, drug crazed zombies willing to send women holding children into battle, with PLENTY of RPG's & ammo.
When I suggested on this forum that the poor sods holed up all night under repeated attack would have done well with a few Harrier rocket passes to give the Americans a chance, ( they were supported by pretty constant fire through the night from light armed helicopters at great risk to themselves ) - I was attacked as suggesting a war crime !
So, I presume it's either 'nuke the bastards or they'll move along the shore a bit', as lately in The Times, or ' let them come to you ' as the Russians did with great results.
It should be pointed out that as far as I ( a yachtie & ex-Harrier tech ) know, Her Majestys' Ship Commanders should know they sometimes have to put themselves, their ships & crew & their cocktail party careers on the line in order to Do The Right Thing.
I doubt Kerrans on the Amethyst had his career much on his mind, and neither did Nelson, they just did the appropriate thing.
I'm damn sure the R.N. will be keen to absolve themselves of the disgrace of young chavs being captured by gits, so it's up to them to prove they're not just for cocktail parties...
The Q ship idea in one form or another stands out a mile, but maybe that would be considered naughty as in not being the nice fluffy target presented ?
Also don't underestimate one's enemy, they're drug crazed but not stupid; they use sat' phones to communicate, and have intel' on ship movements.
One would have hoped the various military could go a step better...
These people make the spine shudder, drug crazed zombies willing to send women holding children into battle, with PLENTY of RPG's & ammo.
When I suggested on this forum that the poor sods holed up all night under repeated attack would have done well with a few Harrier rocket passes to give the Americans a chance, ( they were supported by pretty constant fire through the night from light armed helicopters at great risk to themselves ) - I was attacked as suggesting a war crime !
So, I presume it's either 'nuke the bastards or they'll move along the shore a bit', as lately in The Times, or ' let them come to you ' as the Russians did with great results.
It should be pointed out that as far as I ( a yachtie & ex-Harrier tech ) know, Her Majestys' Ship Commanders should know they sometimes have to put themselves, their ships & crew & their cocktail party careers on the line in order to Do The Right Thing.
I doubt Kerrans on the Amethyst had his career much on his mind, and neither did Nelson, they just did the appropriate thing.
I'm damn sure the R.N. will be keen to absolve themselves of the disgrace of young chavs being captured by gits, so it's up to them to prove they're not just for cocktail parties...
The Q ship idea in one form or another stands out a mile, but maybe that would be considered naughty as in not being the nice fluffy target presented ?
Also don't underestimate one's enemy, they're drug crazed but not stupid; they use sat' phones to communicate, and have intel' on ship movements.
One would have hoped the various military could go a step better...
Last edited by Double Zero; 13th May 2010 at 19:38.
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: UK
Posts: 2,584
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sadly, OO, those poor sods in Mog were faced by a very angry and undisciplined rabble of urban militia who were by no means "drug crazed zombies" - far from it, (drugs were not a part of their culture) tho the women and children bit is accurate, and the Rangers had far better than "a few harriers" (though they had those too, yet they were seldom seen over the city) to help them but these were simply not deployed. The indecision and lack of decisiveness (not to say shillyshallying) of the US military there at the time had to be seen to be believed.
Unless my memory does me a great injustice there were present in Mogadishu at the time at least one of those lumpy, dark coloured C130s with odd bits sticking out of their sides. They used to drone around in circles all night long - I saw one let rip briefly one night and almost crapped myself at the noise even though it was shooting away from me. Apparently it took down much of a city block in about 3-4 seconds. Whether that was before or after the blackhawk incident I can no longer recall, though I think it was probably before.
US tactics became increasingly spineless (if that was possible) afterwards, as far as I remember.
Had rule .303 been established by Uncle Sam from the start (as the French, Pakistanis and Nigerians had done up until December 93 when the US Marines staged their ludicrous theatrical night-time assault onto the beach by the airport in the unopposed glare of the Klieg lights of the world's tipped off press) things would probably be entirely different now...
