OT I don't think they used Leverguns!

[gamekeeper]

Two suspected Somali pirates were killed in an exchange of fire with the British navy, the defence ministry said on Wednesday. The HMS Cumberland was conducting a routine NATO-led patrol in the Gulf of Aden on Tuesday when it spotted a dhow which had been identified in an attempt to hijack a Danish vessel, the MV Powerful, earlier in the day.

The defence ministry said in a statement that the British ship had used "non-forcible methods" in an attempt to stop the dhow, and boats were then launched to circle and intercept the vessel.

"These boats were fired at from the dhow and the crews returned fire in self defence," the statement said.

"Two foreign nationals, believed to be Somali pirates, were shot and killed in self defence."

A Yemeni man was also found injured and later died, although the defence ministry said it was unclear whether he had sustained his injuries in the firefight "or in a previous incident involving the pirates".

Piracy is rife in the region where Somalia's northeastern tip juts into the Indian Ocean, on a key maritime route leading to the Suez Canal.

The pirates are equipped with speedboats and armed with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades.

A Turkish-flagged tanker with a 14-man crew became the latest victim of the pirates when it was hijacked off Yemen on Wednesday, the Anatolia news agency reported.

Last month, a maritime watchdog said Somali pirates were responsible for nearly a third of all reported attacks on ships.

HMS Cumberland is the current British contribution to the NATO mission in the Maritime Security Patrol Area (MSPA), which provides security to shipping crossing the Gulf of Aden.

[Old Ironsights]

I don't think I could be a happier man were someone to give me a Letter of Marque and a Q-ship...

[gamekeeper]

I don't think I could be a happier man were someone to give me a Letter of Marque and a Q-ship...

That sure would be FUN!!!

[jeepnik]

Q-ship, now there is a term I haven't heard in a long time. But you have a brilliant idea. You probably would have no trouble finding a crew. But, I doubt the Letter of Marque would hold up in today's "world" court. What a shame we have become so "civilized". A bit of good old privateering for ones country could be just the thing in places like this.

[Old Ironsights]

Q-ship, now there is a term I haven't heard in a long time. But you have a brilliant idea. You probably would have no trouble finding a crew. But, I doubt the Letter of Marque would hold up in today's "world" court. What a shame we have become so "civilized". A bit of good old privateering for ones country could be just the thing in places like this.

Well, those bozos don't have radios...

And FWIU the phone line to Davey Jones' Locker was cut a long time ago...

[J Miller]

So ..... what's the maritime version of "Shoot - Shovel - Shut up"?

Shoot 'em, sink 'em, and silence 'em??????

[2ndovc]

So ..... what's the maritime version of "Shoot - Shovel - Shut up"?

Shoot 'em, sink 'em, and silence 'em??????

Shoot, over the rail, fish food!

Sharks love fresh meat just like everyone else


Got an email from my Dad two days ago from Trinidad.

Two boats were attacked by ( I don't want to call them pirates. That's too good for them) a band of loosers in row boats.
They paddled up and asked for some water. As the owner of the boat came out of the cabin they shot him in the chest and the other
fellow in the behind as he dove for cover. The wounded man's wife tossed him a shotgun and he killed one of the attackers. The
other two fled.

My Dad spent the day at the customs office in Trinidad getting his shotgun back ( they keep it until you leave) and
are bugging out for Grenada. A more civilized island.

BTW. He told me he could have gotten 5-600 for the H&R single shot ( if he didn't get caught).
Time to get the heck outa Dodge!

jb

[Grizz]

Letter of Marque

I love this idea. Go to work for the shipping companies. Build a PT boat with heavy armor and some radar aimed chain guns and a 25mm cannon; a sea-going warthog.

good hunting

[Rick-F]

While the right to issue letters of marque was relinquished by signatories to the Declaration of Paris-- the United States of America was not a party to that treaty. Our Constitution still holds that such letters of marque and reprisal are legal.

Screw the World Court . . . we still have a few months of freedom here. Write "W" a letter and ask -- he may go for it before "H" takes office . . .

[Andrew]

Ok, I had to look up Letter of Marque and Q-ship, but I'm in.

[awp101]

I don't think I could be a happier man were someone to give me a Letter of Marque and a Q-ship...

A man after my own little black heart...

I've never been on anything bigger than a Mississippi river paddle wheel boat and come to think of it the Mississippi River is the largest body of water I've been on so I may not help much with the seafaring, but I'll gladly man any heavy caliber belt-feds you may have installed!