Article

2008-12-13 India-Pakistan

Indian Navy repulses attack on ship off Somalia, captures 23 pirates

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Posted by john frum 2008-12-13 11:21|| || Front Page|| [4 views ] Top

#1 The Mysore

Posted by john frum 2008-12-13 11:28|| 2008-12-13 11:28|| Front Page Top

#2 Press Release from Indian Ministry of Defense

INS Mysore is currently in the Gulf of Aden for Anti-Piracy Patrol Operations which are being conducted under the control of the Western Naval Command. Whilst escorting merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden, the ship received a distress call on MMB Channel 16 from MV Gibe (Ethiopian Flag) at about 1100 hours on 13 Dec 08. MV Gibe reported that she was under attack by two boats closing her and firing small arms. MV Gibe opened retaliatory fire with small arms that were held onboard the vessel. The position reported by the merchant vessel was 13 nautical miles from Mysore at that time. The ship altered course to close MV Gibe and also launched her integral armed helicopter.

On sighting the helicopter and Mysore, the boats disengaged from MV Gibe and attempted escape. Mysore closed the vessels and ordered them to stop. The larger boat was a dhow was of green colour and 8-10m in length. It had taken the second smaller boat (a skiff) under tow. Subsequently, the name of the dhow was identified as 'Salahaddin', Hull No 758(2).

The dhow was boarded at 1230h by the ship's Marine Commandos and a search carried out. 23 personnel (12 Somali and 11 Yemeni) surrendered on boarding. The search of dhow revealed a substantial cache of arms and equipment, including seven AK-47 and three other automatic rifles, along with thirteen loaded magazines; a rocket-propelled grenade-launcher along with rockets, cartridges and grenades; as many as three Outboard Motors (OBMs), a GPS Receiver, etcetera.

The personnel, arms, ammunition and equipment have been taken into custody by INS Mysore and will be handed over to appropriate authorities ashore and the ship will return to her patrol-duties.

Posted by john frum 2008-12-13 11:31|| 2008-12-13 11:31|| Front Page Top

#3 photo of vessel being boarded

Posted by john frum 2008-12-13 11:36|| 2008-12-13 11:36|| Front Page Top

#4 photo 2

Posted by john frum 2008-12-13 11:40|| 2008-12-13 11:40|| Front Page Top

#5 Thanks for the pics, John. Warms the heart!

Posted by Steve White 2008-12-13 12:35|| 2008-12-13 12:35|| Front Page Top

#6 Who are the 'appropriate authorities ashore' who will receive custody of these men? Somalian or Yemeni police? The what? Anything from summary execution to immediate release and a new boat?

Posted by Glenmore">Glenmore 2008-12-13 12:54|| 2008-12-13 12:54|| Front Page Top

#7 The Mysore needs a shipalt to install a Mk 1 Mod 0 yardarm for hanging these MFs.

Posted by Penguin 2008-12-13 13:00|| 2008-12-13 13:00|| Front Page Top

#8 They are simple but well-armed Somali fisherman, engaged in traditional marine activities. Why on earth are the Indians fussing so?

/Thank you, India!

Posted by trailing wife">trailing wife 2008-12-13 13:33|| 2008-12-13 13:33|| Front Page Top

#9 Nice looking ship, the INS Mysore. And a nice looking ship, all neat and businesslike indicates a good captain and crew.

I know the sickening limitations of so-called international law and all, but these pirates needed a summary military tribunal and an execution on the Dhow, then the dhow sunk. I think that Blackwater-type operations are more cost effective here. The expense of running convoy duty and patrols will be many times the ransoms the pirates get. Think swift, hard justice.

Posted by Alaska Paul 2008-12-13 13:59|| 2008-12-13 13:59|| Front Page Top

#10 It seems to me that the least messy thing to do would be to put life jackets on the pirates and drop them back into the water. If they get back to shore, good for them. If not...

Posted by Zhang Fei 2008-12-13 14:36|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2008-12-13 14:36|| Front Page Top

#11 That will get you an arrest warrant and a free flight to the Hague.

Posted by john frum 2008-12-13 14:42|| 2008-12-13 14:42|| Front Page Top

#12 Drumhead trial. Yardarm punishment (use one of the davits on the side fo that fine looking ship). Burial at sea.

I believe international law allows for it.

Posted by OldSpook 2008-12-13 14:53|| 2008-12-13 14:53|| Front Page Top

#13 This is what caught my eye:

MV Gibe opened retaliatory fire with small arms that were held onboard the vesse

I wonder who was firing those small arms. Probably not your average Filipino merchant deck hand.

Posted by OldSpook 2008-12-13 14:55|| 2008-12-13 14:55|| Front Page Top

#14 Forgot to add:

Bravo to India for being there on the job when western nations falter.

Posted by OldSpook 2008-12-13 14:57|| 2008-12-13 14:57|| Front Page Top

#15

That hangar looks big enough to handle any method of execution but I doubt drumhead trials are still legal.

Posted by john frum 2008-12-13 14:59|| 2008-12-13 14:59|| Front Page Top

#16 "put life jackets on the pirates and drop them back into the water."

Pansy. Chum the waters first.
Gotta respect the cycle of life.

Posted by Bertie Elmaick7272 2008-12-13 15:00|| 2008-12-13 15:00|| Front Page Top

#17 INS Mysore was about 13 nautical miles away from the merchant vessel when it picked up the SOS call.

Shadowing just over the horizon. Purely by accident.

Posted by mojo">mojo 2008-12-13 15:30|| 2008-12-13 15:30|| Front Page Top

#18 They are simple but well-armed

Not but, albeit, dangit, albeit.

Posted by .5MT 2008-12-13 18:46|| www.cybernations.net]">[www.cybernations.net] 2008-12-13 18:46|| Front Page Top

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