DDG sinks skiff in 2nd pirate skirmish - Military News | News From Afghanistan, Iraq And Around The World - Military Times

DDG sinks skiff in 2nd pirate skirmish

The destroyer Farragut on Thursday sank a suspected pirate mothership in the Somali Basin. It was the Navy’s second pirate interdiction in less than 24 hours.

Farragut, the Combined Task Force 151 flagship, had responded to a piracy report from the Sierra Leone-flagged tanker Evita. Three pirate skiffs had attacked the ship 800 miles northwest of the Seychelles. The pirates fired rifles and aimed rocket propelled grenades to stop the vessel, according to a statement from 5th Fleet. Evita increased speed and fired flares to evade the attack.

The Mayport, Fla.-based Farragut located the suspected pirate skiffs with the assistance of a Swedish Maritime Patrol P-3 from the European Union Naval Force Somalia. The destroyer dispatched a SH-60B Seahawk to monitor the pirates while the skiffs were boarded.

The boarding party found 11 suspected pirates, fuel drums and grappling hooks. The airborne Swedes also witnessed the skiffs’ crews throwing ladders and equipment overboard.

After ensuring the suspected pirates were unable conduct further attacks, all 11 were released on the two small skiffs, and the mother skiff was destroyed and sunk.

“Today’s successful disruption operation was the result of close cooperation and swift responses from many parties,” said Rear Adm. Bernard Miranda, Republic of Singapore Navy and commander of CTF 151. “The pirates have become bolder and are attacking ships further away from the Somali shores. This makes it even more important for all stakeholders to play their role and work closely together to deal with the piracy problem. What we witnessed today is a good example of how this can be achieved.”

“In future emergencies, I would definitely give you a call for assistance,” Capt. Norberto Grubat, master of Evita, told the coalition. “Thank you very much for your help.”

Earlier Thursday, the frigate Nicholas captured five Somali pirates, sank one skiff and seized a pirate mothership off the Kenyan and Somali coasts. No U.S. personnel were injured, and the frigate sustained no known damage.

Nicholas reported taking small arms fire at 12:27 a.m. The frigate responded with a barrage of fire from its .50-caliber deck-mounted machine gun. The skiff’s crew surrendered; sailors from Nicholas boarded the disabled skiff at 1:59 a.m. and detained three personnel. The team found ammunition and multiple cans of fuel on board. What was left of the skiff was considered a “nautical hazard” and was sunk at 2:59 a.m., said Lt. Patrick Foughty, spokesman for U.S. Naval Forces Africa.

Nicholas then seized the mothership and two more suspected pirates were captured. Naval forces were searching for the third vessel.

Piracy is on the rise in the region since the winter monsoon season ended in March. The relatively calm seas allow pirates to venture hundreds of miles from their bases as they target the tuna fishers and tourist boats on which the Seychelles economy heavily relies.

CTF 151 is part of Combined Maritime Forces, which patrols more than 2.5 million square miles of international shipping lanes off the Somali coast. Its mission is to defeat terrorism, prevent piracy, reduce illegal trafficking of people and drugs, and promote the maritime environment as a safe place for mariners with legitimate business.

Related story: Frigate Nicholas captures 5 pirates, mother ship