What Happens When PIRATES Attack MASSIVE US Navy Ships _ Somali Pirates Documentary

When we think of pirates , we picture brave adventurers swinging on ropes and brandishing swords .

But forget those movie scenes , reality is way more thrilling and dangerous real pirates taking on the US Navy .

You bet an enigmatic attack on an American warship has many puzzled .

What are they hiding ?

What's the secrets behind the US Navy's approach to combating piracy and who are the real pirates of today ?

Pirates .

They're not just from old tales , they're real and still a threat today .

Back in the golden age of piracy between the 16th and 17th centuries , many Europeans became pirates to escape poverty .

One scary punishment for pirates was marooning , leaving someone on a deserted island with a bit of food , water and a loaded gun .

Usually to make a tough choice .

Modern pirates are different instead of swords .

They use guns and rocket launchers .

Piracy has gone up 75% in the last 10 years .

Waters near Somalia are especially risky .

These pirates use fast boats fake distress signals and tricks to get up close to big ships .

Once on board , they want ransom money .

Sometimes in the millions fighting piracy is hard .

There are navy patrols and on board security but most sailors finish their trip safely with pirates posing a grave threat to maritime trade and the safety of seafarers .

The US Navy has developed a multi faceted approach to combat this age old scourge .

One of the key strategies employed by the navy when it comes close to such threats is the use of non lethal deterrents .

A widely employed non lethal weapon in the maritime industry is the water cannon which serves as an effective anti piracy measure .

This device propels a forceful and Impenetrable stream of water effectively deterring pirates from attempting to board merchant vessels .

Additionally , a water cannon has the capability to rapidly fill pirate boats , impeding their movement and limiting their maneuverability .

Enhanced ship hardening is another crucial tactic employed by the US .

Naval vessels and commercial ships are equipped with physical measures to make boarding more challenging for pirates , razor wire , anti climbing barriers , reinforced doors and fortified Citadels create formidable obstacles .

Significantly increasing the difficulty of pirates , gaining access to ships and their valuable cargo .

The US Navy actively promotes best management practices otherwise known as B MP within the shipping industry .

These practices include maintaining high speed transit , conducting anti piracy drills , posting lookouts and having Citadel plans in place by adhering to these industry approved protocols .

Ships enhance their preparedness and response capabilities , reducing their vulnerability to any and virtually all pirate attacks .

Another crucial point worth noting is that aerial surveillance plays a vital role in the US .

Navy's anti piracy operations , helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles otherwise known as UAVS are deployed for extensive aerial surveillance .

These aircraft cover vast areas detect suspicious activities and provide real time information to naval vessels and maritime authorities .

Aerial surveillance basically increases situational awareness , enabling rapid responses to piracy incidents and ensuring effective deployment of naval assets .

Moreover , collaborative information sharing is another cornerstone of the US Navy's anti piracy efforts .

The navy actively participates in information sharing initiatives such as the Maritime Security Center , Horn of Africa , and the International Maritime Bureau's Piracy Reporting Center or the IMB PR C .

By sharing intelligence incident reports and piracy trends with international partners .

The Navy contributes to a comprehensive understanding of piracy activities and facilitates coordinated responses essentially preparing everyone beforehand for what they may expect .

The US Navy also places great emphasis on capacity building and piracy prone regions through training programs , joint exercises and the provision of equipment and resources .

The Navy enhances the capabilities of other regional navies and coast guards .

This collaborative approach ultimately strengthens regional forces empowering them to effectively combat piracy within their own waters and contribute to a safer maritime environment .

Furthermore , the navy actively engages in raising public awareness about piracy and educating Mariners on best practices through websites , publications and outreach programs .

They disseminate information to the maritime community , empowering Mariners with the knowledge to mitigate the risk of pirate attacks and ensure their own safety .

These tactics and strategies collectively form a comprehensive and adaptable approach employed by the US Navy to combat piracy in the ongoing battle against piracy .

