bobdina
06-02-2010, 11:23 AM
Cruiser foils 2nd pirate attack in a week
By Lance M. Bacon - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Jun 1, 2010 14:50:29 EDT
The cruiser San Jacinto on Tuesday morning thwarted its second pirate attack of the past week.
A team from the Norfolk, Va.-based cruiser boarded a pirate skiff early in the morning. The cruiser had responded to a distress call from the Maltese-flagged Avenue Beauty 90 miles north of Somalia. The pirates broke contact before San Jacinto arrived, but were tracked by the ship’s Seahawk helicopter, a Navy press release stated.
Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 2nd Class Corey Whittle fired warning shots across the skiff’s bow and stern when the pirates refused to stop as ordered.
The pirates threw their weapons and ammunition overboard prior to being boarded. The boarding party released all nine pirates after confiscating one engine and leaving only enough fuel to ensure the men could reach shore.
On May 26, the cruiser was conducting counter narcotics operations 68 miles southeast of Ras Fartak, Yemen, when it rescued five Yemeni mariners from 13 Somali pirates, the release said. The Somalis were turned over to Yemeni Naval Forces,
San Jacinto and its crew of 33 officers and 370 sailors left Norfolk on Jan. 21 for a seven-month deployment.
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2010/06/navy_pirates_060110w/
By Lance M. Bacon - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Jun 1, 2010 14:50:29 EDT
The cruiser San Jacinto on Tuesday morning thwarted its second pirate attack of the past week.
A team from the Norfolk, Va.-based cruiser boarded a pirate skiff early in the morning. The cruiser had responded to a distress call from the Maltese-flagged Avenue Beauty 90 miles north of Somalia. The pirates broke contact before San Jacinto arrived, but were tracked by the ship’s Seahawk helicopter, a Navy press release stated.
Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 2nd Class Corey Whittle fired warning shots across the skiff’s bow and stern when the pirates refused to stop as ordered.
The pirates threw their weapons and ammunition overboard prior to being boarded. The boarding party released all nine pirates after confiscating one engine and leaving only enough fuel to ensure the men could reach shore.
On May 26, the cruiser was conducting counter narcotics operations 68 miles southeast of Ras Fartak, Yemen, when it rescued five Yemeni mariners from 13 Somali pirates, the release said. The Somalis were turned over to Yemeni Naval Forces,
San Jacinto and its crew of 33 officers and 370 sailors left Norfolk on Jan. 21 for a seven-month deployment.
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2010/06/navy_pirates_060110w/