U.S. Navy Captures Pirates Off Somali Coast

Courtesy Photo | INDIAN OCEAN - After receiving a report of an attempted act of piracy from the International Maritime Bureau in Kuala Lumpur on the morning of Jan. 20, the guided missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) and other U.S. naval forces in the area located this vessel controlled by suspected pirates and reported its position. Churchill later established communications and boarded the vessel. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Information Specialist (SW) Kenneth Anderson.  

MANAMA, BAHRAIN

01.22.2006

Courtesy Story

DVIDS Hub       

MANAMA, Bahrain " At approximately 3 p.m. local time today, Jan. 21, the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet captured a group of suspected pirates in the Indian Ocean, approximately 54 miles off the central eastern coast of Somalia.

After receiving a report of an attempted act of piracy from the International Maritime Bureau in Kuala Lumpur on the morning of Jan. 20, the guided missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) and other U.S. naval forces in the area located the vessel of the suspected pirates and reported its position. Churchill then shadowed the suspect pirate vessel through the night and into the morning hours of Jan. 21.

At 8:03 a.m. local time Jan. 21, Churchill began questioning the pirate vessel over ship-to-ship radio. Churchill requested the crew leave the vessel and board the two small boats they had in tow. Following repeated and continuous attempts to establish communications with the vessel to no avail, Churchill began aggressive maneuvering in an attempt to stop the vessel. The vessel continued on its course and speed. At 11:31 a.m. local Churchill fired warning shots. The vessel cut speed and went dead in the water.

At 1:02 p.m. local Churchill issued a warning via ship-to-ship radio that they would begin taking further actions to force the crew to respond to questioning and depart the vessel. At 2:21 p.m. local Churchill fired additional warning shots, and at that time the crew of the suspect pirate vessel established communications by radio and indicated that they would begin sending personnel to the Churchill via their small boat in tow.

At 2:54 p.m. local the master of the pirate vessel started sending members of the crew to Churchill. U.S. Navy Sailors from Churchill then boarded the suspect vessel and discovered small-arms weapons on board.

• Date Taken: 01.22.2006
• Date Posted: 01.22.2006 07:14
• Story ID: 5169
• Location: MANAMA, BH