Notable organizations like the International Maritime Bureau or IMB for short have emerged .

The IMB assumes the critical role of monitoring and documenting piracy incidents worldwide offering invaluable insights to governments and authorities .

Furthermore , the United Nations has also taken proactive measures by instituting the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea which establishes a comprehensive legal structure to address piracy .

The UN CS mandates international cooperation among nations in apprehending and bringing pirates to justice , irrespective of their nationality or the location of their criminal activities .

Let's not forget about combined task force .

150 before you start wondering what this is the CTF 150 is a multinational naval task force that operates under the auspices of the combined maritime forces .

Simply put that its primary mission is to enhance maritime security and stability in the Gulf of Aden , the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean .

C 150 focuses on countering terrorism , preventing illicit activities including piracy and smuggling and promoting a safe and secure maritime environment .

The task force operates with contributions from various nations that participate on a rotating basis .

These nations provide naval assets including warships , aircraft and personnel to conduct patrols , surveillance and interdiction operations in the designated area of responsibility .

The composition of the CTF 150 typically includes ships and aircraft from multiple countries fostering international collaboration and cooperation .

So as you can probably tell by now , the fight against piracy is a joint effort and the US Navy plays a big role in it .

Despite all efforts made by the US Navy , some encounters with pirates turned out rather un ideal .

On March 18 th 2006 , the Tadao class guided missile cruiser USS Cape ST George , otherwise known as the CG 71 and the Ali Burt class guided missile destroyer USS Gonzalez known as the DDG 66 were both on a critical mission as part of task force 150 standing as a resolute deterrent against the scourge of piracy in a gripping encounter that unfolded on the treacherous waters off the coast of Somalia .

The US Navy found itself locked in a life or death struggle against a brazen band of pirates .

As the two warships patrolled the vast expanse of the ocean .

Their senses heightened and an ominous sight emerged on the horizon .

A vessel towing a fleet of menacing skiffs approached with ill intent sensing danger .

A boarding party from the USS Gonzalez bravely ventured forth to investigate but they witnessed a chilling sight .

The pilots were emboldened and armed to the teeth , brandishing rocket propelled grenade launchers .

In a shocking turn of events .

The pirates unleashed a hail of gunfire upon the US S Cape ST George causing minor damage .

The tranquility of the moment shattered and chaos ensued swiftly the Cape ST George and the Gonzalez , fueled by a steely resolve retaliated with a barrage of small arms fire .

The clash of bullets and the crackling of flames filled the air as the main pirate vessel was engulfed in an inferno and sank beneath the unforgiving waves in a resounding victory .

Two smaller skiffs were captured and 12 pirates were taken prisoner alongside the grim discovery of one lifeless body astonishingly .

A Somali pirate group later claimed that 27 of their coast guardsmen had been dispatched into this ill fated confrontation .

The valley and pirates who survived this near catastrophic failure in their victim selection process found themselves in captivity .

Their destiny uncertain .

The shocking part is that pirates are constantly evolving their tactics .

They employ various strategies to maximize their success and evade detection .

These emerging tactics include the use of mother ships to extend their reach .

We told you this was shocking and that's not all .

They also hijacked fishing vessels for piracy operations , taking advantage of the jurisdictional challenges in international waters and even hacking into shipping company systems to gather intelligence or disrupt operations .

Although naval operations have been the primary means of combating piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea .

There is a consensus that these efforts alone are insufficient to fully address the threat .

The vast area that Somali pirates operate in exceeds the capacity of naval vessels to effectively patrol with approximately 25 naval vessels covering over 1.1 million square nautical miles .

Each vessel is tasked with patrolling an average of 44,000 square nautical miles .

Pirates often shift their operations to unpatrolled waters when naval forces are present .

Recognizing these limitations , several supplementary counter piracy initiatives have been proposed including the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for extended surveillance , financial tracking and analysis to undermine pirate financing and the prosecution and punishment of convicted pirates as a deterrent .

