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Post by Sailor on Mar 18, 2006 16:26:15 GMT -8
Early this morning off Somalia a boatload of budding Long John Silvers made a very bad career decision - they fired on cruiser USS CAPE ST GEORGE and destroyer USS GONZALES, both on deployment from Norfolk VA. The pirates tried to use RPG's and AK-47's against the .50cal HMGs and 25mm chain guns mounted in the warships. Results: Pirates - 1 dead, 5 wounded and a burning boat. US - No injuries, maybe a couple of bullet holes to patch and repaint. www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/africa/03/18/pirates.somalia/index.htmlSeveral weeks ago the destroyer USS WINSTON CHURCHILL captured several pirates who had boarded a small coastal merchantman. Last year the amphibious assault ship USS BONHOMME RICHARD broke up a pirate attack in the Persian Gulf. |
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Post by dstauffer on Mar 18, 2006 21:30:56 GMT -8
Let's not forget CIWS... 30mm! LOL!
I vaguely remember an incident, during Desert Storm, where two Iranian gunboats attacked a US ship (USS LA SALLE, if I remember correctly) in the Persian Gulf. Definitely not a good career move, especially when you have two Nimitz-class aircraft carriers operating within striking range!
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Post by MrDoublel on Mar 19, 2006 0:26:39 GMT -8
Hummm, canditades for the 2006 Darwin Awards? Whatta ya think? :-)
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Post by dstauffer on Mar 19, 2006 0:29:54 GMT -8
Most definitely! I love those Darwin Awards!
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Post by Sailor on Mar 20, 2006 10:29:44 GMT -8
Hummm, canditades for the 2006 Darwin Awards? Whatta ya think? :-) Yah, the dead one for sure and maybe "Honorable Mentions" for his wounded and captured shipmates. WTF were these brain surgeons thinking? You aren't going to outrun 33+ knot cruisers or destroyers in the scows these turds normally putt-putt around in and the outboard driven boats normally don't have the range to get home if the "mother ship" kraps out or is taken/sunk. And if they or the Navy thought they could seriously hurt either ship with RPG's, well - that's why God invented the 5" (125mm) deck gun. |
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Post by dustdevil28 on Mar 20, 2006 17:54:46 GMT -8
I'm betting that RPG did little other than put a black splotch on the hull. Oh well, I guess the deck dept can take care of that.
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Post by MrDoublel on Mar 21, 2006 1:30:09 GMT -8
They must've thought the ships would run away, like in Moghadishu...then again the Rangers killed over 1000 Somalis during THAT particular operation...
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Post by Sailor on Mar 21, 2006 9:59:27 GMT -8
I'm betting that RPG did little other than put a black splotch on the hull. Oh well, I guess the deck dept can take care of that. An RPG can cut through several inches of armor, something today's cruisers and 'cans lack. Still, unless they hit something critical the ship's Hull Techs can fix the twisted metal and the Bosun's boys can repaint it. |
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Post by tits on Mar 21, 2006 17:52:30 GMT -8
Do you recall the old Johnny Carson show. I believe that the episode I am recalling was from the 77-78 years. The Hollywood heavy hitters were on and Johnny lost control. Jimmy Stewart, Van Johnson, Rickles, one other and of course Ed McMahon and Johnny. All were WWII veterans and all, except for Stewart, were sailors or marines in the Pacific. Johnson had earned the Navy Cross and Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his 36 hours nearly alone with 16 dying marines and sailors. He had been a Corpsman and his Landing craft had taken a direct hit when it got stuck on the coral on the northeast corner of Tarawa. He was later given a commission in the navy. Anyway, Don got fed up and had to steal the show. He started saluting all of the others because they supposedly were officers. Of course we know Stewart and McMahon rose to flag rank in later years. Suddenly, Rickles shouted: "All you big heroes! Do you know what I did during the war? Uh do ya? I hung over the side on this oiler shipping paint. The only time we ever got any excitement was when the gave that country kid another corn cob when he made announcements over the 1MC. Yea, I think that they always picked the guy with the biggest speech problem and then sent him to school to mumble." He even directed some comments at Doc who was a veteran. He turned and threw Johnny's mug to his face and filled it with whatever was in the cup and made a rather official announcement. Everyone was laughing so hard they were crying. That jimmy Stewart could be really funny. You know? I think that Don was right! It is good to know that the fine speaking folks all became quartermaster in the Army and Air Force!  |
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Post by MrDoublel on Mar 21, 2006 22:26:25 GMT -8
I've got a lot of respect for those gentlemen. They knew the world could be an ugly place. Unlike the current pack of vapid morons that now inhabit the left coast. Most of those idiots have no idea what it's like to truly have to struggle to eak out a living. "I know what it's like 'cause I played a (insert whatever the hell you want here) in a play/show/movie once."
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Post by Remey688 on Mar 22, 2006 0:42:04 GMT -8
Me too! Most definitely! I love those Darwin Awards! |
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Post by fwdobsrvr on Mar 25, 2006 19:10:09 GMT -8
Whatever happened to international laws concerning piracy? Shouldn't the offenders have been shot and dumped overboard or hanged and then the same? What did happen to the pirates? Not much of a deterent to others if they just disappear without examples being made.
E
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Post by MrDoublel on Mar 25, 2006 22:59:46 GMT -8
A couple of 5' rounds should've taken care of the situation...never hurts to practice your gunnery.
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Post by dstauffer on Mar 25, 2006 23:06:23 GMT -8
Yeah... couple of 5" rounds wouldn't be bad, but those 16" rounds -- now that's a boom! Kinda wish those old battlewagons were still around -- they were truly an impressive sight to see.
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Post by Sailor on Mar 26, 2006 7:44:18 GMT -8
Whatever happened to international laws concerning piracy? Shouldn't the offenders have been shot and dumped overboard or hanged and then the same? What did happen to the pirates? Not much of a deterent to others if they just disappear without examples being made. E Unfortunately that little piece of international law went over the side in the latter half of the 19th Century (along with the concept of PRIZE MONEY for the captures.) Likely these 'people' *keeps a straight face* were turned over to someone ashore, probably in Somalia. I expect they might get a slap on the wrist (maybe not even that) and within a few days be looking for a new boat. "Hang 'em" when caught red handed worked. I think it should be brought back, not only for piracy but also for drug running and other acts of terror. |
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