But what the hey? That's just hindsight. And as blindingly clear today as it was to all there at the time. Except UNOSOM, led by Uncle Sam.
Unless my memory does me a great injustice there were present in Mogadishu at the time at least one of those lumpy, dark coloured C130s with odd bits sticking out of their sides. They used to drone around in circles all night long - I saw one let rip briefly one night and almost crapped myself at the noise even though it was shooting away from me. Apparently it took down much of a city block in about 3-4 seconds. Whether that was before or after the blackhawk incident I can no longer recall, though I think it was probably before.
US tactics became increasingly spineless (if that was possible) afterwards, as far as I remember.
Had rule .303 been established by Uncle Sam from the start (as the French, Pakistanis and Nigerians had done up until December 93 when the US Marines staged their ludicrous theatrical night-time assault onto the beach by the airport in the unopposed glare of the Klieg lights of the world's tipped off press) things would probably be entirely different now...
But what the hey? That's just hindsight. And as blindingly clear today as it was to all there at the time. Except UNOSOM, led by Uncle Sam.
Last edited by Agaricus bisporus; 13th May 2010 at 20:01.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
The pirates attack a ship which turned out to be the Tromp; big mistake.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 1,771
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A-B,
The book - which I have no reason not to believe as it gives huge, if not too much detail into names etc - relates that the drug 'kat' or 'Khat' is extremely popular, and the only 'culture' that exists in Somalia is to get as many weapons as one can then flit to whoever's winning at that moment.
These bastards can hardly bother to put two bricks together, as long as they've got an Ak-47 and / or RPG.
Now, ironically the warlords have money to put into civil developments - but as far as I can make out these are showpieces, and keeping the pleb's stupid enough to hijack tankers is good business for the odd one with more than 1 grey cell.
They have the sense to use Intel from apparently sufficient sources, and sat-phones in small boats ( as a yachtie, if that's true how do they keep locked to signal when a punter in a Gin Palace off Portsmouth can't apart from domes etc ? - I hope one realises that's not me, strictly sail & GPS receiver etc ).
It is obvious these bastards' will have uncomfortable attention which they've brought upon themselves, but no-one gets that desperate they have to murder to survive if they have any morals; let them have it, in the name of Darwin !
The book - which I have no reason not to believe as it gives huge, if not too much detail into names etc - relates that the drug 'kat' or 'Khat' is extremely popular, and the only 'culture' that exists in Somalia is to get as many weapons as one can then flit to whoever's winning at that moment.
These bastards can hardly bother to put two bricks together, as long as they've got an Ak-47 and / or RPG.
Now, ironically the warlords have money to put into civil developments - but as far as I can make out these are showpieces, and keeping the pleb's stupid enough to hijack tankers is good business for the odd one with more than 1 grey cell.
They have the sense to use Intel from apparently sufficient sources, and sat-phones in small boats ( as a yachtie, if that's true how do they keep locked to signal when a punter in a Gin Palace off Portsmouth can't apart from domes etc ? - I hope one realises that's not me, strictly sail & GPS receiver etc ).
It is obvious these bastards' will have uncomfortable attention which they've brought upon themselves, but no-one gets that desperate they have to murder to survive if they have any morals; let them have it, in the name of Darwin !
The Tromp is warship and if some pirates hasn't read his copy of Jane's then tough, but a merchentman with a system camoflagued, is far better, let them close and open fire. Never ever give a sucker an even break, in this case 20mm x 6000 per min is usually effective.
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: gla
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Some pictures from the Chinese navy
To give you an idea of the scale of the problem and the utter contempt the pirates have you might like to have a look at these pictures from the Chinese Navy.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 1,771
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Why does it not happen that ships open fire with 20-40mm stuff, first as warning shots then for real ?! Low depression angle on the guns ?
You should employ more yachties out there, we'd relatively easily identify a suspect...