The US Navy also uses unmanned aerial vehicles that can operate autonomously following pre programmed routes and executing tasks without human intervention .

This reduces risk to human personnel as mentioned US vs , operate in high risk areas allowing operators to maintain a safe distance from potential pirate encounters and mitigating the risk of harm or hostage situations , equipped with various sensors , cameras and surveillance systems that enable them to gather real time information and imagery .

The collected data can be transmitted back to a control center for analysis and decision making .

Plus the US Navy utilizes advanced sonar systems for underwater surveillance and detection .

These systems can detect submerged threats such as pirate divers or underwater vehicles .

On top of all of this , the US navy utilizes power projection as a crucial tool in combating piracy by maintaining a visible presence in piracy prone regions .

The navy serves as a deterrent to potential pirates .

The deployment of warships , aircraft and other assets showcases the Navy's readiness to respond swiftly and decisively to pirate threats .

Discouraging pirate activities through the perceived risk involved .

This proactive approach helps to prevent attacks before they occur and contributes to the overall reduction of piracy incidents .

Furthermore , power projection allows the US Navy to conduct rapid response operations in case of piracy incidents .

Naval assets stationed strategically can quickly intercept and disrupt pirate activities .

Providing critical support to vessels under threat , maritime interdiction operations including the boarding and apprehension of suspicious vessels contribute to the disruption of piracy networks and the prosecution of individuals involved .

Additionally , the Navy's air assets such as carrier based and maritime patrol aircraft provide air superiority by conducting surveillance and reconnaissance missions .

This aerial coverage by the US Navy enhances situational awareness and aids in the early detection of pirate activities allowing for timely and effective responses .

The connection between piracy and environmental issues is also significant particularly concerning maritime activities and their impact on ecosystems .

Pirates often resort to unsustainable and destructive fishing practices that decimate fish populations .

Meanwhile , pirate vessels also regularly pollute the ocean through oil spills and chemical discharges poisoning marine life and habitats .

Plus when pirates anchor in sensitive areas like coral reefs , they destroy these fragile ecosystems that support maritime biodiversity and coastal resilience .

However , the US Navy is actively working to mitigate piracy's environmental impacts through its maritime security operations .

In addition to confronting pirates at sea navy patrols aim to interrupt illegal practices that pollute the ocean and destroy fragile marine habitats by securing coastlines and major shipping lanes .

The Navy helps enable sustainable fishing , shipping and offshore resource extraction , economic activities that depend on healthy oceans in protecting maritime ecosystems from pirates .

The Navy safeguards biodiversity , coastal resilience and sustainable blue economies , ecosystem services that benefit not just the United States but the entire international community .

The navy's role in ocean governance extends beyond defending ships to defending the health of the seas themselves , taking all of this into account .

Do you know of any other roles that the US Navy plays both nationally and internationally ?

Whether it be on land or at sea ?

Let us know in the comments below , the United States Navy remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of the seas by actively combating piracy through its robust efforts and participation in multinational operations such as combined task force .

150 .

The navy plays a vital role in deterring and countering pirate activities in vulnerable regions .

Their dedication is exemplified by deploying naval assets such as the US , Howard and other vessels to monitor and safeguard hijacked ships like the MV by maintaining a vigilant presence and collaborating with international partners .

The US Navy demonstrates its unwavering determination to protect global maritime trade , safeguard the well being of seafarers and uphold the principles of maritime security .

We extend our utmost respect and admiration to the courageous individuals who serve in the United States Navy and dedicate themselves to combating piracy , their unwavering commitment and bravery in the face of danger are deserving of our highest salute .

These men and women selflessly put their lives on the line to safeguard the seas , protect global trade and ensure the safety of seafarers .

Their tireless efforts in the ongoing battle against pirates are a testament to their unwavering dedication and the values they uphold .

We express deep gratitude to these brave individuals .

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