Deploying a helo' is obviously dodgy within RPG range, but it seems only a positive 'no-pirates here' strategy including all the cluster bombs left will make a point.
There is the other side of me which says ' give them a means of income now that fishing has gone ' but that's down to diplomats etc, who seem to do bugger all for large pay, after all my g/f is a widow of one and daughter of another, and from what I hear there's never been a more useless bunch on this planet !
Meantime I'm all for the gatling guns ( & crews ) on everything & Q-ships - I did suggest the Container ship A La Atlantic Conveyor with Harriers lurking behind, sadly these would have to be American AV-8B's, as the UK 25mm gun failed before my sight on preliminary trials.
Yes, I'd be happy to take part if I could be useful !
You should employ more yachties out there, we'd relatively easily identify a suspect...
Deploying a helo' is obviously dodgy within RPG range, but it seems only a positive 'no-pirates here' strategy including all the cluster bombs left will make a point.
There is the other side of me which says ' give them a means of income now that fishing has gone ' but that's down to diplomats etc, who seem to do bugger all for large pay, after all my g/f is a widow of one and daughter of another, and from what I hear there's never been a more useless bunch on this planet !
Meantime I'm all for the gatling guns ( & crews ) on everything & Q-ships - I did suggest the Container ship A La Atlantic Conveyor with Harriers lurking behind, sadly these would have to be American AV-8B's, as the UK 25mm gun failed before my sight on preliminary trials.
Yes, I'd be happy to take part if I could be useful !
Last edited by Double Zero; 14th May 2010 at 10:49.
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Perth - Western Australia
Age: 75
Posts: 1,805
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There is the other side of me which says ' give them a means of income now that fishing has gone ' but that's down to diplomats etc, who seem to do bugger all for large pay
When you're that bent, you can't lie straight in bed; then trying to instill a work and honesty ethic in these people, is equivalent to banging ones head against a brick wall.....
I had a compatriot who toured most of Africa on the ground. On foot, by bicycle, by motorbike, and by car. He said his most enduring impression of most Africans, was that, the minute they sighted a Westerner, they were out to scam you, by any manner possible....
No shortage of fish in that part of the world. Too many pirates.
We shouldn't be so harsh on the Somalis. They, along with many (most?) other Africans, has been ridden roughshod over by the now-developed world. In the absence of any other suitable job opportunities, we shouldn't be surprised they put all those weapons we gave them to alternative uses.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 1,771
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Dead Pan,
I hope that was tongue in cheek !
The Somalis are as the poster above mentioned, incapable of work apart from waving a Kalashnikov or RPG around, and a visit from a U.S. CBG is long overdue.
I happened to teach a few Kenyans how to use Hawk cameras, their response was to nod & grin to everything I said but not understand a thing, no matter how hard I tried ( I was an apprentice BTW, in advanced years I might have been able to beat some sense into them, but doubt it).
- I was shortly afterwards given a rocket by Hawk project pilot Jim Hawkins for poor instruction, only to find that the guys we'd given drawings, manuals etc & instructed had been posted straight to a different non-Hawk squadron !
If humanity began in Africa, it's pretty clear why it got up and hot-footed it out of there...
I hope that was tongue in cheek !
The Somalis are as the poster above mentioned, incapable of work apart from waving a Kalashnikov or RPG around, and a visit from a U.S. CBG is long overdue.
I happened to teach a few Kenyans how to use Hawk cameras, their response was to nod & grin to everything I said but not understand a thing, no matter how hard I tried ( I was an apprentice BTW, in advanced years I might have been able to beat some sense into them, but doubt it).
- I was shortly afterwards given a rocket by Hawk project pilot Jim Hawkins for poor instruction, only to find that the guys we'd given drawings, manuals etc & instructed had been posted straight to a different non-Hawk squadron !
If humanity began in Africa, it's pretty clear why it got up and hot-footed it out of there...
